DIY Dark And Moody Wall Decor With This Dollar Tree Crafting Mainstay

Put a versatile mini wood pallet from Dollar Tree in front of an avid crafter, and it can become nearly anything. Brandi, the offbeat crafter behind the YouTube channel The DIY Struggle, used them to make a pair of tea light sconces. They first gave the Dollar Tree picture frames an aged patina to set off the darkly painted pallets. Outfitted with a glass tea light holder and flickering LED flame, the results are worthy of Wednesday Addams' dorm room.

To replicate this project, you'll need two Crafter's Square Wood Pallet and a pack of Clear Glass Tea Light Candle Holders from Dollar Tree. Brandi used ornate gold picture frames, also from Dollar Tree. If you can't find this exact product, you can keep it cheap with another gilded Dollar Tree option, like this Special Moments Embossed Gold Photo Frame. If you're willing to bend the budget for a more ornate option, this pair of Splinterix 5x7 Gold Picture Frames, available for $19.99 on Amazon, could fit the bill. This DIY is easy to tweak if moody gothic isn't your fave aesthetic. Just follow the basic steps with the color scheme and accents of your choice. Bring in earth tones and natural materials to make rustic wall decor, or coat them in a bold color that'll be a magnet for the eyes.

As for tools and supplies, gather together a painting sponge and brush, black chalk paint, gold metallic paint, jewelry-gauge wire, a nail or awl to poke holes, needle-nose pliers, and two LED tea lights. You'll also need a hot glue gun and wood glue.

First, remove the backs and glass from your frames. Paint both the pallets and the inside of the frames' paper backing black. Sponge conservative amounts of black paint over the frames' detailing. Start light, since some gold from the frame should show through. Once the paint on the frame backings is dry, brush on gold paint using light, horizontal strokes. Replace the backing in each frame. Place the pallet on the backing so there's an even margin around the edges, and glue it to the backing with both hot glue and wood glue.

With your pliers, bend two pieces of jewelry wire around the curve of the candleholders. Cut the wire, leaving about 3 inches of slack beyond the jar on both sides. Using an awl or a nail, poke two horizontal holes through the backing between the slats of the pallets. Slip the ends of the wire through the holes, and hold them in place either by twisting the two ends together or holding them down with a strip of masking tape.

The wire attaching the glass tea light holders to the frame will allow you to slide the holders in and out, opening up customization possibilities for a changeable look. Paint the jars themselves or turn them into chic seasonal decor by decoupaging them to herald in any holiday. Make the wire pieces slightly longer to accommodate different containers, like these Dollar Tree Hurricane Glass Candle Holders. Place LED tea lights in each candleholder. Hang them as part of a gallery wall, on either side of your front door to decorate your foyer, or in any room that could use a bit of brooding ambiance.