Luminaria

These paper candle holders are the perfect size for tea lights and can be 
decorated for any holiday or occasion. Perfect for that Fourth of July barbecue! 
They can be further embellished using decorative scissors and border punches 
for that extra special touch. NOTE: These luminarias are intended for outdoor 
use!! They are not flame retardant and therefore it is highly recommended 
that they be lit only outdoors and placed in a safe area.

Download our template for the bag (see bottom of the Luminaria page) and then 
add your own art and decorative touches.  If you experience any problems with 
the template, drop us an email and we will send you the file.

MATERIALS NEEDED

Luminaria bag template

clipart to decorate

decorative scissors (optional)

border punches (optional) --see our Products page

tea light candles

small piece of cardboard

sand or gravel (fish tank gravel works well)

aluminum foil

glue or scotch tape

NOTE: If you are using a small glass votive instead of a tealight, you can 
skip the sand/gravel and the foil)

INSTRUCTIONS

1) Open a blank page in landscape orientation in your graphic program. Import 
the template and resize, if necessary, so that it fills the page from left to right 
(don't forget those printable margins!) Then add your choice of clipart on the front 
and back sections of the template (above C and D).

2) Print and cut out the template along the grey outline.

3) Snip the lines between C and A, A and D, and D and B to make the small flaps 
on the bottom of the bag that will be taped or glued together.

4) Fold along the lines for the sides and all flaps.

5) Crease the yellow lines to make a "valley" fold (folds in, not out) the same way 
a paper grocery bag folds.

6) Fold in (also a "valley" fold) on the yellow triangle lines.

7) Apply glue to all flaps and fold bag in, attaching all flaps at the bottom. (Hint: 
using the eraser end of a pencil, stand the bag up when all flaps are in place and 
use the eraser to press the flaps together on the inside of the bag.) 

8) Glue tab E on the letter side and attach to the inside of the bag side. 

** All flaps can be attached with scotch tape rather than glue.

9) Trim the top of the bag with a decorative scissor.

10) Use a border punch on the front and back just below the top of the bag.

11) Trim the tealight candle wick to 1/4". Take a small piece of aluminum foil 
about twice the height of the candle and wrap it around the candle base allowing 
about 1/4" - 1/2" of foil to extend above the top of the wick. Fold any extra foil 
under the tin base of the tealight. The candle will now have a protective cylinder 
of foil that will help to prevent hot wax or flame from reaching the paper 
luminaria.

12) Trace the bottom of the bag onto the small piece of cardboard, cut out the 
piece and place it in the inside bottom of the luminaria.

13) Fill the bottom of the luminaria with sand or gravel (to weigh it down a little) 
and insert the wrapped tealight into the luminaria bag.

If you do not have fireplace matches to light the tealight inside the bag, a piece of 
uncooked spaghetti will work just as well! It will take a few seconds to light, but 
once it does you will easily be able to reach the candle in the bottom of the bag!