Finally, after years of admiring the many talented potters here, I enrolled in a pottery class for myself. I was surprised the find how simple it was to make some things (basic hand-built vessels) and how hard it was to make others (anything thrown on a wheel).
One of the easier objects to fashion? A rustic votive holder for the holiday table. Thanks to air-dry clay, you don’t even need a pottery studio to make them yourself. Just grab a few household items and follow these steps.
Photography by Justine Hand for Remodelista.

Supplies:
- Air-dry modeling clay in white (I got mine on Amazon for $28).
- A small bowl, or something similar, to serve as a mold. It must be large enough to hold a votive, but not too tight as the clay will shrink as it dries.
- A 2-inch circular object (I used the top of a jelly jar)
- Plastic wrap
- A sharp pointed tool such as an awl, skewer, or knife
- A rolling pin
- A drop cloth, piece of canvas, or craft mat
- Two “guide” items, approximately 1/8 inch thick (these can be pieces of wood or notebooks, for example)
- Wire
- Spray bottle of water if you use a cloth work surface
- Sponge (optional)
Instructions:



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

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Looking for more easy, low-cost holiday DIYs?
- DIY: Holiday Gift Wrap, 5 Ways
- DIY: A David Stark–Designed Holiday Table Setting
- 10 Favorites: No-Cost Holiday Decor Ideas
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