Needles 'n' Knowledge: Candelabra 3D for Tea Lights

Measures approx. 12" wide x 12" tall x

8.5" front to back (base approx. 6"x5.5").

Center hex post (wrapped around

a 1.25" diameter wooden dowel section cut to size)

with four scroll arms that extend sideways create

this spooky five candle candelabra. Contour base with "knob",

octagon-based wax catcher "cups" and pleated rosette

bases add elegance. Candle stub tubes include a top recess

that is sized to hold standard tea lights.

Many features help to make this dimensional paper design

sturdy enough to store and reuse

for Halloween or other decorating fun.
Use imagination to embellish and dress
this candelabra, including bead swags as shown,
jewels, web, and more.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A post wrap B platform base
C platform D platform contour shapes (6)
E upper post collar (4) F lower post collar (4)
G scroll arm left (4) H scroll arm right (4)
I & J scroll arm accents left and right (4 each)
L arm platform supports left & right (8 each)
K candle cup pleated rosette base strips
and center cover circles (5 pairs)
M candle cups (5)
N candle stubs (5) O candle stub octagon covers
NOT SHOWN: candle stand reinforcements
(see step 28), optional post cap octagon (step 47)

In place of pleated rosettes, a scallop circle
shape can be cut. For sturdiness, cut,
layer and join 2-3 shapes for each base -
20 or 30 total.

2. Prepare the base shape by bending back

on all side edge perforations, wedge tabs

and rim flanges,

also center hex opening triangle tabs.

3. Form the platform by bending short side edge
to overlap adjacent wedge tab, and glue seam.
Repeat for all 6 seams.

4. Bend bottom rim flanges inward and glue in place.

5. Prepare the 6 contour shapes by bending

side tabs back, bottom short wall back,

remaining perf lines forward.

6. Align the first two contour shapes to be joined
by overlapping straight side edge of one to
the side tabs of the second shape to
perforation line.
It may be helpful to line up and join the middle
segment first, then working downward to complete
lower two segments . . .

. . . then top segment.

Complete seams to join all 6 shapes.

7. Form the contour shape assembly into
a ring to bring the final edges together,
and align and join in the same fashion.

8. Insert the contour bottom tabs into

corresponding slots on top surface of platform . . .

. . . then bend tabs outward on the underside
and glue in place, applying finger pressure on
tab side and front of platform.

Here is the completed platform unit.

9. Prepare the scroll arms left & right by

bending the candle platform octagon segments

forward. NOTE that the platform on the right arm

includes two extensions that will help join

the segments later in the assembly.

DO NOT bend the extensions.

Also bend the 3 attachment tabs at inward edges

of each arm forward.

10. To help strengthen the scroll arms,

offset accent shapes are positioned and

glued in place.

Position with even offset edges all around

accent, except at edges next to attachment

tabs, where edges will almost extend to bend

of perforation, leaving tiny margin to allow for

thickness of post wall where arms are

slotted and attached, and glue in place.

NOTE: To avoid warping and curling when

gluing layers together with liquid adhesive,

flatten glued-up shapes under flat weights

(or equivalents such as books, fabric covered

free weights, smooth-surface boxes, etc.,)

while glue dries thoroughly.

11. Prepare to join left and right scroll arms
into one unit by applying adhesive to backside
of one arm except not to the platform segments
OR to the attachment tabs.

Position and attach left & right arms back to back,
taking care to align all cut edges . . .

. . . taking care to keep attachment tabs unattached

so they can be bent back independently as shown.

Flatten with weights while glue dries.

12. Prepare post shape by carefully bending back

on all vertical and edge flange perforation lines.

Locate the tiny 'T' symbol in the side flange

that indicates which end is 'top'.

13. Un-bend tabs so they are flat together.
Position and insert connector tabs of scroll
arm assembly through corresponding slots.

14. On the backside, bend tabs apart and press
one in each direction. Glue tabs to post backside
and apply pressure until securely in place.

15. Continue to insert each of the remaining

three scroll arm tabs in similar manner, bending

and gluing tabs in place.

To help this process, place post backside on flat

surface then reach fingers between arms

to apply pressure.

16. Measure 1.25" diameter wooden dowel length
to match exactly the post shape, mark, and cut
to size exactly perpendicular.
17. Position dowel inside tube to provide
a "press-against" surface . . .

. . . then overlap straight
side edge over side flange opposite, to perf line,
and glue in place.
NOTE: since this is an awkward operation,
continue to run fingers up and down the seam . . .

. . . to continue to close the post seam edge

completely and evenly, until it is secure.

18. Prepare upper collar . . .

. . . and lower collar by layering the 4 shapes

with ALL edges exactly aligned and glue

together. Press with a weight while glue dries.

19. Slide the upper collar over the top of post

and work down (tight fit) and adjust tops of

arms so that they slot into the radiating slots.

This will hold arms in place. Discretely apply

dabs of glue to secure collar, if deemed necessary.

