Love Autumn Decor? Make A Fall Tea Light Holder!

Instructions

STEP 1: GET MY FREE FALL TEA LIGHT HOLDER DESIGNS

First, download my Fall Tea Light Holder files from my free library – look for Design #770. Alternatively, you can use the Save This Project form near the top of this post and the design link will be emailed to you.

In the SVG folder, you’ll find four versions of my fall tea light holders: a “corn” design, a “haunt” (haunted house) design, a “scarecrow” design, and a “turkey” design.

There is also a DXF folder with cut files, and a PDF folder with versions you can print and cut by hand.

TIP: If you’re not sure how to upload, go to jennifermaker.com/svgs to learn how to unzip and upload SVG files.

STEP 2: PREPARE AND CUT YOUR FALL TEA LIGHT HOLDER DESIGN

CRICUT DESIGN SPACE

1. In Cricut Design Space, open a blank Canvas.
2. Click “Upload” and then “Upload Image.”
3. Click “Browse” and select the SVG file you want to use. NOTE: I’ll demonstrate with the “scarecrow” file, but you can use these steps for the other three files, too.
4. Click “Open,” and then “Continue.”
5. Click “Upload” to add the design to your Canvas.
6. Click “Save” and give your project a name.
7. Ungroup the design and spread out the pieces. NOTE: The “scarecrow” design has an outer ring layer of leaves with a tab on the left and a slot on the right, a grass layer, an outer wheat layer, a scarecrow layer, an inner wheat layer, two shirt detail pieces, two hat detail pieces, and two gray vellum diffuser pieces. NOTE: The “corn” design has an outer ring layer, three inner ring layers, and two gray vellum diffuser pieces. NOTE: The “haunt” design has an outer ring layer, two inner ring layers, two house detail pieces, two tree detail pieces, and two gray vellum diffuser pieces. NOTE: The “turkey” design has an outer ring layer, three inner ring layers, two turkey detail pieces, two hat detail pieces, and two gray vellum diffuser pieces.
8. If you don’t want to cut the gray vellum diffuser pieces, select them and click the “Trash” icon to delete them.
9. If you want to use different color cardstock for any of the pieces, select it and use the Color Box at the top to adjust it.
10. Your fall tea light holder is ready to cut!

CUTTING

1. Make sure the correct machine is selected in the top right.
2. Click “Make.”
3. On the Prepare screen, make sure the correct Material Size is selected for your mats and materials. NOTE: I’m using “8.5 in x 11 in” for my vellum mat and “12 in x 12 in” for my regular cardstock mats.
4. Select Mat 1 so it loads first on the next screen and click “Continue.” NOTE: Mine has the gray diffuser pieces, but yours may be different if you have deleted any pieces or changed any colors.
5. On the Make screen, set the Base Material for your first mat. I cut my (optional) diffuser pieces using the “Vellum” material setting with “More” Pressure. NOTE: Using “More” Pressure results in a cleaner cut. NOTE: If you cut your pieces on a Cricut Joy, use the “Light Cardstock - 65 lb (176 gsm)” setting with “More” Pressure since the Joy doesn’t have a “Vellum” material setting.
6. Place the vellum face up on a blue LightGrip machine mat so it covers the design area. TIP: You can also use a less sticky green StandardGrip machine mat.
7. Use a brayer to make sure it’s fully adhered.
8. Check that your Premium Fine-Point Blade is clean and in the clamp.
9. Press the flashing “Load/Unload” button to load the prepared mat into your Cricut.
10. Press the flashing middle button to begin cutting.
11. When it has finished cutting, don’t unload the mat right away. Use a weeding tool to gently lift a corner of the material to make sure the cuts went all the way through. If not, press the middle button again to make a second pass of cuts in the same spots.
12. When the cuts are complete, unload the mat, flip it over onto your work surface, and roll it back to release the material. TIP: Use the spatula to help lift delicate parts, and your weeding tool to poke out small bits of material that may have been left behind. If you have any issues with your cuts, go to jennifermaker.com/cleaner-cuts.
13. Use a scraper tool to remove the small bits left on your mat after you remove the cut pieces.
14. To cut your pieces from regular cardstock, use the “Medium Cardstock - 80 lb (216 gsm)” setting with “More” Pressure.
15. Place your regular cardstock face up on a green StandardGrip machine mat.
16. Follow Steps 7-13 above to cut and unload your cardstock mats.
17. Lay out all of the cut pieces face up. TIP: Refer to the Design Space screen if you’re not sure about some pieces’ orientation.

