Today is an exciting day! I am excited to be joining 12 amazing DIY bloggers for a Home Depot Gift Challenge! I was so thrilled when Emily asked if I would like to participate- I’m always up for a good challenge. The challenge is this. You are given one month to create a gift for a designated person (this month it was a new home owner) using a specific material found at The Home Depot and we reveal them all on the same day. In the past, there has been challenges with copper pipe, peg board, and dowelling. This month’s surprise item was chosen by Amy from Home Remedies and is a 2×4 piece of lumber. Out of it, I created this geometric taper candle holder! I’m crazy impressed with what the other girls pulled off!
**This challenge is not sponsored in any way by Home Depot, we just love them and pretty much live there so we’d thought this would be fun…**
So in a moment of honesty. I WAS really excited when they asked me to participate. And then they announced the material for the month… a 2×4. We just finished framing out our half of the basement and I had just finished sanding my Giant Jenga (made out of 2x4s) and the last thing on earth I wanted to work with was a 2×4. I complained to my sister-in-law, I complained to my husband. But then I was browsing Pinterest and saw these babies and light bulbs went off. 2x4s all of a sudden didn’t sound so bad! Now that it’s done, I’m really happy with it- and my hubby loves it more than I do, so that’s always a win.
Here’s what you’ll need to make your own Geometric Candle Holder out of a 2×4:
- 2×4 (or scrap of- I used less than 2 feet)
- Saw to cut wood to length (we used a miter saw)
- Belt Sander with 80 Grit Sandpaper (safety goggles!)
- Wood Clamps (I only needed 1)
- Sanding block with 100 grit sandpaper
- Drill with 3/4″ bit
- Minwax Finishing Paste, Rag to apply, and gloves
- Finishing nails, hammer, and pliers with wire cutter
- Taper candles
Start by cutting your 2×4 to the length you would like your candle holder to be. Mine was just under two feet. Then, clamp your 2×4 piece to a work surface, any side facing up. Use your belt sander to start removing wood from the block in random areas to create a geometric shape. You will need to use the edge of your belt sander to get straighter lines. This will take you a while, but it’s so rewarding to watch an ugly 2×4 turn into a moulded piece of goodness! Turn your piece of wood as often as you need, making sure to sand pieces out of all four sides. Take care to leave a flat surface for the bottom though.
When you’re happy with how moulded/geometric your candleholder looks, it’s time to make the holes for the candles! Take your drill with a 3/4″ bit and drill evenly spaced holes for your taper candles. I would leave it clamped down for this. The narrow 2×4 (once sanded down) splits easily so drill straight, then reverse to remove the bit. When you have all your holes, take your sanding block and 100 grit sandpaper to sand down the block’s fine details. I smoothed some things out and added a couple more facets before I called it done. When you’re done all your sanding, take a damp rag and wipe it clean of all sawdust.
Now you’re ready to finish it! I chose to leave my wood a natural colour, instead finishing it with Minwax Finishing Wax Paste- but you could choose to apply a stain at this point. Minwax Finishing Wax Paste is awesome, it’s also what we used for the Jenga and leaves a natural looking finish instead of a shine as you would get with most clear coats. I left it outside overnight to let the fumes dissipate before use.
Once your wood is all finished, it’s time to add the stabilizers for the candles. If you drilled your holes deep enough (or depending how slender your tapers are) you might not need this. Use the wire cutters to snip the heads of the finishing nails off and use pliers to hold your nail in place (point up) and hammer into place. Most drill bits will leave a point in the centre of the hole, so you have a starting point. Stick your candles on and you’re ready to use!
During this process, my hubby got kind of attached to the candleholder, so we’re keeping it for ourselves (rule breaking?) But really, we’ve been in this house for just a year so we’re still new home owners ;) This candle holder is currently on our island but I took photos of it on the kitchen table to avoid cleaning my whole kitchen… that’s acceptable, right? #reallife
There are some awesome projects that bloggers have created for this month’s challenge… hop over and check some out! And, as always let me know what you think in the comments!
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Colleen! This is so amazing! You did a fantastic job! I’m currently looking through all of the fin projects that are linked up. What a fun challenge & so many great DIY gif ideas.
Thanks so much Hayley! I really appreciate that (and you!). They definitely made some amaaazing projects!
Love the honesty! We complained about it to until we came up with our idea and now we are so glad we did it. That’s why I love this monthly challenge! :)
Ahh I’m so glad I’m not the only one! I guess that’s the whole part of it being a ‘challenge’, right? I love your sign, the coordinates are so clever!
This is so gorgeous. Totally outside the box. <3
Thanks so much Jen! I’m crazy impressed with your table too!
I complained too. Then became extremely inspired to create something different. Love what you did with the lumber! I am defiantly going to make one of these!
Haha that makes me so glad! I felt bad saying it, but sometimes that’s what you need to create something fun, a challenge! I love the way you sliced pieces of 2×4 for your sign, super creative :)
My Home Depot Challenge is thinking up new projects for my store’s workshops. I’m always tinkering with ideas I get from all you fabulous bloggers. I’ve run the workshops for two years now and every project is an adventure…thanks so much for your inspiration. A 2 x 4 candle holder!!! Who knew?
So much fun Nancy! I would love to work on a DIH workshop one day- I’m thrilled you’re finding inspiration here :)
This is SOO cool!!! I totally almost did a candle holder, too, but I think this one is way cooler than what I had in mind! Ha! I love that you left in natural color, too. Such a pretty gift for a new homeowner! :)
Thanks so much Amanda! I’m glad you didn’t do a candle holder, not because I made one but because your garden hose idea is so clever… ours is laying in our yard right now, we’ve been thinking we need to do something about it!
This is such a fantastic candle holder, Colleen!! I love the geometric edges on it too! Such a great centerpiece.:) Nice work!
Thanks so much Shannon! Your centerpiece is pretty awesome too- I’m loving the stain!
This is a great project! I never would’ve thought to shape the wood like that. Gives me ideas for the future… Lol. Glad you could join us this month!
Thanks so much Lindi! Your planters were the first thing I spotted when I got the graphic… SO Cool!
Love this Colleen! You are so creative! I never would have thought to create the geometric shape like that. Great job!
Aw thanks so much Shelly, I really appreciate that! your bench is amaaazing too!
So glad you have joined us in the monthly challenge, Colleen! I must admit, I was a little bit stumped as to what to make, too. I just love what you came up with – this candle holder is amazing!
Thanks so much Amy! I really appreciate the invite- your herb planter is awesome too, I love that blue color!
This is such a brilliant idea! It’s simple but stunning.
Thanks so much Cat! I’m also thrilled that now I can make a crate out of a 2×4… thanks so much for that tutorial!
Oh em gee, I would have never guessed this was made out of a 2×4!! It’s so pretty left natural too. Way to go Colleen!!
Aw, thanks so much Emily! It was so much fun to play along this month.