Saturday, February 3, 2018

Candle Pillars Heart Cut-Out

For Valentine, wedding, table decor. 
Tall and shorter pillar boxes have 
dimensional half heart "window" cut-outs - 
when side by side, the whole heart takes shape. 
Top of pillars includes a drop-in recess to hold 
standard size LED tea lights or votives. 
Together measurements: 
6" tall x 2.5" deep x 4.75" wide. 

ASSEMBLY:  1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main hull shape with accent shapes
B candle recess "cup"  C top accent shape
D cup opening cover
E base tray shape
F heart cutout boxing panel
G left & right heart boxing edges
Also retain the leftover "weeded" octagon shapes
from the top panel, when removing from cutting mat.
These will be used for the optional base tray 
opening covers.
NOTE that Large and Small pillar construction
is identical, except that opposite face is rotated
toward front prior to attaching the pair.
2. Prepare main hull shape by bending back
on all perforation lines and tabs or flanges.
3. Position and attach the accent shapes,
offset at approx. .1" in from panel edges.
NOTE that this image shows correctly that
"center" panels that will be attached together
when pillars are completed do not need accent
shapes. Top accent shape is attached near
the end of the assembly process.
4. Form hull into a rectangular box shape 
bringing the upper side edges of side panels
to match up with top panel, and join at tab
seams. Back panel remains open for
finger access.
5. Prepare the heart cutout boxing panel
by bending tabs back, bending forward at 
panel segment perforation lines as shown.
6. Position the first heart edge shape to align
with longest segment of boxing, straight inner
edge of heart aligned at tab perforation line,
ends adjusted to align, and glue in place. 
Continue to align and attach each of the
boxing segments with each inner edge
of the heart shape until all are attached.
7. Repeat for the other side of boxing.
8. Insert the boxing unit into the interior
of the pillar so that the heart edges begin
to line up with hull heart cutout edges, then . . .
. . . position top tab under the inner wall edge,
align and glue in place.
Repeat with the lower tab at lower
inner wall edge to attach it, while at the same
time, positioning heart boxing edges with
hull cut out edges and attaching in one step.
9. Close the "back" panel by tucking
in the long side flange tab, as well
as the top tab, and gluing seams.
NOTE it may be helpful to insert 
a "press-against" tool such as a dowel
or rod behind the seam to help
apply pressure to seam(s).
10. Prepare the base "tray" unit by bending
back on all perforation lines.
11. Repeat the main hull assembly procedure
to position and attach side tab seams, then . . . 
. . . swing final wall into place to position and glue
remaining long seam and short wall seam.
12. Insert base into bottom of hull, then apply 
adhesive near bottom at each side edge,
and slide base fully in until bottom edges are flush.
13. Prepare the recess "cup" shape by
bending forward on all perforations for walls,
wedge tabs, and base edges, and
bend back on all edge tabs, as shown.
14. Join at tiny seams all around cup by
overlapping short straight edge at adjacent
wedge tab perforation line, holding in place
and applying pressure until each seam is secure.
15. Apply adhesive to the underside of each tab,
then fit the cup into the top panel octagon window,
and apply pressure at tabs until secure.
16. Position and attach the top panel cover.
17. Position and attach the top panel accent.
18. Position and attach the bottom cover.
19. Position the tall and short pillars
with inner faces together, then use quick-grab
glue or hot glue to join, taking care that
bottoms are flush.
Here is the completed two-pillar project
with LED votives placed in the recessed cups.
Embellish as desired.

3 comments:

  1. Awesome - can't wait to play with it :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jodi, I would like to make the candle holders at least 2-3 layers thick with 80lb cardstock. Would that create an assembly problem?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you are saying that you would layer the flat body shapes and glue them together, then try to bend shapes to make the projects, yes, that would not work particularly well, I believe, because of the extra thickness. You could always try a test to see.

      Delete