Copper Foil Tape Candle Makeover

Today I’ll show you how easy it is to use copper foil tape to update a basic glass jar candle. You’ll see this look on Pinterest, where copper foil tape is used on mirrors, candle holders, edges of decorative bowls and vases, and so on.

I started with this scented candle:

I like the ivory color of the candle itself, and the glass jar is like a blank canvas.

Since we have more copper accents than silver in our kitchen, the lid will get an easy makeover too.

Candle Makeover

The label easily came off! (I know, it usually never happens that way, right?)

For the glass jar itself, I wrapped copper foil tape around the jar on a diagonal slant. I started at the bottom and wound around, trying to keep the spacing as even as possible, until I got to the top. (Just use scissors to snip off the end, which I did at an angle to make it look more finished.)

Where can you find copper foil tape? You can find it at most hardware and home improvement stores, as well as some craft stores.

It’s used for pipe work, electronic work, and sometimes to prevent snails and slugs from getting to your plants, so it should be easy to find.

Optional step: I used a stylus to make vertical marks in the tape, as shown, but you can use the edge of a pen cap or soft edge to achieve the same result. (I did this just for looks, it doesn’t impact the outcome of this in any way!)

You don’t need to put any patina solution or glaze onto the copper foil tape. You can leave it as is, once you put it onto the jar.

Adding some patina . . .

Remember my DIY faux copper pipe vases that I shared here a few weeks ago? I used a patina solution which reacted with the copper paint. I decided to see if this solution would react with the copper tape. I simply brushed it on using a tiny brush.

The solution began reacting with the copper in the tape rather quickly:

I left it to continue drying (and reacting) overnight, while I gave the jar lid an easy makeover with paint.

Jar lid makeover

This easy paint finish – done to mimic a patina look – took me about 30 minutes, as the drying time went quickly!

First I painted on some multi-surface paint in a pretty turquoise shade.

Next, I sponged on some metallic paint over the turquoise paint.

I let that dry a bit, then sponged on a patina glaze over the entire lid.

Once that was dry, I sponged on more copper here and there. (Do this until you like the look!)

Matching up the painted lid with the copper tape . . .

The next morning, the copper foil tape was a pretty patina. However, the tape still had some shiny copper patches, so I went over those with my patina glaze that I used on the jar lid. Now it was a perfect match!