How to Make Memorial Glass Candleholders

In this weekly column I typically come up with a craft project or explore a decorating trend, but this week it seemed almost trivial in the context of the devastating tragedy in Pittsburgh. Then I remembered that the heart of what I try to communicate is creativity. And creativity is something that we need to promote more than ever. Why? Because creativity, or the act of creating, is the opposite of destruction. With all the negative forces in the world right now, it’s pretty much our duty to create as much as we can. 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and we, made in his image, are meant to create. Creativity doesn’t just mean arts and crafts. We create by writing poetry, cooking, playing the ukulele, sewing, you name it — all of which can lift up humanity instead of tearing it down. 

This week, I present a project that pays tribute to those we lost at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill. We can make candleholders with the names of the deceased permanently written on the glass, so as we kindle the candles to mourn and remember the victims, their names will stand out in the light. 

What you’ll need:
Clear glass candleholder
Oil-based markers
Sand
Candle

1. You can use either a cylindrical or globe-type candleholder, but I find the cylindrical ones easier to write on, as the sides are flat rather than curved. For writing, use oil-based markers, which write easily on glass and stay permanent once dry. A regular Sharpie will not work. You can find oil-based markers at arts and crafts stores. (And yes, Sharpie does make an oil-based version.)

2. Follow the instructions on the marker about how to get the ink to flow into the nib. Then write the names of the deceased on the glass. I used a black marker, but you can use any color you wish. It helps to do a practice run on a piece of paper so you can gauge how large your writing should be and how you should space out the lines. 

3. If you want, draw additional elements on the glass with markers of other colors. For my candleholder, I drew Stars of David with a gold marker to separate the names. Again, do some practice runs on paper if you’re planning on drawing anything. Let the ink air-dry and cure for eight hours before handling.

4. Before placing the candle in the candleholder, line the bottom with about a half-inch of sand. The sand will catch the melted wax so it doesn’t get stuck on the bottom of the glass. 

Jonathan Fong is the author of “Flowers That Wow” and “Parties That Wow,” and host of “Style With a Smile” on YouTube. You can see more of his do-it-yourself projects at jonathanfongstyle.com.