Seashell Bottle Tutorial

I made another shell topped bottle for my mantel this week.

I decided perhaps my mantel did need a little more stuff.

I added a couple of shells, the bottle and two glass balls I'd forgotten I had.

I thought I'd tell you how I made the seaglass/seashell topped bottles.

They are very easy... here are the steps...

Supplies needed...

white glue or mod podge. Elmer's works great.

Shells and bottle purchased at Michael's and food coloring.

Oh...yeah...cool temp hot glue gun and silver paint.

The bottles I made two weeks ago I used an old olive oil bottle, a vinegar bottle and a bottle I bought

at the flea market. 

All of them I changed the color of like in this tutorial.

Mix a bunch of white glue with several drops of food coloring. I added a little bit of water too.

It will take more food coloring than you'd think because it lightens as it dries.

Just pour the mixture into a bottle and shake well.

Turn the bottle over and let the glue drip out.

I suggest shaking it out. You want to get as much of the liquid as possible out because 

extra liquid will cause drips.

I used my hairdryer to speed up the drying.

I tried air drying and I got drips and the bottom of the bottle still had liquid in it after sitting over night.

So dry with a hairdryer and turn the bottle as it dries.

You'll know it's drying because it will turn translucent.

Just takes a few minutes.

Here is the finished tinted bottle. I still got some drips...but I think it adds to the charm.

I also went a little green on this one....too much yellow.

I like them a little more blue.

Cut a piece of styrofoam to fit the opening.

Carve out a little hole in the styrofoam to place the shell into.

Heat up the ol' cool temp glue gun and glue the tip of the shell into it.

Then going around and around a little at a time doing small strips of glue.

I've gotten better at this, now that I'm on shell bottle number four.

I kept a bowl of water at hand and I'd dab on about an inch of glue and immediately 

put my fingers in water and then smooth the glue out with my wet fingers.

No burns...this way and I got a nice smooth finish.

Doing this I could mold the glue to my liking.

The first one I did was all lumpy....and that is why I started smoothing with my fingers.

Now just brush paint a silver paint over the cooled glue.

And we're done!

See the lumpy bottle to the left?

I added a few more shells to the living room after making the bottle.

A silver tray full of shells brings the ocean to the coffee table.
All those sand dollars were sent to me last year from MVL reader...Traci G.
She picked them from the beach, dried and bleached them and sent them to me.
Such a sweet gift....Thanks, Traci!

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