Imaginarium Designs

Altered bottle and 

Captured Canvas 

by Sue Smyth 

Hi all

Today I am sharing a new project, altered bottles!

Yes I know the idea of altering bottles 

has been around for a while.

But with all of the new products around these

days and of course Imaginarium Chipboard 

you can really glam them up.

I have altered Imagninarium chipboard butterflies

to sit on the front of the bottle.

In keeping with my bug theme this year,

I have altered a plastic bug to place on the

centre of the butterflies

The rest of the bottle surface is altered with

layers of paint, and crackle.

See below for a step by step.

I also wanted to do another version with a 

window in it to see a 

butterfly vignette inside.

To alter the butterflies I have

used the same techniques used

in my February post 

http://suesmyth06.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/imaginarium-post.html 

And I have altered a foam craft bird to side 

cheekily on top.

You can see the altered butterfly nestling

inside the bottle on 

a bed of spanish moss.

The finished bottle

To altered the bottle, first  paint

with black gesso and allow to dry.

Then paint with crackle medium

I have used Viva Facetten-Lack here.

A little tip, it will dry much much quicker 

if put in front of a fan on full speed!!!

In this instance I have used a bottle that 

has an existing raised pattern

to form a nice background.

Then paint

with Teal Dylusions acrylic paint.

Use a foam brush to paint, so you 

do not get the paint into the cracks, as 

you want them to stay black.

Now rub over 

with Inka Gold paints, gold, turquoise and purple.

Keep layering until you are happy with the look.

I have sometimes added a spritz of a turquoise 

glimmer mist too, to help the mediums blend.

To add glitter to the stopper and rim

Cover the area you want glittered with Dimensional Magic

and dip into a pot of gold glitter.

Wipe off the excess so the stopper

can still be inserted properly.

Use rubber bands to adhere the chipboard 

to the curve of the bottle.

When dry simply snip the off !

I have added 3 mm pearls and 2mm rhinestones to the neck

of the bottle with a little dab of extra glue.

Captured Canvas

Next I have created a small canvas with the 

same layered butterfly effect as above.

I have started with a 20 x 20 cm chipboard square

which I have then covered with a layer of gel medium and paper towel.

The chipboard butterfly has Bo bunny glitter pasted added to it 

and allowed to dry. See below for a step by step.

Then I have layered over an acetate butterfly

for colour and a vial filled with seed beads and a 

tiny butterfly bead.

Use a little dimensional magic

squirted into the vial to keep

the beads stable.

I love the cicada, spray paint or apply black gesso 

to a plastic bug. then when dry

rub over with gold paint and coloured

inka gold mediums. 

keep working until you are happy with the result.

A little tip, use 2 or more colours on the one bug for 

a rainbow effect

I have done the same thing to a little resin face

I made myself.

The large clock is embossed with gold embossing powder

then a row of gold rhinestones is adhered to the 

outer edge

Wrap black fibres around the vial, when

all the glue is dry.

I have also used many filigree metal trinkets for 

a lovely layered effect 

Once the turquoise Bo Bunny glitter paste is dry

apply the Flitter glue, smearing over

each wing.

Apply your choice of Mega Flakes.

Remove the excess Mega Flakes with a scourer. 

Add purple glitter to the top, for extra sparkle.

Imaginarium Chipboard 

Happy Crafting !