Frosting and Other Decorative Techniques for Altering Bottles– Tutorial

For those of you who love altering bottles like I do, I have some fun and easy techniques to share with you.  I’ve created four altered bottles using a different technique on each bottle.  Three are Valentine themed (shown in the picture above) and one is winter themed.  I’ll walk you through how I altered each bottle and explain the products and techniques I used.

Blue and Silver Winter Themed Frosted Bottle

The winter themed altered bottle was inspired by a cobalt blue bottle.  To me this bottle screams “winter” and is begging to be frosted.  For this project I’ll show you how to use stickers to create a mask and how to apply Frosted Glass Spray to a bottle.

Start with a clean bottle.  Next, apply snowflake stickers to the bottle in the design you desire.  Make sure the stickers are flush against the bottle to insure that the spray does not seep under the stickers.

To create the frosted effect I used Rust-oleum Specialty Frosted Glass spray.  You can find the spray in many hardware and paint stores.  I purchased my can at Home Depot.

There are some important items to note in order to obtain a good result. 

• First, shake the can longer than it says in the cans directions; particularly when the can is full.  This stuff is really hard to mix-up.  The can says 2 minutes but shake it longer. 
• Be sure to work in a well ventilated area.
• Keep the bottle and spray can moving to avoid the spray concentrating in one area.  Into the bottle I insert a large paintbrush handle wrapped in a piece of paper towel so that the handle fits snugly.  This gives me a way to hold the bottle securely and allows me to turn the bottle while spraying.

• If you are using stickers as a mask, spray the bottle lightly.  The spray will dry darker.  If you get too much frosting on the bottle you will not be able to lift the stickers without lifting the frosting.  You might want to practice on a piece of glass before tackling the bottle.
• If you make a mistake and want to start over, soak the bottle in warm sudsy water then you can easily remove the frosting and start over.

Below is a video demonstrating how to frost the bottle.

Once the frosting is dry (I give it 30 minutes to be sure), use the point of an X-Acto knife to gently lift the stickers from the bottle and reveal the pattern.

Before and after frosting.

I applied Glossy Accents to the neck of the bottle and sprinkled it with Diamond Dust to give it an icy look. 

I used two silver beads (glued together with E-6000 glue) as the stopper.  The wire from the ends of the acrylic wheat sprays are inserted into the beads.  I hung 2 different silver snowflakes from the wheat sprays using jump rings.  The entire assembly is glued to top of the bottle using E-6000 glue.

To finish the décor, I added more of the same stickers I used for the frosting process, dabs of Silver Stickles and some clear rhinestones.

Blue and Silver Bottle Supply List

• 1 oz Boston Round Glass Bottle – Cobalt Blue
• Dazzles Pearl Blue Snowflake Stickers – Used as a mask and to decorate the bottle
• Silver Stickles – Used to decorate the bottle

         Items Used for the Bottle Topper

• Clear Acrylic Bead Sprays – Wheat
• Antique Silver Swirl Oval Ornament – Small
• Antique Silver Ornament Bead – Large
• Antique Silver Snowflakes
• Antique Silver Lacy Snowflakes
• E-6000 Adhesive – Used to glue the topper in place

Frosted Pink and Gold Bottle

With the Valentine themed bottle pictured to the left, I’ll demonstrate another option using the Frosting Spray.  Instead of masking the bottle with stickers and then frosting the bottle, I first frost the entire bottle and apply the stickers after as a decoration.  Unlike the blue winter themed bottle, with this option you can apply the spray as thick as you like.

Just as with frosting the blue bottle there are some important items to keep in mind.

• First, shake the can longer than it says in the cans directions; particularly when the can is full.  This stuff is really hard to mix-up.  The can says 2 minutes but shake it longer. 
• Be sure to work in a well ventilated area.
• Keep the bottle and spray can moving to avoid the spray concentrating in one area.  Into the bottle I insert a large paintbrush handle wrapped in a piece of paper towel so that the handle fits snugly.  This gives me a way to hold the bottle securely and allows me to turn the bottle while spraying.
• Spray one layer then allow it to dry about 30 seconds before spraying the next layer.  Continue in this fashion till you have applied as much as you desire.  Remember the bottle will dry darker than it appears when it is wet.
• If you make a mistake and want to start over, soak the bottle in warm sudsy water then you can easily remove the frosting and start over.

Below is a video demonstrating how to frost the bottle.

In the picture below you can see the before and after versions of the bottle.

