Halloween Candle Jar by Effie Carayannis
Material
Surface
Moccona Coffee jar- size 5 ½ inches high from the base to the lip of the jar. The distance around the jar is 12 inches in circumference.
DecoArt products:
DecoArt Frost Gloss Enamels – White
DecoArt Americana Acrylics: Lamp (Ebony) Black, Warm White, Sable Brown
Americana DuraClear Varnish –Gloss
Miscellaneous Supplies:
Vinegar
Lint-free cloth
Tracing paper
Transfer paper
Stylus
Thick towel or similar
2 ½ inch foam roller (approx size)
¼ and ½ inch flat brush
No. 2 and 4 round brush
No.10/0 liner brush
Base coating brush
10-inch length of Orange colored ribbon
PVA glue
Battery operated Tea lights x 3 (you can use actual tea lights, but these do leave a wax residue as the wax melts at the bottom of the jar making it hard to clean)
Tip: I used a Moccona Coffee Jar, but you may use any jar of a similar size.
Preparation
Wash the jar in hot soapy water using a soft dishcloth, and then, rinse thoroughly with warm water. Mix a solution of warm water and vinegar for the final rinse. Dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Allow the jar to air dry, just to be sure there is no moisture residue remaining. Handle the glass with care. Remember glass is fragile.
Background
Pour a generous amount of Frost Gloss Enamels – White, onto your palette, and then, fully load the roller. Run the roller a few times over the palette before you begin so the paint is evenly distributed through the foam. A fully loaded roller reduces the risk of uneven paint application which reduces roller marks once dry. Roll a few times onto the jar to distribute the paint using the weight of the roller with very light pressure. Don’t overwork the paint. Leave a wet edge to roll into before reloading the roller. Do not use water to thin the paint as this will weaken the adhesion of the paint to the glass.
Let it dry thoroughly. Apply a second coat if required then once again allow to it dry before moving to the next step.
Place the thick towel over your workbench to protect the jar from any marks or scratches to the background while working on its surface.
Transferring the design
Transfer the design onto tracing paper, then transfer it onto the outside of the glass using the transfer paper and stylus.
Painting the design
Base the design with three coats of Lamp (Ebony) Black using the brush that best fits the area, avoid the eyes, nose, and mouth sections of each pumpkin while referring to the pictures for placement.
Paint the ribs with the liner brush and Sable Brown, again, avoiding the eyes, noses, and mouths. Use the liner brush with Warm White to paint around the openings of the eyes, noses, and mouths. Using Warm White/Lamp (Ebony) Black 1: touch dry brush the highlights on the stems. With the same mix and the liner, skip a broken line around some of the adjoined pumpkins.
Varnishing
When dry give the piece several coats of varnish with the base coating brush.
Finishing
Attach the ribbon around the neck of the jar with a small amount of PVA glue. Switch on the tea lights and place them inside the jar.
Note: To clean the painted jar, gently hand wash or wipe with damp cloth using minimal detergent.
Line Drawing
Pattern and Photos ©2021 Effie Carayannis