Base for LED tea lights

Post by **Lucy** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 9:13 pm

Lately, I've been making bases to fit LED tea lights. I cut a rectangle big enough to fit 2-3 LED tea lights through several layers of corrugated cardboard, glue them together, cover with paper, then gesso and paint. If my house is too small for the diameter of the tea lights, I make one layer with a smaller opening to support the house, but allow the tea light "flame" to peak through. I have a few photos.

I just thought people might be interested in this technique because it lights up the houses so well.

Lucy

Post by **Lucy** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 9:17 pm

Here are a few more photos on the last house I finished which I am going to post in the Halloween Holiday section.

Lucy

P.S. I always write about my houses and techniques on my blog as a way of sharing information as well if you want to look up something there. https://withglueandglitter.blogspot.com ... ouses.html

Post by **Lucy** » Tue May 02, 2017 10:21 pm

Two new bases for the next houses. I've planned on doing stairs for awhile, but I never planned enough when I was making the base to include them. For these bases I made the stairway an integral part of the base. I will paint them later when I decide on the color scheme for the houses. I'm hoping they will look pretty cool.

Lucy

Clinton · Post by **Clinton** » Tue May 02, 2017 11:16 pm

Wow Lucy, nice! Paper mache?

Post by **Lucy** » Wed May 03, 2017 3:54 pm

Yes, paper mache. I save the brown paper from packages I receive. I tear it in little pieces, wrinkle it and glue it down with mod podge. When I paint it, the shiny surface is covered up. Here is one of the bases with a white gesso base, a black gesso wash and a little ochre. It's starting to look like stone.

Post by **Lee** » Wed May 03, 2017 5:46 pm

I love this idea for tea lights. Most tea lights flicker but I found a source for tea lights that don't flicker and the light is constant. I will check back and see where I ordered them from and will post for you.

Post by **Lucy** » Thu May 11, 2017 6:11 pm

Lee, I hadn't thought of looking for tea lights that don't flicker. For most of my Halloween Houses the flicker makes them look a little spookier, but sometimes you just want the lights on. I googled and found some online which I will order. Thank you for suggesting this.

Post by **Lucy** » Thu May 11, 2017 6:17 pm

Here is the latest base for LED lights. The base is called Slippery Slope which is what this halloween house will be called as well.

I haven't finished the painting. I always play around with the paint to make it look like a rock outcropping. At some point, I will quit adding paint and call it done. It's kind of fun to paint this way.

Ya'll have a good day.

Lucy