Message in a Bottle

Hi crafters! When I am at second hand stores I often look for interesting little bottles to alter. They usually cost next to nothing and are such a joy to work with. Today I am sharing an altered bottle, inspired by messages sent out into the sea inside bottles.

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

This bottle is about 4.5 in tall and had an interesting shape and closure mechanism. I was inspired by sending messages out to sea in bottles, which always fascinated me. There is a message inside this bottle and the bottle has clearly been in the sea for a long time since sand, shells and pearls are clinging to it. 

Start by coloring the bottle with alcohol ink using an ink-blending tool with a felt applicator. I also colored the cap, which used to be cream. Continue until you are happy with the look.

Stamp the sentiment on a Tim Holtz Journal Card using Simon Says Stamp Mixed Labels stamp set and die cut with the coordinating die.

Ink the label with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo. The sentiment comes from Tim Holtz Simple Sayings.

Adhere the label to the bottle. Mix a little brown paint into Snowfall Grit Paste to create the look of sand and apply along the bottom of the bottle. Press tiny shells and Tim Holtz Baubles into the paste. Sprinkle Mica Flakes on top.

The grit-paste has a translucent quality which comes through even with the addition of the paint.

I added a little grit paste around the cap too and finished it with a piece of Tim Holtz ephemera and an idea-ology Adornment Star.

Apply brown Distress Inks to a non-stick craft sheet. Mist with water and press heavystock paper into the ink. Repeat on both sides. 

Stamp with Simon Says Stamp Ledger Paper Background to get lines to write on. Cut the edges with scissors, making sure not to cut too straight. Fold some of the corners. Add more ink to the edges and distress to give them a rough look. 

I rolled the paper up quite a few times to condition it and then stamped a whole bunch of sentiments on both sides, using stamps by Simon Says Stamp and Tim Holtz.

Instead of stamping messages, you can of course write your own message.

Roll the paper up.

Place the rolled up message into the bottle.

On the other side of the bottle I added Tim Holtz ephemera pieces.

I dyed some mummy cloth / cheese cloth and tied around the bottle together with a piece of twine. In idea-ology Thought Token was tied to the twine. I tucked.

I colored the tip of the pen nib with black alcohol ink and rubbed Antique Linen Distress Paint into the letters. 

I like that you get a peek of the rolled up message through the colored bottle.

The baubles are meant to look like real pearls.

There was already patina on the metallic parts of the bottle, but you can also add the effect with paint.

Instead of adding a message to the bottle, you can also use it for storage of small items, such as sequins or beads.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that it inspired you to alter some bottles. For another example check out my Altered Vintage Bottle tutorial.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today!

Happy stamping!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

Simply Fabulous Art Journal Page

Hi friends! I hope you are well and had a good weekend. We have snow again and spring went into hiding.

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

This week we have a Stencil It theme at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. Fun! There are so many different techniques that you can do with stencils. Don't miss the last project by our March guest designer Pauline C. 

I made a double-page art journal page this week using various stencils together with both texture paste, paint and paint pens. With stencils you can easily build up layers without adding too much bulk, which works great for art journaling. The techniques can of course also be used on other types of projects.

This page started out with gesso in my Dylusions Journal. Quite some time ago, I had left-over texture paste and added the three circles with Simon Says Stamp Holiday Boho Circle.The paint was added much later, also since I had left-over paint. I thought it was time to finish this page now.

I used the Dina Wakley Mantras 5x8 in stencil together with Uncharted Mariner Distress Paint. I adhered Simon Says Stamp Very Very Low Tack tape over the words that I didn't want to use and along the edges as a mask.

Next, I used the Simon Says Stamp ABC stencil with Dried Marigold paint. You can also use Saltwater Taffy.

Next, I added sponged Lost Shadow paint through Simon Says Stamp Mix and Match Circles stencil.

I wanted even more circles and used the Mix and Match Circles stencil again, but this time together with Crafter's Companion Colorista paint markers.

Die cut Tim Holtz Scribbly Butterflies and Perspective Butterfly from heavystock paper.

Ink with a Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated Grapefruit and Cantaloupe inks, combined with Lost Shadow and Uncharted Mariner Distress Ink.

Add dots with a white paint pen.

Finally, apply a little Ranger Moon Dust Glitter Gel.

Stamp Simon Says Stamp Stained Glass here and there using Peachy Keen Archival Ink.

The dark blue colors works well in combination with the shades of peach and grey.

Die cut Simon Says Stamp Circle Loops from Tonic Sugared Coral Glitter Card.

Simon Says Stamp Simply Fabulous was die cut from the same paper. I used only the outline.

The butterflies were placed to that it looks like they are fluttering across the page.

I also stamped a bunch of words and sentiments on the page.

Paint pens are fun to use together with stencils. This sentiment comes from Simon Says Stamp All Seasons Tree.

I really like this big Perspective Butterfly design and it is great for a large journal page.

The glitter gel adds nice shine to the butterflies.

The grey butterfly comes from Simon Says Stamp Thoughtful Flowers and the sentiment is from Tim Holtz Tiny Text.

Some of the words were stamped more than once without reinking in between. This word comes from Simon Says Stamp Forest Scenery.

It is fun to mix stamped and stenciled words and different typefaces.

I hope you will join us this week in our Stencil It challenge. You have a chance to win a $25 gift voucher to do some fun shopping at Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in.

Do you use Instagram? If so please add #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too.

Thank you so much for stopping by here today! 

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.