Once the frosting is dry (I give it 30 minutes to be sure), you can begin decorating the bottle.  I added gold heart stickers and used Flamingo and Avocado Liquid Pearls paint to add color to the bottle.

I used E-6000 glue to combine the arrow, cherub and lantern.  The arrow is painted with Flamingo Liquid Pearls.  I used White Gilders Paste on the cherub and the lantern is jazzed up with some pink rhinestones.  To hold the stopper in place I used more of the E-6000 glue.

Alpha Stamps also carries two other lanterns that would work great as stoppers:

Celestial Railroad Lantern

Hexagon Hanging Lantern

I attached various beads and chain to a jump ring held by a ribbon on the side of the bottle.  

The green beads are restrung from a piece of beaded trim (pictured above).  It’s a great way to use a leftover piece of trim that is too small to use on other projects

I used Inca Gold Gilders Paste to color the cream birds that are attached to the front of the bottle.  Pink paper roses held by small hearts add the finishing touch. 

Frosted Pink and Gold Bottle Supply List

• Slope Shoulder Glass Bottles – Large
• Dazzles Gold Heart Stickers – Used to decorate the bottle
• Miniature French Cameos – On the sides of the bottle
• Mini Rose Buds – Pale Pink
• Lightweight Heart Large – Used to hold the mini rose buds
• Black and Cream Resin Sparrows
• Gilders Paste - Inca Gold – Used to color the cream resin sparrows
• Liquid Pearls – Flamingo – Painted areas inside of the stickers
• Liquid Pearls - Avocado – Painted areas inside of the stickers

     Items Used for the Bottle Topper

• Pagoda Hanging Lanterns
• Brass Arrows – Colored with Flamingo Liquid Pearls
• Brass Cherub
• Gilders Paste – White – Used to color the brass cherub
• E-6000 Adhesive – Used to glue to all the pieces together and the topper to the bottle

     Items Used for the Dangling Beads at the Side of the Bottle

• Lightweight Hearts – Large & Small – Gold
• 8mm Caged Pearls
• Green Beaded Fringe
• Mauve Satin Ribbon Gold Edges

 Gold and Patina Bottle Colored with Gilders Paste

In addition to the Frosted Spray there are other products that work well with the sticker masking technique.  For the bottle pictured above, I’ll demonstrate how to use Gilders Paste to color the bottle.

Start with a clean bottle.  Next, apply stickers in the design you desire.  Make sure the stickers are flush against the bottle.

Use a piece of foam (I used Cut-N-Dry Foam, but you can use any foamy material like a makeup sponge) to apply Patina Gilders Paste to the bottle in a pouncing motion.  Do not rub the bottle as it may cause the stickers to lift or may force Gilders Paste under the stickers.  Continue until the bottle is completely covered and allow the paste to dry.  Give it a longer drying time than the product instructions indicate.

Use a different piece of foam; apply the Inca Gold Gilders Paste in a pouncing motion.  Note in the picture below I applied the paste in a random pattern so that you can still see the Patina paste.  Allow the gold paste to dry.  Give it a longer drying time than the product instructions indicate.

Use the point of an X-Acto knife to gently lift the stickers from the bottle and reveal the pattern.

Another option with sticker masking is to keep adding another layer of stickers, apply more color and remove the stickers to reveal an additional pattern

The main feature on the front of the bottle is a cameo from my new Romance Collage Sheet.  To create a bezel over the cameo, I applied Glossy Accents.  The glue naturally likes to dome.  The picture below shows the wet glue; it will dry clear and shrink some.

Tips:  It’s important to avoid inserting air bubbles into the dome.  Store your Glossy Accents bottle upside down so that any air bubbles float to the bottom and won’t be dispensed with the glue.  As you are dispensing the glue, don’t lift the tip of the bottle out of the dispensed glue; keep it down squeezing out more glue and using the tip to spread glue into the areas you desire.  And lastly, never shake the glue bottle as it will introduce air bubbles into the glue.

Around the neck of the bottle is Gold Fleck Trim to which I hung gold hearts using jump rings.

To add the topper I colored a cork (left over from another bottle) with Gold Mixative Alcohol Ink.  I also used the Gold Ink and Clover Alcohol Ink to color the stickpins. 

The hole in the large teal bead was big enough to insert all three stickpins.  The bottoms of the stickpins are inserted into the cork which holds everything in place.  Alpha Stamps carries the puffed bead in other colors and shapes (teal, brown and a red heart).

