This Unexpected DIY Transforms Faux Produce Into Gorgeous Table Décor These candlesticks elevate any tablescape. Close Credit: Ashley Poskin One question I’m always asked as a long-time thrifter is how I style the vintage goods and décor I buy in my home. The answer isn’t as straightforward as I’d like it to be, because often I’m buying items I like, but don’t know how to use until I get home—and sometimes it's months or even years before I know how I'm going to use them. I’ve found that if you consistently buy what speaks to you, everything will eventually come together, creating a cohesive space with all the things you love. Take, for example, my collection of vintage papier-mâché fruits and vegetables. Found in grab bags for around $8 to $12, I've amassed quite the collection over the years. I never really knew what I was buying them for, but I was holding out, waiting for the perfect project to highlight their uniqueness. Credit: Ashley Poskin Recently, while cleaning my collection of brass candlesticks, I realized that the nozzles on most were detachable. That realization immediately got the gears turning, and I started thinking about what I could add to the candlesticks to give them even more charm. I’ve always loved metal toleware fruit and floral pendant lights, and somehow that led to the idea of making a sort of shish kebab situation with the vintage candlesticks and papier-mâché fruits and vegetables. This ended up being such a fun project, and I’m already looking forward to hunting for more candlesticks to use with my other papier-mâché produce! If you’re on the hunt for these beautifully handmade Mexican folk art pieces to add to your tablescape, you can buy them new or vintage on Etsy. Creating these produce candlesticks is really easy. You can stop at drilling through the fruit and sticking it on the candlestick, or you can add more detail using floral wire and craft foil. Here’s how to do it. Don't Miss These DIY Seashell Frames Are Inspired By Sailors' Valentines—Here's How to Make One I Turned a $7 Teapot From Goodwill Into a Vase and Flower Frog—Here's How What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Drill Various drill bit sizes (depending on your candlestick diameter) Wire cutters (optional) Materials An assortment of papier mâché fruits and vegetables Vintage candlesticks with detachable parts E6000 glue Candlestick bud vases (optional) Spray paint (optional) Floral wire (optional) Floral tape (optional) Craft foil (optional) Instructions Make your pairings: Credit: Ashley Poskin Once you have a selection of candlesticks with detachable parts and papier mâché fruits, play around with each to see which pairs best together. Paint the candlesticks (optional): If you have cheaper metal candlesticks that are different colors, give the collection a more cohesive look by spray painting them a few similar shades of green. Drill holes: Credit: Ashley Poskin Once you’ve decided on pairings, find a drill bit the size of the candlestick, and drill a hole through the top and bottom sides of the papier mâché fruits. Assemble candles: Credit: Ashley Poskin Unscrew the candlestick and slide the fruit on. Use E6000 to glue it in place. Add leaves and stems (optional): You can take this project a bit further by creating leaves and stems out of craft foil and floral wire. Trace out a leaf shape onto the foil, cut around it, then add veining using a sharp pencil or the tip of a pen. Spray paint the foil green to make it look more realistic. Floral wire works well as a stem and can bend slightly or be twisted into a coil very easily. Attach the leaves to the stem using E600 glue, then attach the stem to the candlestick using floral tape. Add candles: Credit: Ashley Poskin Complete the project by displaying candles in various colors inside the completed paper mâché fruit candlesticks. To add even more whimsy, swap a few taper candles for glass test tubes or bud DIY vases and fill them with water and flowers. Explore more: DIY Projects & Crafts Rescue & Revamp