I love chandeliers, and I have been collecting them for years. I also am very frugal, and it’s hard to find them at a price I am willing to pay. My dining room solid brass one was a steal at $40, at an auction years ago. It was stuffed into a cardboard box, and all of it’s crystals were in a pile at the bottom. (it pays to dig in boxes, you never know what treasures await! haha)
I had been wanting to replace the fixtures in the kitchen for some time with chandeliers, but waited patiently for a good deal. I was very fortunate to find 2 vintage brass chandeliers in perfect condition for over the sink, and in the middle of the room. I scoured Facebook marketplace, and someone was renovating their house, and they didn’t fit their style! Win win for me!
I found a third chandelier at a Restore. It was solid brass, but had been painted black and was missing all of its crystals. For $20, I knew I could bring it back to life! It would fit perfectly over the table! Some steel wool took the black paint off enough to let the brass shine through.
We purchased some new candle sleeves. There were a couple vintage wax dripped ones on there, but they were painted with black paint and it didn’t come off very easily. The new ones looked too “new” to me. I wanted the actual vintage wax dripped ones, but they are hard to find and are so expensive. I created my own, using the vintage ones on my chandelier over the sink as a reference.
New light sleeve covers 
I wanted the sleeves to look like these that are original vintage ones.
All I used was a glue gun and gold paint! I began by glueing strips of glue around the top of the sleeve. The trick to creating that “wax dripped” look is squishing a small bulb of glue a little way down the sleeve, and letting off of the trigger of the gun as you glue towards the top of the sleeve. (it sounds more complicated than it is) This creates the look of “wax dripping down from the top.” If you mess up, peel the glue off and start again!
You can see how the hot glue created a “wax dripped” effect
After the glue was dry, I took a small paint brush and painted the entire top of the sleeve, and the glue drips, with gold paint, using the original sleeves as my guide! Adding some crystals that I had on hand, and some I purchased on Amazon, the chandelier was complete!
Take some gold paint 
Presto! Vintage looking candle sleeves!
I am so thrilled how these turned out!! And seriously, how easy is that? My find from the Restore has definitely been given a new life!
One of my grandma’s favourite crafting tool was her glue gun, and I am happy to say that mine has come in handy on more than one occasion!
As always, thank you so much for stopping by! I appreciate each and every one of you!
I noticed Oliver. He fits and matches your decor. Also it was a privilege to see the chandeliers in person!!! They look amazing!! Such creativity!!!! Such fun!!!!! Love Mom.
Thanks Mom xo
That’s amazing Tracey! Looks awesome.
Thanks so much Marg! xo
What a great idea to create dripping wax on candle covers with a glue gun. My grandmother too would have loved using a glue gun, but they were not available when she was busy making her creations.
Hi Debbie! What would we ever do without a glue gun?? haha! I would be lost!
Do you get them retired? I have three that had the wire cut. 🙁
Rewired!
Hi Pam! We didn’t need to get them rewired, thankfully!!!
This is the perfect hack! I always love your chandeliers! You got such great deals on them!
Thanks Ann! xo