Hi everyone! I’m really excited about today’s project, because I have an altered bottle tutorial to share with you!
I love anything shabby or distressed, and a shabby altered bottle is something I’ve wanted to create for quite some time.
I started with this empty Trader Joe’s Maple Syrup bottle. I loved the shape of it, which is probably part of the reason I purchased the syrup!
I painted the bottle with two coats of Americana Decor Chalky Paint, in a pretty pink shade called Innocence. I painted right over the existing labels on the front and back, as the circle outline would provide a nice border for a vintage decoupaged image.
While the paint dried, I printed out and measured the vintage graphic I chose for the front and back of the bottle. I found this graphic at The Graphic Fairy’s website here. She has an amazing collection of vintage images!
Here’s the images cut out and sprayed with acrylic sealer. I used Antique Mod Podge to decoupage them onto the bottle.
I dry-brushed some Chalky Paint in an ivory shade called Whisper to provide a bit of depth and some aging. When you dry brush, you use very little paint on the tips of the brush, and lightly brush that paint here and there all over the bottle.
Once the bottle was dry, I distressed it using both a sanding block and an emery board. This gives it even more of an aged appearance.
I sanded down to the glass in certain areas, especially where natural aging would occur on the handles, edges, and the bottle’s opening.
Make sure to distress any decoupaged images to give an aged appearance. Some of the Trader Joe’s label came through when I sanded, adding to the aged look even further.
Using creme wax over Chalky Finish paint isn’t necessary, but I like to use it to add depth and to give an old-world, aged look. I mixed Americana Decor creme waxes in clear and brown shades.
I dipped a plastic spoon into the brown wax and let most of it drip back into the jar.
I put a small amount of clear wax (which looks milky white but dries clear) in a recycled jar lid, then used the plastic spoon (with the brown wax on it) to mix the two wax colors together.
Here’s the color I ended up with. If you want it lighter, add more clear wax; to make it darker add more brown wax.
I applied the wax with a cotton swab to a small section of the bottle:
I spread the wax using the cotton swab, leaving some spots more textured than others:
I continued applying wax in small sections until the entire bottle was covered. Then I let it dry.
I buffed the bottle just a bit, and then it was time to add some decorative ribbons. I wrapped strips of vintage seam binding and vintage lace trim around the bottle opening and tied it in a knot. Easy peasy!
Here’s a close-up of the lower half:
Here’s the front of my Shabby Altered Bottle:
And here’s what the back looks like:
Have you altered bottles before? Now that I’ve finally created one in a shabby style, I’ll definitely be making more of these!
Happy crafting!
~Laura
I love this project! What a beautiful way to recycle glass bottles!
Jen recently posted…The Driftwood Gardens Oddity Store is Open
Thanks Jen! I’m definitely on the lookout for more bottles with unique and fun shapes!
Laura / Pet Scribbles recently posted…Shabby Altered Bottle Tutorial
Hi Laura, I enjoyed your tutorial, you did a very thorough job explaining every step. I have some bottles I will have to try this with. I usually work with furniture (I paint funky furniture) so I have chalk paint and such, now to decide on a bottle…I think I have several Vases in mind too!
Oooh Carolyn – after taking a look at your fun – and funky – furniture on your blog, I can’t wait to see what you come up with! Thanks for the compliment as well on the tutorial – I really appreciate it!
Laura / Pet Scribbles recently posted…Peat Pot Wedding Favors DIY and Video
Ooh, isn’t that the most perfect shade of pink?!? What a beautiful finished bottle… I love that you kept the old labels on to provide a background “frame” for your own labels.
How did you keep the Mod Podge from migrating off the new labels onto the pink paint? And where did the dark brown areas come from when you sanded down the pink paint–if the bottle was clear? (Sorry to ask so many questions. *hangs head in shame*)
I’ve been setting aside a few bottles and jars in the hopes of someday altering them, and thanks to you, Laura, I now know how to get started!: ) xoxo
Thanks Pat! So glad you enjoyed this tutorial! To answer your questions in order…
For the label, I used a very small brush to apply the Mod Podge both underneath it and on the top of it. And I waited to apply the Mod Podge on top of the image until the image underneath had mostly dried. When I use Mod Podge on images, I apply it VERY thinly toward the edges, knowing a bit of it may seep out of the sides. And when it seeps out as I smooth it, I use a cotton swab – or even just my finger – to quickly wipe any excess away.
The dark brown areas that appear “through” the pink paint once I sanded are actually the glass itself! I think those areas look brown because the bottle is dark inside, since the entire outside is painted and no light can really get through. So…nothing fancy, just pure luck! 🙂
Hope you make some of these and share them with us!
Laura / Pet Scribbles recently posted…Layering Ribbons on a Vase
I love this tutorial and I am excited to try one myself. Trader Joe’s, here I come!
Whoo-hoo for Trader Joe’s! We would love to see what you create Cheryl, so keep us posted! 🙂
Laura / Pet Scribbles recently posted…I Love Petunias!
Laura you really make something beautiful here! Love it!
Thank you Malia! I really appreciate it!
Laura / Pet Scribbles recently posted…Thrift Store Lamp Gets Gorgeous with Copper and Patina Finish