STEP 3: ASSEMBLE YOUR FALL TEA LIGHT HOLDER

SCARECROW TEA LIGHT HOLDER

1. Start with the scarecrow layer face down on your work surface.
2. If you cut them, place the vellum diffusers onto their spots on the scarecrow piece to make sure they align correctly.
3. Move the diffusers off to each side, keeping their orientation the same.
4. Add thin lines of craft glue on the left scarecrow’s hat and face where the diffuser will go. TIP: The precision tip on your Bearly Art glue works great for this! TIP: Use your finger or a foam brush to spread the glue evenly to avoid bumps in the vellum.
5. Place the left diffuser onto its spot on the scarecrow, aligning the edges carefully. TIP: Work quickly so the glue doesn’t dry before aligning the vellum!
6. Press and smooth to adhere the left diffuser to the left scarecrow.
7. Gently wipe away any excess glue with a paper towel or your finger. TIP: Flip the scarecrow over to check the other side for excess glue, too!
8. Repeat Steps 4-7 to adhere the right diffuser to the right scarecrow.
9. Flip the scarecrow layer face up.
10. Place the cardstock hats onto their spots on the scarecrow piece to make sure they align correctly.
11. Flip the left hat piece face down and apply lines of glue all over its back, avoiding the cutouts.
12. Then flip it over again and place it onto its spot on the left scarecrow, aligning the edges carefully.
13. Press and smooth to adhere the left hat to the left scarecrow.
14. Gently wipe away any excess glue with a paper towel or your finger.
15. Repeat Steps 11-14 to adhere the right hat to the right scarecrow.
16. Then adhere the two shirt pieces face up on each side of the scarecrow piece the same way.
17. Take the outer ring layer (with the tab and slot) and curve the ends of the bottom strip toward each other with the pretty side facing out.
18. Insert the strip’s tab into the strip’s slot, keeping the tab on the outside.
19. Pull the ends apart gently so the tab catches on the inside to secure it.
20. Use your fingers to gently shape the bottom strip into a ring.
21. Fold down each of the leaves on the outer ring layer where their tabs meet the top edge of the ring.
22. Hold the grass layer face up and use a Flowtool or a thin pencil to curl each of the blades down toward you.
23. Keeping the curled blades on the outside, curve the ends of the bottom strip of the grass layer toward each other until they overlap slightly, forming a ring smaller than the outer one.
24. Insert the grass ring inside the outer ring, placing the overlapping area on the opposite side of the outer ring’s slotted tab.
25. Take the outer wheat layer (with small blades between the wheat stalks) and curl the ends of the bottom strip toward each other until they overlap slightly, forming a smaller ring.
26. Insert the outer wheat ring inside the grass ring, placing the overlapping area on the opposite side of the grass ring's overlap.
27. Use your fingers to gently push the stalks of wheat down slightly toward the outside of the rings.
28. Take the scarecrow layer with the colorful details facing outward and curve the ends of the bottom strip toward each other until they overlap slightly, forming a tighter ring.
29. Insert the scarecrow ring inside the outer wheat ring, placing the overlapping area on the opposite side of the grass ring's overlap.
30. Take the inner wheat layer and curve the ends of the bottom strip toward each other until they overlap slightly, forming a tighter ring.
31. Insert the inner wheat ring inside the scarecrow ring, positioning the groups of wheat stalks so they appear behind the scarecrows.
32. Test your LED tea light to make sure it works, including any remotes. You may have to remove a battery protector tab first.
33. Insert the LED tea light from the bottom of the scarecrow holder.
34. Grab a set of hook and loop dots. Make sure you have both the smooth loop side and the rough, scratchy hook side.
35. Peel a smooth loop dot off its carrier sheet and press the sticky side to the vellum at the top of one scarecrow’s hat.
36. Then peel a scratchy hook dot off the carrier sheet and attach it to the loop dot, sticky-side out.
37. Line up the two scarecrows and press the tops of their hats together to adhere the hook dot to the other scarecrow.
38. Use your fingers to shape the leaves, grass, and wheat as desired.
39. Flip your tea light to the “ON” position.

VARIATION: CORN TEA LIGHT HOLDER

1. Start with the corn layer face down on your work surface.
2. Glue the vellum diffusers in place if you cut them.
3. Assemble the outer ring layer with leaves.
4. Use a Flowtool or a round, thin pencil to curl the tips of the outer ring’s leaves.
5. Take the thin grass layer and curl its blades down toward you.
6. Curve the ends of the grass layer’s bottom strip toward each other until they overlap slightly, forming a ring.
7. Insert the thin grass layer into the outer ring.
8. Repeat Steps 6-7 to overlap and insert the wheat layer, and then the corn layer.
9. Check your tea light’s battery, insert the tea light, attach a hook and loop dot to the inside of the corn pieces, and shape your details.
10. Your corn tea light holder is ready!

VARIATION: HAUNTED HOUSE TEA LIGHT HOLDER

1. Start with the moon layer face down on your work surface.
2. Glue the vellum diffusers in place if you cut them.
3. Flip the moon layer face up.
4. Glue the face-up tree pieces to the moon layer.
5. Glue the face-up house pieces on top of the tree pieces.
6. Assemble the outer ring layer and lightly crease the bats where each bridge connects to the strip and to the bat. TIP: Don’t fold the bats all the way down. You want them to look like they’re flying!
7. Take the ghost layer and curve the ends of the bottom strip toward each other until they overlap slightly, forming a ring.
8. Insert the ghost ring inside the bat ring, placing the overlapping area on the opposite side of the bat ring’s slotted tab.
9. Fold down each of the ghosts where their tabs meet the top edge of the ring so they’re behind the bats.
10. Overlap the ends of the moon layer and insert it into the ghost ring.
11. Check your tea light’s battery, insert the tea light, attach a hook and loop dot to the moon layer, and shape your details.
12. Your haunted house tea light holder is ready!

VARIATION: TURKEY TEA LIGHT HOLDER

1. Start with the turkey layer face down on your work surface.
2. Glue the vellum diffusers (if you cut them), hat pieces, and turkey pieces in place.
3. Assemble the outer ring layer with leaf outlines.
4. Overlap the ends and insert the grass layer, the solid leaves layer, and the turkey layer into the tea light holder.
5. Check your tea light’s battery, insert the tea light, attach a hook and loop dot to the turkey layer, and shape your details.
6. Your turkey tea light holder is ready!

STEP 4: SHOW IT OFF

You now have an adorable fall tea light holder for seasonal lighting!