Recycled Bottle Vases | Easy Paint Craft

One of my favorite summer traditions is lining the kitchen windowsill with several small flower bouquets, each nestled in a recycled bottle vases or jars.  Salt shakers, small craft bottles, jars from jam samplers, and bottles from extracts can all be transformed into miniature vases.

This summer I took the bottles and jars and added polka dots to them using liquid leading. Some were plain polka dots (using only liquid leading) and some were colorful polka dots (using liquid leading and glass paints).

Materials to Decorate Recycled Bottle Vases:

• Small clear bottles
• Glass paint
• Liquid Leading

Liquid leading is not made of lead–it is a liquid that simulates the look of leading and it’s an easy medium to use in glass art.  You can buy it at Michael’s or from online craft venues.

Instructions to Decorate Recycled Bottle Vases with Polka Dots

• Wash your bottles and allow them to dry thoroughly.
• Dab little polka dots of liquid leading onto your vases.
• Allow liquid leading to dry.
• Fill vases with tiny bouquets.

Since liquid leading is water based, the polka dots are NOT permanent.  You can get your vases a little bit wet if you gently dab off the water.  The dots will last anywhere from a few uses to several uses depending on how often they get wet and dried.  At any time, once dried, you can peel the polka dots off.  I like the temporary nature of the polka dots (it means I can re-use the bottles again if I like), but if you are giving these as gifts make sure you let the recipient know.  

Instructions to Decorate Recycled Bottle Vases with Colorful Circles

• Use your liquid leading to draw circles on the glass
• Allow liquid leading to dry
• Then dab your glass paint into the circles, making sure the full circle has a thin layer of color
• Repeat as needed to fill each circle with a color
• Allow to dry