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.
![though potters use specially designed tools, you can make small votive holders 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/diy-holiday-votives-supplies-733x571.jpg)
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:
![step \1: lay out your canvas work surface. using your wire, cut a wedge out of 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/diy-holiday-votives-cutting-clay-733x511.jpg)
![step \2: if you are using a cloth work surface, such as canvas, wet it with a b 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/diy-holiday-votives-rolling-clay-733x516.jpg)
![step 3: use your your circular guide to cut out circles from the clay. 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/diy-holiday-votives-cutting-cicles-733x550.jpg)
![diy holiday votives shaping 2](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/diy-holiday-votives-shaping-2-733x550.jpg)
![diy holiday votives shaping 3](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/diy-holiday-votives-shaping-3-733x520.jpg)
![diy holiday votives drying](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/diy-holiday-votives-drying-733x522.jpg)
![diy holiday votives 1](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/diy-holiday-votives-1-733x485.jpg)
![DIY Easy Ceramic Votive Holders for a Festive Table portrait 8](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/diy-holiday-votives-centerpiece-733x494.jpg)
![DIY Easy Ceramic Votive Holders for a Festive Table portrait 8](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/diy-holiday-votives-centerpiece-2-733x486.jpg)
![diy holiday votives close up](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/diy-holiday-votives-close-up-733x489.jpg)
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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