20. Position and insert bottom collar unit over
bottom post end, and work up . . .

. . . to work upward to allow scroll arms to

fit snugly into slots.

21. Prepare the bulb shape by bending top and

bottom pointed tabs forward, back on all other

perf lines for walls and tabs.

22. Form the bulb by bending at upper and lower

short seams to overlap the straight side edge

over the adjacent tab, and glue in place.

Complete all short seams along upper and

lower edges.

23. Form the bulb into a ring to bring the straight

side edges over corresponding tabs, and glue

in place.

24. Slide bulb over the bottom end of the post
and slide up toward lower collar, then leave it
without gluing until later in the assembly.
25. Insert the post bottom end through the contour
and base openings until . . .

. . . it extends to be even with the bottom platform
rim edge. Glue the wedge tabs of the hexagon
opening to the post to secure it at bottom.

26. To secure post at top, slide the bulb down

as far as it will go so that the bottom pointed tabs

overlap the top of contour edges, and glue tabs

in place.

Also glue the top pointed tabs in place

to the panels of the post.

27. Bend the halves of the candle platform

to perpendicular position with the extension tabs

under the opposite half, and glue tabs in place.

28. Apply glue to backside, then slide the candle
platform reinforcement shapes into place
under platforms by sliding slot around scroll arm
as shown. Apply pressure to secure.

29. Prepare the candle platform support shapes

by bending forward the back edge tabs as shown.

Each support consists of left and right pair.

30. Apply glue to backside of shaped support

body, then attach the left/right pair (tabs remain

unattached. Each platform will need two supports.

31. Position the support under the candle platform

(center perf guide line shows position) with

tabs toward scroll arm surface and top straight edge

up under platform (apply bead of glue to straight

edge to help it attach under platform).

32. Prepare candle cup shape by bending

"petal" extensions and wedge tabs back,

pointed tips forward as shown.

33. Form the cup by bending sides inward
to overlap straight seam edge over adjacent
tab, and gluing in place.
Complete all 8 seams.

34. To create the "optional" pleated rosette medallion

base for candle cup, prepare the two strips for

rosette by first bending the right end tab upward

(face to face), then . . .

. . . continue folding at perforations in alternating

up/down direction to create accordion pleats

all across the strip. Complete folding of strip pair.

35. Join the two strips ends by overlapping
the left end of the (right) strip over the tab end
of the other (left) strip, lining up bottom straight edges,
and gluing in place.

36. Form the strip into a ring to complete the second

joining seam in similar manner.

Complete 5 pleated rings.

37. Heat up hot glue gun (or prepare equivalent

quick-grab adhesive).

Form the pleated ring into medallion circle by

placing ring curved edges down, then gathering

top edges between fingers of both hands . . .

. . . gradually pressing concentrated pleat ends
downward . . .

. . . until flattened to form the rosette circle.

Apply finger pressure inward to close the center

circle to the smallest opening possible.

Adjust hands holding pleats flat (or get someone

to help apply hot glue while still holding with

2 hands) to allow application of hot glue bead

around middle opening edges, then quickly . . .

. . . position and secure the cover circle.

Continue to press inward all round pleating

to help pleats adjust evening while maintaining

an even consistent circle.

Turn the circle over and apply glue to attach

the "backside" cover circle.

NOTE: this image shows the FRONT of

medallion with the outer edge scallops having

rounded edge upward - that is, center perf

of pleating at scallop curved edge is high,

perf edge between scallops is down.

38. Center candle cup over medallion and glue

base in place. Complete 5 cut-to-medallion units.

39. Prepare candle stub shape by bending

center walls back, bottom tabs back, top first

inner flange segments back, and outer tabs

with octagon inner platform forward.

40. Place stub shape face down on work surface,
then apply glue under the inner flange wall segments
and glue in place, leaving the end wall and
octagon platform unglued at this point.

41. Form the shape into a tube to bring straight

side edge to overlap opposite flange tab, align

tab perforations at top and bottom, and complete

seam. NOTE: the symmetrical nature of this shape

will allow it to be pressed flat at this stage so that

finger tip pressure can be applied all along the seam.

42. Bend the remaining inner wall flange into

position and glue in place, then . . .

. . . apply glue to the inner wall portion of

the octagon platform and along the top surfaces

of the bent-inward tabs (which create a ledge),

then bend the platform at rim edge to glue

inner wall in place, as well as positioning

and attaching platform edges to ledge tabs.

NOTE: access the surfaces being glued together

through the octagon's finger hole, as well as

from the tube's opposite end.

43. Bend the bottom tabs inward . . .

. . . apply glue to the tab face surfaces . . .

. . . then bend the bottom octagon "cover" into
place, adjust for edge-to-tab alignment,
and apply pressure to attach.
NOTE: to assist with attachment, invert the stub
bottom-down on work surface and insert a new
pencil eraser or other equivalent tool through
opening to press tabs in place.