CRAFTING: Easy Patchwork Bottles Decor

I like working with glass because of its sparkling transparency. Even when covered up, as I've done with these bottles, it's still exciting to feel the heftiness of glass in my hands.

Quick, decorative craft technique for bottles.

I had thrown so many bottles away that I put my foot down and declared I'm going to find a quick, decorative technique so that I can salvage these bottles.

Wire-wrapped, paper patchwork, decoupaged bottles.

Before I tore up my papers, I decided on a color scheme of: 

• whites/creams/silvers for the 1st bottle,
• pinks/mauves/fuchsias for the 2nd,
• and golds/silvers/cremes/whites for the 3rd.

Once I tore up a supply of various papers, it was easy to apply glue to each piece and stick it to the bottle.  I started from the bottom and worked up to the top of each one.  Once finished, I painted each bottle with a matte sealer.  I decided to add another fav medium, craft wire, to the largest bottle.  I chose a golden wire and twisted a design with wire pliers.  Wrapping it around the bottle, I crimped each end back onto the wire, securing it.

Salvage old bottles and cover with paper scraps and wire.

I painted and embellished a wooden ball for the top of one bottle, attaching it securely with tacky glue.

Glitter, wire, paint, bugle beads and tiny Styrofoam ball used to embellish wooden ball topper for patchwork bottles by Artsy Craftery.

I kept the black, plastic, twist-on cap on the silvery bottle, decoupaging it with silver paper. I then formed a sculptural design on top of the cap with another piece of the paper.

White paint and gold metallic pen used to decorate cork bottle stopper.

Salvaged metal ring and beads from costume jewelry attached with wire.

I really like my design for the cork stopper that I used for the gold and silver bottle. I painted it with a spiral design and glued it into the top of the bottle. I created a sculptural topper for the bottle cork out of reclaimed metal, wire and beads. The metal disk had a metal post on it (it was part of an old pierced earring), which I stuck into a glue-filled hole in the cork.

Felt used to pad bottoms of paper patchwork and wire bottles.

The most time-consuming part of this technique is, of course, designing the paper patchwork design. Once you get started it goes very quickly.  I like my work to be finished on all surfaces, so I cut and glued craft felt to the bottom of each bottle.  It helps keep them from sliding off of shelves, and protects surfaces.

Silver metallic paper used in decoupage.

I like looking at these bottles.  They dress up any table or shelf with a pretty flash of creativity. Get busy!

Make your creative flash today!