Glue gun is a great tool for crafters. It joins and fixes materials and things. Another genius thing is to use the glue gun adhesive for creating textures, making stencils, jewelry and molds.
Glue Gun and Glue Sticks used to create textures on recycled bottles by Anu Kriti
Glue Gun and Glue Sticks used to create textures 


I have used it to create textures and shapes on my altered bottles projects and the results are fantastic. 

You can actually try it on a flat surface first to know how it actually works out for you in terms of flow and speed which is important to get the desired result (shape).

Try creating shapes with glue gun on a flat surface first before working on a bottle.
Try creating shapes with glue gun on a flat surface first

On my first project, I created some abstract lines on the bottles and filled in the spaces created with gesso textures, lace, and decoupages with paper in-between.

Lines ceated with glue gun on an upcycled bottle



For the second project I randomly created circles of all sizes with the glue gun on the bottle. Since I was trying to create a ocean and sea life inspired bottle, I added sea shells on to them. The base done in sea blue and the circles highlighted with copper and bronze have really stood out and the complete piece is a marvel.

Circles created with glue gun on a recycled wine bottles
Circles created with glue gun
Sea shells and glue gun come together to create this recyled bottle by Anu Kriti
Finished bottle with textured created by glue gun adhesive



For my next project, I let the beauty of the random circles get accentuated with just depths of various shades and colors. And the result is again one of its kind.


Anu Kriti recycled this bottle by making random circles with a glue gun.
Wine Bottle with glue gun circles

Finished bottle with glue gun circles


I again used the lines created by glue guns on two more bottles but this time, it was not completely random but coming out of  a center pattern and the final pieces are great!


Lines created with glue gun

Used glue gun to create lines on upcycled bottles
Used Glue Gun to create lines


And last but not the least you can always use a glue gun to write a message on a bottle as  I did. 

Thank U written with a glue gun

Keep watching this space for some more fun ideas to create texture on the bottles.

All of us have someone to inspire and fascinate us. This collection is all about the muses that we adore and idolize. Pick any of ours or let us know who inspires you and we upcycle a bottle for you. 

 Have chosen the black and white color scheme to get the vintage look. The texture is created with gesso and black acrylic and then the print of the icon is decoupaged. Finished with acrylic varnish, this upcycled wine bottle makes a statement about you in your living space. 

 The one and only Marlyn Monroe, decoupaged on a bottle finished with black and white texture.
This ucpcyled bottle has image of Marlyn Monroe decoupaged on it and the textured created with gesso and acrylic color.
Marlyn Monroe 
Mother Teresa - one of the greatest human beings that walked on this earth. Decoupaged on a bottle finished with black n white texture.
This recyled bottle has image of Mother Teresa decoupaged on it and the textured created with gesso and acrylic color.
Mother Teresa 

Famed singer-songwriter, the iconic John Lennon of Beatles fame, decoupaged on a bottle finished with black n white texture.
This recyled bottle has image of John Lenon decoupaged on it and the textured created with gesso and acrylic color.
John Lenon


Back of recycled bottle by Anu Kriti
Back of the recycled bottle

Mother Teresa and John Lenon - recycled bottles by Anu Kriti. The images are decoupaged and added texture with gesso.
Inspirations



MJ - all time favourite - decoupaged on an upcycled bottle. 
This recyled bottle has image of Michael Jackson decoupaged on it and the textured created with gesso and acrylic color.
Michael Jackson 
Pick any of ours or let us know who inspires you and we upcycle a bottle for you. 
Contact details: +91 9310007286 or anu.kriti@yahoo.com


"She sells shells by the seashore. 
The shells she sells are surely seashells…”

This recycled bottle is a handiwork after my trip to Mahaballipuram where we picked loads of sea shells. 

 The rounds are handiwork of glue gun and the base color has been done in sea blue with little throw of copper, bronze and silver to give a rustic look. Then added the seas shells to complete this piece. 
Recycled Wine Bottle with Sea Shells
Sea Shells on Upcycled Wine Bottle

Decorated wine bottle with sea shells
Upcycled Wine Bottle - textured



The cork adds charm to this bottle decorated with sea shells.
 The cork adds charm!

A hint of copper and bronze highlights the textures created by glue gun on this recycled bottle
 A hint of copper and bronze
Check out Anu Kriti’s complete collection of upcycled bottles and other art pieces here. 
Creating deco art pieces from wine bottles has been the most fascinating thing for me in last few months. Experimented with various ways to create textures and then finish the bottle with different embellishments and styles. The most interesting one has been to use a shoe polish. 

