DIY: 'America the Beautiful' Votive Holder

This stunning votive holder quotes the classic patriotic song "America the Beautiful" and is a gorgeous addition to your Fourth of July table!

For this craft, you will need:

- 3" square votive holder

- Yes® Glue, or any glue that will adhere to glass and dry clear

- Shrink paper

- Laser printer with dark blue ink

- Rubber lettering stamps

- Red ink pad

- Hole punch

- Raffia

- White cardstock

- Tea bags

- Vanilla votive candle

Start by laser printing the following onto shrink paper in fancy dark blue script:

O beautiful for spacious skies / For amber waves of grain / For purple mountain majesty / Above the fruited plain / America! America! God shed His grace on thee / And crown thy good with brotherhood / From sea to shining sea

Repeat the words as necessary until the whole shrink page is full of script. Heat the shrink paper as recommended by the manufacturer. After it has cooled, cut the shrink paper to the size of one side of the votive holder. Adhere the shrink paper directly to one side of the votive with the Yes Glue and allow it to dry. (Note: Instead of laser printing, this can be hand scrawled or stamped onto the shrink paper with dark blue solvent ink.)

In a shallow pan, place the white cardstock at the bottom and layer several teabags on top of the cardstock. Boil hot water on the stove, and pour enough over the paper and tea bags so that they are fully submerged. Allow the paper to steep and color in the tea for an hour and a half. Carefully remove the cardstock, dry off excess liquid with paper towels, and layer between two paper towels between two heavy books overnight or until completely dry.

When the cardstock has dried, it should have a nice parchment color to it. With the red ink pad and rubber lettering stamps, spell out America the Beautiful. Cut the lettering out to form a tag. Punch a small hole in one end of the tag and thread the raffia through. Wrap the raffia tag around the votive holder and secure it with a small bow.

Insert the vanilla votive candle, and enjoy! This makes a perfect gift or is wonderful for use in your own home.