Candle shades, like lampshades, were once a popular way to dress up candlelight. However, they were also very dangerous because they could catch fire in seconds.
I am putting these candle shade instructions here because they can be made to create a certain ambience, but only when used with battery candles. Real candles should not be used due to the risk of fire.
Neat Candle Shade (1909)
All manner of fairs and bazaars and lawn parties are being held for one purpose or another and those in charge are on the lookout for things both novel and useful. Attractive candle shades fill the bill admirably, as they prove ready sellers.
One of the most effective and at the same time inexpensive variety of shades is made on a frame of heavy waterproof paper, painted black, with a thin paper, such as Japanese rice paper or very thin water color paper, painted in beautiful bright colors and lined in India ink to give the effect of leaded glass. It is very simple to make and charming when finished and lighted.
The design for a round candle shade is given and one-fourth of the pattern. The pattern is merely repeated four times, with a half-inch seam at each end, to be turned in at right angles to the shade and fastened with brads.
Another way to finish is to leave a flap on one side only and glue the other side over it.
A strong glue must be used; mucilage or photograph paste will not do.
The first step is to trace the pattern on the heavy water color paper by means of carbon paper, then paint it black and cut it out. The frame will then look like the small diagram in the upper right-hand corner of the sketch.
Next the panels may be traced and painted in water color, using these colors: clouds, white; sky, light cobalt blue; water, darker blue; trees, green; hills in middle distance, yellow green; hills in distance, violet; castle, medium gray, with roofs in soft terra cotta; windows, purple; bridge, darker gray than castle, underneath part of bridge purple; reflection of bridge in water, purple; reflection of clouds in water, white.
When the paint is perfectly dry go over all the lines with India ink and a coarse pen. The panels are now ready to glue into the frame.
The tiny thumb sketch in the upper left-hand corner of the cut shows the complete shade.
Source: Audubon Republican. (Audubon, Iowa), 12 Aug. 1909.
Easy to Make for Christmas Table (1915)
Here are two candle shades easy to make for your Christmas table.
For the white shade a four-sided frame of cardboard is needed. On this is pasted three rows of ruffled white crepe paper. The best crepe paper, you know, can be shirred exactly like cloth and the ruffling is made by simply pulling out the “stretch” on the edge.
A band of red crepe paper rope finishes the top edge and two bright red poinsettias are glued one on each side.
The other, a round shade, can be made of a circular piece of red cardboard in which are windows of white crepe paper. On each window is pasted a Santa Claus seal. When the light shines through, each little figure stands out clearly.
Source: The day book. (Chicago, Ill.), 17 Dec. 1915.
