Inspired by Bottles for Country View Craft

Hello all and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Wow, can you believe it, it's 2016!
Well, apart from anything else, it's time for a new challenge over at Country View Crafts.
To ring in the new year Brenda has chosen the theme "Inspired by Bottles"
I decided to take the theme literally. I have so often been inspired by some of the amazing altered bottles I have seen on Pinterest for instance, that I decided to alter one myself.

I made a fairly similar one a while back and thought I would repeat the process and refine it somewhat on the way. I have a few step by step photos....

I purchased this vintage look bottle in my local super market, and though I quite it as it is, I thought it would be perfect for altering as it has a good flat surface on both sides.

I used Decoart Chalky Finish paints for the base and top layer of my bottle. I started with a layer of Gesso, then added some texture paste in random places and when everything was dry I gave it a coat of brown.

Next followed two different types of crackle medium, both by Decoart, Americana Weathered Wood, and Americana Decor Crackle Medium. Each of these gives a slightly different crackle effect. By applying it thicker in some places and thinner in others, some areas are smoother than others. The colour of the bottle was achieved by giving it a top coat of Americana Chalky Finish Paint in the colour Vintage. I warmed it up a bit with Quin. Gold fluid acrylics and some Umber Antiquing cream.

Here is a close up of the crackle, but I wanted some different textures too so added bits of cheese cloth and embossing powders to certain areas also.

Now for the decoration, - I decided to use a bottle stamp to decorate one of the sides of my bottle, this one is from Graphics 45. I fussy cut it and then coloured with Distress Inks.

Here is a closer look at the colouring, I forgot to take a picture before adhering it to the bottle.

Below you can see what it looks like after I finished my bottle with some other embellishments (lace, some chain, some pearl string and a flower) I adhered everything with a hot glue gun

Here is the one side

And here the other side. This side was decorated with a rice paper vintage label that I happened to have in my stash.

Well, that's it for now, I will have another project later today for Mixed Media Monthly, but meanwhile, don't forget to visit the Countryview Crafts Challenge blog and see some incredible bottle inspired makes from my team mates. Plenty of inspiration. Of course we all hope you will play along with our first challenge of the year. You will find all the details on the blog!

Thank you for you visit, - I really hope you are enjoying the festive season and will find some time to relax too! Happy New Year to you all!!!