DIY Decorating Luminara Battery Candles

Who doesn't love battery operated candles? You can turn them on and forget about them, without worry of something catching on fire or you candle wax melting and spilling over onto the carpet. They are a great source of ambient lighting and they are perfectly safe. You can use them in centerpieces for holidays, in kid's rooms and even for special occasions, like weddings. But there are times that we all think, I wish this candle had a little more pizzazz. There is a way to dress up those plain candles, you just have to get creative.

Photo: Crafting Rebellion 

All you have to have for this project is Luminara battery operated candles in any sizes (white or ivory is best), some tissue paper in a pattern that will match the decor  of your room or event, modge podge, scissors and a foam brush. That's it and you are ready to get crafting!


Get out your candles out to measure them. Stand them up and measure them with a ruler. Be sure to leave just a bit of extra length on your tissue paper. It is always best to have a little more than too little. Then cut out your rectangle of tissue paper.

Time to get out your modge podge and cover about 1/3 of your candle. Now lay your paper over the modge podge and gently smooth it out. Tissue paper is very fragile so be sure not to touch it with sticky finger or your paper will lift right off. Just continue on with the same pattern of adding modge podge, paper and smoothing it out until the candle is covered.

When you get the candle covered and find where the edges meet, you need to trim any excess off so that you have very little overlapping.

Photo: Crafting Rebellion

After you have let the candle sit and the modge podge has dried a little you can trim around the bottom of the candle to clean up any edges. If you have any loose edges at the top just add a little more modge podge and smooth it out.

Now, let your candle sit and get really dry. Then you will want to add one more coat of all over modge podge to seal the outside of the candle. The more layers you add, the glossier it will appear and any wrinkles will become less noticeable.

There you have it, a simple and fun way to spice up those plain Luminara candles for any occasion! Now it is time to sit back and enjoy.

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Hannah
All American Christmas Co. 

Lighted Wedding Backdrop

We have all seen the pictures with those beautifully lit backdrop, using Christmas lights and fabric. We might have even been a little envious that we cannot all have one at our wedding or event. Well now with all the DIY projects out there, you can have the photos you've always dreamed of and you won;t have to break the bank for it. I know some people are out there thinking, what lights would I use? How would I attach them? Well that is exactly what we are here for. There are a few perfect lighting options for this project.

Curtain Lights

Curtain lights are great for a project of this sort. They have a uniform look, which is great for backgrounds of head tables and cake tables at weddings. Most people won't want too much going on behind them as far as a pattern of light goes. Simple is better.  These look stunning when draped with a little sheer fabric to soften the glow just a bit. Curtain lights come in white, green and black wire with white (clear) lights.

Globe Lights

Globe lights are a wonderful choice if you want something a little more outside of the box. These lights are something that you could use for a background of a photo booth or even for a wedding ceremony. Since globe lights come in different sixes, you could even consider mixing them up a bit. Try using G40 and G50 bulbs alternating on the string for a whimsical feel. You also might try using clear and pearl white to give your lights a little more depth. These look great hanging in front of sheer fabric or even just right against the wall.

Fairy Lights

Fairy lights, the faithful light string. These are a tried and true form of lighting for all occasions and events. These would make a great background if you wanted something that was much easier to customize. You can buy as many strings as you like and hang them in any pattern you choose. There are many lengths and colors to choose from. There would be something for every budget and decor. These look great in front of or behind fabric.



We have found a great DIY backdrop frame blog too. It's simple, very easy to understand and it is very inexpensive. This is great project for those that want to build their own instead of renting one, which could end up costing hundreds of dollars! Check out, Dandelions on the Wall.

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Hannah
All American Christmas Co.

DIY Hula Hoop Chandelier

Does your patio desperately  need a lighting update? Well if you have a couple of hours and little extra cash,
you will have a very classy and very cool chandelier to spice up the lighting in your outdoor living space. All you have to have for this project is a hula hoop, ribbon, hot glue gun, a little twine and a string of icicle lights.

First, cut 8 pieces of twine about 3 feet long, this way you'll be able to tie them together at the ends to hang it. Start tying them onto the hula hoop, they should look like spokes on a bike wheel.

Next, grab your ribbon and the hot glue gun. put a few dots of glue where you want to start wrapping your ribbon, just to secure it. Wrap your ribbon all the way around your hula hoop, be sure to not leave any space uncovered. When you reach a piece of twine, be sure to cover the knot with ribbon and continue wrapping. Secure the end with a little hot glue.

Then it is time to start attaching your icicle lights. In our opinion, using zip ties are perfect for this. They are  simple and quick, plus you won't even notice them. Just wrap the lights around, they won't be perfect but that is part of the fun in this project.

Now, pull all of your strings together and tie them in one knot. Be sure to even it out and make the hula hoop pretty balanced. Plug in an extension cord and hoist it up to the ceiling.

This project is very easy and can be used for so many occasions, but using it for outdoor lighting is perfect. It gives of an almost romantic glow. Have fun and try it out! You might surprise yourself with how much you enjoy it and you get satisfaction of knowing you did all yourself.

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Hannah
All American Christmas Co.

Christmas Light Clips on Sale

We are blowing out all our most popular christmas light clips! Prices are knocked down and we are still offering 10% off any online order of $40 or more so stock up know and save.

All American Christmas Co. carries a variety of clips for hanging / mounting lights to a variety of surfaces. All in One and All in One Plus clips allow you to put lights quickly around your roof or clipped to gutters and hold a number of bulbs. Our icicle lights offer fast icicle light string installation (just remember to take them down before valentines day people!). Our Shingle tabs (seen on the left) are great for holding C7 and C9 bulbs under shingles and if you use a parapet clip you can easily outline a building with just some silicon adhesive!

Check out all the Christmas light clips we have to offer and stock now!

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Zach

Patriotic Lights and Displays

The Fourth of July is just around the corner and I know everyone is getting excited for the cookouts and parties that come with it. But have you thought about how to decorate for your favorite summer gathering? Here at All American Christmas Company, we are proud to offer a selection of patriotic lights and decorations so that you can show your American pride.

Starlight spheres are great for using outside for late night parties and barbecues. We offer a large selection of sizes, including spheres on stakes to line walkways and driveways. There are even special patriotic options, such as the USA sphere that resembles the American flag and solid colored red, white and blue. You cannot go wrong with this festive globe of light.

I know most people don't think about using light displays for much more than around Christmas time, but we have some great patriotic light displays that are perfect for this time of the year. We offer an American flag and USA in red, white and blue. These are great for hanging outside for your July 4th barbecue. It will not only give a little extra light but also show you're proud to be an American.

One other option to consider is string lights in patriotic colors. These are available in all of your favorite light styles; LED bulbs and strings, mini lights, icicle lights and rope light. Any of the more traditional patriotic lights will work with your decor and give you some fun light so that the party can continue into the night.




Try to get creative with your lighting and have fun. You cannot go wrong with any these options, any of them will be sure to show your American pride on the fourth of July!

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Hannah
All American Christmas Co.