My dear friend Kathleen Francour recently dreamed up a project that kept six talented crafters smiling all day!
First, she opened up her amazing treasure trove to us, and generously shared her vast collection of antique bottles in every shape and size, sparkling old jewelry, millinery flowers, trims, buttons, rubber stamps, porcelain figurine fragments, vintage ribbons, pieces of lace, cameos, tulle, feathers, metallic cording, decorative papers and glittered chipboard letters - all representing a lifetime collection of embellishments!
We squealed with delight and anticipation, as we envisioned what we might create out of this assortment of wonderments.
Using Mod Podge, a glue gun and white glue, we began to apply layers of papers and trims to our bottles. We continued to apply buttons, charms and other dimensional objects (even porcelain poodles!) until our bottles seemed to be complete. We marveled at how quickly they all came together… the bottles you see here were created in just one very magical day.
When our bottles were finished, we filled some with “fairy dust”, (a combination of clear glitters and sand), beads, interesting old buttons or paper flowers. Some of us tucked little messages inside, curling up a little piece of paper and tying thin silver cording ‘round it.
If you’d like to make a similar project, the best sources for bottles are antique malls, tag sales, auctions and flea markets. Look for vintage perfume bottles or pharmacy bottles. The most important thing is to find one with an interesting shape, or an interesting stopper. The bottles shown here were purchased for an average of $3 each.
I really like this project, because it is appealing to crafters possessing any level of experience, and even children can participate! I love the idea of combining old materials with new, to create something entirely unique.
The talented crafters gathered together for this fabulous project were my friends Sheila Herrin, Anne Higgins, Tina Higgins, Dena Fishbein, and Kathleen Francour. Thanks, Kathleen, for another inspiring day, and for sharing your exquisite photos!
Editor's note: To read other posts in this craft project series, click Craftstravaganza, Charmed I'm Sure!, Love in Every Stitch and Blooming Buckets.
