Don't Whine Over Spilled Wine

I mentioned in a previous blog that sometimes things don't always go as planned on a project that I am working on. This happened to be the case with this one and it was 100% my fault. I currently have 5 different projects in the works and 3 of them are using a glue mixture, meaning glue mixed with water. This project needed UNDILUTED, full-strength glue in order to work, but I didn't pay attention and used the diluted one. I was going crazy trying to figure out why I wasn't getting the results I needed until I finally realized my error. A big palm to the forehead moment here, folks... 🤪

To begin this project, I started off with a clean empty wine bottle, then gave it a quick coating of gesso.

The next step is to paint a color on the bottle. Pick a color, any color. This will show through the next color you chose to paint over this layer. I chose a lime green base color, although it looks like light yellow in the photo.

Now it is here at this point where I should have painted a full-strength coating of glue on a long section and then quickly paint a second coat of a different color on top of it, but I used the diluted glue, and it didn't crackle. Yes! This is the effect I was going for here, but this is what I got below.

Even though I loved the colors together, no crackle doodle doo! Once I realized my mistake, I decided to give it another shot because I don't give up. So, I painted undiluted glue on a long section again and then painted lavender paint on top of it. Then it is imperative to place the bottle in front of a fan or else the crackle magic will not happen. So full strength glue and a fan, that's all. It's too bad I couldn't get it correct the first time, but it happens. Now you can see the crackle below.

I now needed to do the same all the way around doing a small, lengthwise section at a time. Please note that it only takes about a minute and a half+/- for the texture to crackle.

While I was working on this bottle, I did a little kitchen organizing and I came across this packaging below.

I looked at the plastic netting and a lightbulb went off! Ah ha! So, I cut the top part off and slipped the sleeve over the bottle. What a great upcycle and this netting will provide a great grip on the bottle when being used so it won't slip out of your hands easily. Now if you happen to be drinking wine when using this bottle, I can't guarantee anything. 😁

As you probably guessed by now, I am not much for pastel colors, so I needed something else to add to the bottle to give it some oomph, even though I carried on with the pastel palette. I found this left over napkin that I felt would work.

So, I cut out a few butterflies and decoupaged them on. To see how I decoupage, you can click the button below.

A Touch of Glass

And here's how the bottle was coming along.

I still was not all 'goo goo ga ga' over the baba, so I tried a little twine. It's a poly twine, so it's smooth to the touch and can be cleaned easily. I wonder if they still make it. The price shown on the right side of the packaging shows it cost 39 cents! LOL!!!

Before I added the twine, I added silver painted stampings of flowers in various places to add a little shimmer. Then I added the twine to the bottom first and then some on the neck. This also will keep the netting in place.

I feel that this bottle will make a nice gift and when ready to present, I will fill it with some of my homemade garlic vinegar. So, with knowing this, I added one of my handmade faux rice paper tags to it. This will be shown how to make in a future blog.

Now the bottle was complete sans the vinegar. Even though I would have liked this bottle to be bright in color before I messed up, I learned my lesson and will make another one or twenty in the near future. I'm thinking they'd be great to also use for gifts of flavored oils, scented bath oils, or even homemade wine. Just don't spill it! 😁

Before I go, I have added the website of my dear friend, Peter Pan. Not only is he one of the kindest people I know, but he's also extremely fascinating. He's won a prestigious award for his website that he designed himself and he has even been on TV shows, one being Conan O'Brien's Late Night. He writes, he composes his own music, he sings, he sews, and he even has his own ministry. Check out his website below when you have some time. It is fascinating read in itself.

Peter Pan's Homepage

*And if you want to see a throwback photo of Stephen and I at his wedding, check out the link below.

http://pixyland.org/peterpan/OurWedding4.html

Until we meet again next Wednesday, try your hand at upcycling something and have fun doing it!  

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