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What you need
Battery tea light candles
Printed Decorative Ribbon, Silk or Paper.
Craft Glue
Instructions
Plain battery tea lights are one of those craft supplies that are handy to keep around, but they can look a little basic straight out of the packet. The good news is that they are incredibly easy to dress up and turn into something much more decorative. With just a strip of ribbon and a few minutes, you can transform a simple flameless tea light into a themed party decoration that looks thoughtful, creative, and surprisingly polished.
One of the easiest ways to customize these little lights is to choose ribbon that matches your event or celebration. This works beautifully for baby showers, birthday parties, Christmas tablescapes, Diwali celebrations, wedding decor, or even seasonal home decorating. You can use satin ribbon for a softer elegant look, printed ribbon for themed parties, or metallic and festive trims for holiday centerpieces. It is such a simple upgrade, but it instantly makes the tea light feel more personal and coordinated.
For our own Diwali party, we used Indian-style paper ribbon to add color and pattern to the outside of the tea lights. It was a quick and budget-friendly way to tie the decorations together while also adding a warm glow to the table. The finished tea lights worked perfectly as little centerpieces and helped bring in that extra handmade touch that makes party decor feel special.
To make them, simply measure and wrap your chosen ribbon around the outside edge of the battery tea light. Trim it to fit neatly, then secure it in place with double-sided tape or a small amount of craft glue. Once finished, you have a creative centerpiece that can be scattered across tables, placed in party settings, added to gift displays, or used as part of a festive mantle arrangement.
This is a great craft for anyone who wants a fast party decoration idea without spending a lot of money. It is also easy enough to make in batches, which makes it perfect for larger events and celebrations. By changing the ribbon, you can reuse the same idea again and again for different occasions throughout the year.
Why this idea works so well
- Quick to make
- Easy to customize
- Budget-friendly for party decorating
- Safe flameless option for tables and displays
- Great for holidays, weddings, baby showers, and cultural celebrations
Creative ribbon ideas to try
- Baby shower ribbon in pink, blue, or neutral prints
- Christmas ribbon with holly, plaid, or gold accents
- Diwali-inspired paper ribbon with bright colors and metallic details
- Wedding ribbon in lace, ivory, or satin
- Birthday ribbon with bright playful patterns
- Rustic ribbon such as burlap-look trims for farmhouse decor
These upcycled battery tea lights are proof that even the simplest craft supply can be turned into something eye-catching with just a little creativity. They are fun to make, easy to personalize, and ideal for adding a handmade touch to your next celebration.
Two years ago I used tea lights to decorate at a wedding by gluing “snow glitter” to the top of tea lights, gathering crepe paper and gluing that to the sides. I covered the sides with ribbon and a small bow to make it look good and hold everything together. GENTLY stretching the crepe paper made them look professional.
That’s really cute! I was wondering what I was going to do with that adhesive ribbon I bought at Easter – now I know!! Thanks for the idea!!
Too cute!
It is a craft – just because it’s not difficult or time consuming doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. I like the idea of dressing these little guys up. Thanks for the idea.
Yes . I do call it a craft as i make alot of 3D projects like houses-Lanterns-Beach Houses they look really good inside & i think if I decorate them they will look even better than been just plain white, check them out on scrapbookingmad & see for yourself.
oh come on.. you’re not REALLY calling this a CRAFT are you?
I have alot of these Tea lights, will give it a go.