I decorated the bottle with gold stickers and rhinestones.  Just as with the stickpins, I used the Clover Alcohol Ink to paint clear rhinestones the perfect color.  The last touch was to add butterflies from my Romance Collage Sheet

I decorated the bottle with gold stickers and rhinestones.  Just as with the stickpins, I used the Clover Alcohol Ink to paint clear rhinestones the perfect color.

The last touch was to add butterflies from my Romance Collage Sheet.

Gold and Patina Bottle Supply List

• Slope Shoulder Glass Bottles – Large
• Gilders Paste – Patina
• Gilders Paste – Inca Gold
• Dazzles Medallions Sticker Set – Used as a mask and to decorate the bottle.
• Gold Fleck Trim – Used around the neck of the bottle
• 18mm Antique Gold Hearts – Attach to trim around the bottle neck
• Thin Border Stickers - Gold - Used to decorate the neck and bottom of the bottle
• Metallic Stickers – Vines – Gold – Used to decorate the bottle
• Lightweight Hearts – Large Gold – Used to decorate the sides of the bottle
• Glossy Accents – Used to create a bezel over the paper cameo
• Romance Collage Sheet

         Items Used for the Bottle Topper

• Pear Shaped Pearl Stick Pins
• Alcohol Inks Mixative - Gold – Used to paint the stickpins
• Alcohol Inks – Clover – Used to paint the stickpins
• Large Puffy Glass Beads – Teal

Red and Gold Bottle Colored and Stenciled with Alcohol Inks

Using Alcohol Inks is another option to use with the sticker masking technique.  For this bottle I’ll demonstrate how to use both the transparent and opaque versions of alcohol ink and stickers to create a design.

Start with a clean bottle.  Using a sponge, apply Red Pepper Alcohol Ink to the bottle; covering it completely.  Allow it to dry.  Notice how the ink is transparent.

Apply stickers in the design you desire.  Make sure the stickers are flush against the bottle so that the next layer of ink won’t seep under the stickers.

Use a piece of foam to apply Gold Mixative Alcohol Ink to the bottle in a pouncing motion.  Do not rub the bottle as it may cause the stickers to lift or may force ink under the stickers.  Continue until the bottle is completely covered and allow the ink to dry.  Notice how this ink (Mixative) is opaque unlike the Red Pepper ink.  The silver and copper versions of this ink are also opaque.

Using the point of an X-Acto knife, gently lift the stickers from the bottle to reveal the pattern.

The base of the bottle is made from a wooden candlestick holder.  I colored it using Inca Gold Gilders Paste (with a sponge and a Q-tip to get into the grooves).  Lastly I added red border stickers.

Making your own beaded trim; the trim at the base of the bottle is made from gluing together two strips of trim (red and gold) and adding cherubs, hearts and cream beads with jump rings.  The gold trim is the same trim I used around the neck of the Patina and Gold bottle

The topper started with a wooden finial which I painted with Red Pepper Alcohol Ink. To attach the other pieces I drilled a hole in the top of the finial.  I used a heart shaped stickpin to attach the red heart and gold bead to the finial.  Everything is glued in place with E-6000 glue.

To dress up the rest of the bottle I used more of the red border stickers, images from my Romance Collage Sheet and red and ivory paper rose buds.

Red and Gold Bottle Supply List

• Slope Shoulder Glass Bottles – Large
• Dazzles Medallions Sticker Set – Used as a mask
• Alcohol Ink - Red Pepper – First layer of color
• Alcohol Ink Mixative - Gold – Second layer of color
• Lightweight Hearts Small – Gold
• Mini Rose Buds- Red
• Mini Rose Buds – Ivory
• Romance Collage Sheet

         Items Used for the Bottle Topper

• Large Red/Gold Glass Heart Bead
• Pearlized Stick Pins – Cream Hearts
• Small Antique Gold Puffy Oval Bead
• Small Wooden Finial
• Alcohol Inks – Red Pepper

         Items Used for the Beaded Trim and Base

• Gold Fleck Trim
• Royal Christmas Red Drop Scallop Trim
• Lightweight Cherubs – Gold
• Lightweight Hearts Large – Gold
• Cream Pearl Mix in Tin
• Thin Border Stickers - Red
• Candlestick Holder
• Gilders Paste – Inca Gold

The sticker masking, frosting, Gilders Paste and Alcohol Ink techniques covered in this tutorial will work on other non-porous surfaces like metal and plastic.

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