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How to Make a Vintage Garden Inspired Candleholder from Thrifted Finds

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Do you ever grab random pieces at the thrift store because you just know they have potential—but then they sit on a shelf waiting for inspiration? Same here.

This week, I finally pulled together a couple of those “someday” finds, paired with a Dollar Tree jar and turned them into a sweet little vintage garden inspired candleholder that looks like it came from a high-end boutique. It’s got a little French cottage charm, a little vintage garden soul—and it cost me next to nothing.

Here’s how you can make your own version using just three pieces and a bit of glue.


Supplies You’ll Need :

  • 1 ceramic candlestick (mine was a smooth beige one)
  • 1 ribbed glass jar
  • 1 frosted ruffled globe (originally a light fixture)
  • E6000 or clear craft glue
  • Optional: jute, ribbon, moss, LED candle or florals

Tip: You can find similar items at thrift stores, yard sales, or even your own stash!

Three upcycled crafting materials displayed together: a frosted ruffled glass lamp shade, a ceramic candlestick holder with a glossy neutral glaze, and a ribbed clear glass jar, all sitting on a textured white cloth with a white fabric backdrop.

Step 1: Clean and Dry Fit

Give each piece a good wipe-down to remove dust, grime, or sticker residue. Then stack them without glue to find the best fit and orientation.

A woman wearing a mint green turtle tee carefully wipes the top of a ceramic candlestick holder with a paper towel, prepping it for gluing.

For this version, I placed the ceramic candlestick on the bottom, the ribbed jar in the middle, and the frosted ruffled globe on top (upside down, like a flower bloom or lantern dome). Please excuse my cluttered craft table. Lol

Vintage-inspired candleholder in the dry fit stage, showing the assembled ceramic candlestick base, ribbed glass jar, and frosted ruffled glass shade stacked together, positioned on a cluttered craft table before final gluing.

Step 2: Glue it Together

Using E6000 or a similar strong adhesive. Apply glue to the rim of the candlestick and center the ribbed jar on top. Let that set.

Hands position a ribbed glass jar on top of a ceramic candlestick holder, aligning the pieces during a step in a DIY candleholder project.

I did not want the ruffled globe to be permanently attached, but I did want it to be able to sit securely on top of the jar, so this is what I did. Using hot glue, I created sort of a gasket for the globe to sit on when it’s on top of the jar. This helps it not to slide around on the jar and helps it to stay in place without permanently attaching it. This will be beneficial when I want to change out the contents of the jar for different seasons or holidays.

View of the glass jar rim with a bead of hot glue around the top edge, prepped for attaching the frosted glass lamp shade as the finishing touch.

Let the entire piece cure undisturbed for at least 24 hours for maximum strength.


Step 3: Style and Embellish

Now for the fun part— styling!

I chose to add some Spanish moss and lavender sprigs to the inside of the jar, with a battery operated tea light nestled down in the center. The way the light shines through the ribbed jar makes for very special ambience.

A glowing LED tea light nestled in the center of faux lavender and Spanish moss inside a ribbed glass jar, creating a warm and cozy ambiance.

Before placing the globe on top of the jar, I wrapped jute around the top of it to bring in the color of the candlestick.

A hand wrapping jute twine around the neck of a frosted glass lamp shade with a hobnail texture and ruffled edges, adding a rustic garden touch to the design.

You can:

• Add a small flameless candle inside the globe

• Tuck in a bit of moss or faux florals

• Wrap jute or ribbon around the base or jar neck

• Use it as a tabletop accent, entryway display, or garden-themed centerpiece


To Paint or Not to Paint?

If you’re wondering whether to paint your finished piece, here are a few fun options:

• Leave it natural to keep the vintage-thrifted charm.

• Paint it all one color (like matte white, soft green, or champagne gold) for a unified boutique look.

• Dry brush or detail with accent paint to highlight textures while keeping the character of the original pieces.

You really can’t go wrong—it depends on your style!


Final Design Reveal!

I decided to leave it natural because I wanted to keep that vintage appeal, plus I like how the candle looks behind the clear glass. You can style yours however you like though! This is just inspiration for you! Make it your own, I always say!

Fully assembled vintage garden-inspired candleholder glowing with a tea light, topped with a frosted glass lamp shade, and surrounded by milk glass and rustic farmhouse décor.

You could definitely change it up and add florals to the top of the globe like in this next picture. I prefer the more simple look though. It lets the overall vibe shine!

Vintage garden-inspired candleholder glowing with a soft LED light, topped with a frosted ruffled glass shade and a lavender floral accent. The piece is styled with white milk glass vases, greenery, and a distressed white lantern on a wooden tabletop near softly lit curtains.

Which one do you like best? Let me know in the comments!

A cozy spring vignette featuring a vintage garden-inspired candleholder with a glowing LED light, styled alongside milk glass vases, faux greenery, bunny mugs, a plaid cloth napkin, and a white rustic lantern with a raffia bow.

Final Thoughts

This project reminded me that sometimes the prettiest pieces are hiding in plain sight, just waiting to be stacked, glued, and loved again. Whether you style this with seasonal touches or let it shine year-round, it’s a charming little nod to creativity and resourcefulness.


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Want the printable checklist for this project? Click the Download button below!


I hope you enjoyed this project and that it inspires you to make something similar with some of your lonely thrifted finds! Make sure to join our email family so we can keep in touch.


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