Yes, you read it right… SHOE POLISH!

The possibilities are endless and outcomes are marvellous. Here are a few finished creations for you to see. 

Click here to see the complete collection

Click here to see the complete collection

Click here to see more personalized altered wine bottles

Click here to see the complete collection


Let's see hwo to go about it. To prep the base, all you need is:
  •        A wine bottle  (any shape, size you wish to work with)
  •         A masking tape or a decoupage paper
  •         Metallic acrylic colors like bronze, gold or copper
  •         Of course the magical shoe polish
  •         Acrylic Varnish

Step 1: Start by cleaning and drying the bottle. How to clean and get rid of the labels, read here.

Step 2: Take a masking tape and tear off strips or random shapes and start covering the bottle, overlapping each piece. Press the edges firmly on the bottle. Take special care while sticking the masking tape around the rim & neck of the bottle and at the base since the surface is uneven. 

You can also decoupage the bottle with tissue paper or any other paper to cover the bottle. I have used  masking tape.

Strips of masking tape 
Bottled covered with masking tape
Bottles of different sizes covered with masking tape



Step 3: Once, the bottle is fully covered with masking tape. Take the shoe polish and start rubbing it on the bottle. You will see the overlapped edges showing out prominently. Rub the polish evenly all through the bottle. I have used brown tan color to get that rich color.


Polish rubbed on the bottle evenly

Darken and lighten 
 Step 4: Now, to create a more magical texture and color play, darken a few patches by applying more of polish. You can also lighten a few by wiping with a cloth. Continue to darken or lighten here and there till you are happy with what you see.


Different sizes base readied with shoe polish technique


Step 5: Keep the polished bottle in sun to dry. Leave it for atleast 4-5 hours. It will take away the smell of the polish and also dry it faster. If can’t keep it in sun, let it stay for at least one day or till the time the whole polish is absorbed and the surface is dry and ready to work further.

Step 6: The rich color of the polish can be accentuated by adding some metallic finish to it. Dab a sponge with the any of these – bronze, gold or copper acrylic color and rub it on the bottle. You can rub on some parts and leave the rest or rub it all through very lightly.

Step 7: Let it dry.

Step 8: Spray varnish on the bottle and let it dry. You will love the light and dark effect glazed with metallic color shining through.

Step 9: Finish the bottle by using different styles and embellishments. 



Few tips:
  •  Make sure the bottle is totally dry when masking tape is put on, otherwise it will not stick and come off after some time.
  • Take good quality masking tape so that the glue stays in place and edges do not come off.
  •    Do not use a large amount of polish in the first go. Apply a little first so that the masking tape absorbs the wax and oil of the polish evenly. Then darken and lighten as per your choice.
  • You can use the varnish after you have finished decorating the bottle with trims, pearls, beads, buttons, laces etc. or varnish the base first and then add the embellishments.  I varnish the bottle first if the decorating material is an absorbent one like jute since the varnish on the jute will take away the natural look of the jute. I varnish it later if the embellishments are all non-absorbent substances and need sheen and protection like beads, clay flowers, pearls etc.
  •  Always spray varnish in an open place like a garden, terrace or balcony and cover your face appropriately. It’s poisonous to use it inside the house.
Keep watching this space for some more fun ideas to create texture on the bottles.

Check out Anu Kriti’s complete collection of upcycled bottles and other art pieces here.  


Last year has been a whirlwind one - juggling between home, job, kid and family! But Anu Kriti always found its place in my daily routine and have been posting my creatives on the Facebook Page.

Lately Upcycled Wine Bottles have caught my fancy and have been dabbling into altered bottles mostly. It has got very good response. Posting a few here. Check all the collections here.

Will be posting some interesting posts soon!


Latest Collection


Upcycled Wine Bottles

Perosnalized Wine Bottles

Perosnalized Altered Wine Bottles


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Last year has been a whirlwind one - juggling between home, job, kid and family! But Anu Kriti always found its place in my daily routine ...

About Anu Kriti

Anu Kriti is a showcase of ‘Handcrafted Expressions’, waiting to find way into your small world through wall murals, acrylic and mixed media paintings. Each piece of wall mural, deco wall art painting, ceramic, acrylic or mixed media painting is a unique creation of love for art, inspired by the ingenuity of nature or crazy hum drum of city life.

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Call: +91 9310007286 Mail: anu.kriti@yahoo.com

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