Fantasy Map Luminaries

A few years ago laxap posted these gorgeous Tea Light Lamps which I have always wanted to make myself.  I finally got around to it, though I made a geekier version.  I used video game maps instead of the Japanese prints used in the original. And like laxap's original, they are easy to make.

Materials:

• Tall glass
• Tea light
• 20 gauge wire
• Clay
• Print of map and game logo/icon
• Paint
• Gloss finish spray

Tools:

• Scissors
• Needle nose pliers
• Glue
• Paint brushes
• Clear tape
• Measuring tape

 Find the game map that you want to use, you can take a screen shot within the game or search the Internet.  Here are some suggestions:

• Skyrim
• The Legend of Zelda (I like this one)
• WOW
• Dragon Age
• Final Fantasy

If you want you can use maps from books, for example:

• Middle Earth or Thorin's map to the Lonely Mountain
• Maraude'rs Map
• Westeros
• Narnia

Try to pick one that is not too dark, hold it up to a window to make sure enough light will pass through. You will need to measure the height and circumference of you glass. Crop or re-size the map so it will fit on the glass.  Print out the map.  Spray with a coat of finish, I used a glossy spray.

To safely place the tea light into the tall glass once it is lit we need this nifty candle holder. Bend one end the wire into a spiral so that it is large enough to hold the tea light.  With the other end, bend over the rim of the glass. Make sure there is about 2-3cm of wire over the edge to attach the game logo/icon.

Choose the icon/logo that you want to use, you may be able to find them using a Google image search or from a screen shot (eg: Skyrim, Dragon Age, The Legend of Zelda, etc).  Re-size and print, it should be about 2-3 cm in height.  Cut out the image.  Form a piece of clay into the same shape (about 0.5cm thick) and attach to the bent end of the candle holder.

Once the clay had dried/baked, paint it a colour that matches the game logo/icon.  I used black for the Skyrim logo and gold for the Dragon Age one.  When the paint is dry, glue the logo/icon onto the front.

Apply tape along the inside edge of the map. Wrap tightly around the outside of the glass and stick the two edges of the map together. 

I put one of the maps (the map of Ferelden -Dragon Age) on the inside of the glass to use with an LED tea light.  I like the way the map looks behind glass -but this should only be used with an LED light do not use an open flame.