DIY Tiki Torches

DIY tiki torches are simple to make and keep the bugs away all summer long.

Summer may not officially begin until late June, but we start our summer celebrations as soon school ends.

So that means spending a LOT of time outdoors.

But with the outdoors comes the bugs!

Today’s project will not only dress up your outdoor space, but help keep those pesky bugs at bay.

Tiki torches are a great way to keep the bugs away while you enjoy the outdoors, but they can be pricey and often come as large stakes that go out in the yard.

Keep your patio or deck bug free with these inexpensive DIY Tiki Torches that you can move around and place on any surface.

And you can dress them up any way you like!

I even made some fun patriotic tiki torches for the 4th of July!

Supplies:

Glass bottles

Sand

Wicks

Torch fuel

Copper couplings (reducing 1/2″x3/8″)

You can upcycle bottles from your kitchen or purchase them fairly inexpensively.

You can find the couplings in the plumbing section of your local hardware store.

They are ~$1.50 each.

These glass bottles can be decorated or not.

If you do choose to decorate them, dress them up to match your outdoor decor.

I used DecoArt Glass Paint Markers to draw stems and leave on the bottles.

The paint becomes permanent and won’t wash off if you follow the directions on the markers to heat them in the oven.

Unfortunately, this also makes the bottles lose their color.

If you plan to keep the tiki torches out of the weather and only bring them out when you are using them, you may prefer not to heat them.

Once the glass cooled, I used E6000 to glue flowers to the glass.

This adhesive has a great hold and is also waterproof.

To prevent the flowers from sliding on the glass while the adhesive dries you an wrap each flower with a piece of twine or ribbon. 

Distribute 1 bag of sand between 2 bottles then fill with torch oil.

The wicks will be a little loose when slipped through the coupling.

Use wire to help keep them in place.

Cut a piece of wire ~8″ long.

Wrap half of the wire around a pen or pencil.

Slip the wick through the new coils, being sure that the coils aren’t too snug – you want to be able to move the wick up as needed when it’s been burned away.

Wrap remaining wire around the bottom, smaller end of the copper coupling then up and over the lip at the top of the coupling.

Then coupling will sit in the opening of the bottle.

To make the patriotic tiki torches, you will need a white DecoArt Glass Paint Marker and some patriotic ribbon.

Draw stars on one bottle with the marker and stripes on the other.

Bake (or not!) according to directions then tie bows on after bottle are cooled.

Fill and create wicks following previous directions.

Once the wicks have soaked up the oil you are ready to light them. 

Only light outdoors!

When you are ready to put the fire out, use an old glass vase or Mason jar turned upside down over the flame.

Hold in place until the glass starts to fill with smoke.

I love how they turned out!

Even plain, they would be the perfect accessories for your patio, deck, or balcony to keep the bugs at bay.

For just a few dollars you have created some fun and useful new outdoor decor.

I can see making a LOT more of these this summer to place all around the patio!

 

>> See where I party! <<

 

This post was originally shared June, 2015.