A splash of color
Give your glass bottles a gradient-dyed glow
Transform ordinary glass bottles into striking candle holders by painting them white on the inside and adding a gradient effect on the outside.
If you don’t have any empty glass bottles at home, check flea markets for charming vintage soda bottles. You can use any leftover paint, or even paint each bottle a different hue. You’ll get a different look by painting both the base coat and the spray on the outside, or by skipping the base coat entirely. Painting just the outside works well if you want to use the bottle as a vase.
Materials:
- Four glass bottles
- Paint, such as acrylic (wall or furniture paint also works)
- Spray paint
- Four candles
Gradient-dyeing the bottles—instructions:
- Rinse the glass bottles thoroughly or, better yet, wipe them down with rubbing alcohol. If you want a vintage touch, check flea markets for old soda bottles, or buy new ones in a similar style.
- Pour paint into each bottle. It should be fluid enough to spread but not so thin that it won’t adhere to the glass. Slightly thicker paint works best, as very runny paint will flow out before it can stick. Finding the right thickness can take a bit of trial and error. In this example, white acrylic paint was thinned slightly with water. If you like, you can also apply a base coat on the outside using spray paint for a smooth finish.
- Gently rock, shake, and tilt the bottle until the entire inside is coated. Remember to cover the mouth while you do this.
- Turn the bottles upside down in disposable cups and allow the excess paint to drain out, which can take a couple of days. Keep the neck open so the paint can drip out.
- Once the paint stops dripping, place the bottles upright to dry. This process can take a while, but you can speed it up by blowing cool air into the bottle with a hairdryer.
- Wipe away any paint splatters from the outside. Avoid getting water inside the bottle.
- Cover the neck with a small plastic bag and tape it securely.
- Spray-paint the bottom portion of the bottle. Rotate the bottle evenly as you paint, applying as many coats as needed for a smooth, even gradient.
- Remove the plastic covering and place candles in the bottles.
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