Two of the simplest ways to make a decorative beaded bottle include attaching beads to the bottle with glue or wrapping the bottle in beaded wire. Both of these techniques are suitable for beginning crafters; as long as you have the right type of beads and adhesive. Create a beaded bottle centerpiece for your dining table with tapered candles or hang these colorful beauties from tree limbs in your garden. No matter how you choose to use beaded bottles, making them is a crafty way to recycle shapely glass containers.
Instructions
1. Place the bottle on its side on a flat work surface. Brace both sides of the bottle with a book or some other object to keep it from rolling.
2. Dry fit flat-back beads onto the surface of the bottle that is facing up. This step is not necessary if you plan to cover the surface of the bottle with beads.
3. Apply a dot of viscous jeweler's glue to the face-up section of the bottle wherever you plan to place a bead. It's easier to apply small parts of viscous jeweler's glue from a tube if you use a toothpick.
4. Press a flat-back bead onto the glue. Hold the bead in place for 30 seconds. A small section of painter's tape will hold the bead in place if it starts to slide. Repeat this process to add all of the desired beads to this section of the bottle. Allow the glue to dry overnight.
5. Reposition the bottle so that another section of glass is facing up. Brace the bottle. Follow the process to add beads to this section. Continue to add beads until the bottled is beaded all the way around.
Wire Beaded Bottle
6. Cut a 2- to 4-foot long strand of 22-gauge craft wire. Longer wire works for tall or fat bottles, as well as to create spiral wraps that are close together on smaller bottles.
7. Wrap one end of the wire two times around the top of the bottle. The wire should overlap. Press the wire against the bottle so that it conforms to the shape of the bottle neck.
8. Thread center-drilled beads onto the opposite end of the wire strand. Fill the wire strand with beads, up to 4 inches from the end.
9. Wrap the beaded wire around the bottle, pressing the wire against the bottle to make it conform to the shape as you go.
10. Twist the end of the wire into a spiral and glue it to the bottom of the bottle with viscous jeweler's glue.
