Saturday, August 25, 2012

Transferring Images To Bottles

After my last post, I started getting emails from readers asking if they'd missed my tutorial on how I transferred images to bottles.  No, you didn't miss it, cause I hadn't done it yet.  So, here it is.  I used two different transfer techniques on the bottles.



The bottle on the right got a spritz of matte sealer to give it some tooth for the transfer.  After the sealer dried, I followed with my Splendid Blender transfer method.  Soft and subtle is what I wanted.



I used acrylic gel medium for the bottle on the left.




I'm sure most of you have seen a tutorial or two using  mod podge to transfer. Well, I've been transferring with acrylic gel medium for years.  I started using the Splendid Blender because it's so quick, and I'm an impatient sort.



So, why did I use acrylic gel medium for this?  That's easy.  Last week, I found tubes of the medium at an estate sale for 50 cents a piece. So, why not do a few transfers. The process is basically the same.  Brush the medium on the mirrored image, and lay it down on the bottle.  I've used both laser and ink jet copies.  Just make sure to smooth out all the air bubbles, and let it dry. It dries fairly quick.



Once the bond is pretty tight, wet the back of the paper, and slowly rub away the residue till the image is revealed.

Okay, here is how I got the image so transparent.  I used a fine grit sponge sanding pad to remove as much of the remaining residue as possible  Make sure the image is very dry when you do this.  I didn't want a perfect transfer.  I wanted the label to look as if it had worn away. The little missing pieces are intentional.  If you want perfection, you don't have to remove as much.




I continue to get questions about the images I use.  I've said it before, but it bares repeating.  I've been collecting ephemera for decades.  The images I use are from my own collection.  If I ever use another source, I will let you know.

So, there you have it.  Two bottles, two transfer techniques, and yes, I did the silvering and grunging on the silver bottle.  You can check out the basic technique in my post, "Silvered Bottles".  I go a step beyond though.







Sharing With:
Twigg Studios: Sunday Showoff
Funky Junk Interiors: Saturday Nite Special
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
At The Picket Fence: Inspiration Friday
2805: Potpourri Friday
Common Ground: Vintage Inspiration Friday
The Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home
Stone Gable: Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits

69 comments:

  1. Very cool! I love both of them. Thanks for the tutorial.

    Pam

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love old labels and old bottles, so this is a perfect pair! ~ Maureen

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have used several transfer methods. The one I like is the splendid blender method which I read in your blog. It is easy on material, I have not transferred on bottles but will this weekend. It is very kind of you to share this info, thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amazing bottles! Your blog is perfect. The idea with the transfer paper is great. I use baking paper and iron :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. You are so sweet to share your tricks! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you so much for sharing your techniques!! Love those bottles and frames you painted. I have wore myself out painting also. I thinK I have so many projects going that i forget where I am in them! Di@cottage-wishes

    ReplyDelete
  7. You're a doll....I just love you for sharing! Oh...and finally..Michaels has opened a store just 5 minutes from here. I can now find a splendid blender pen. I looked everywhere else for that pen and could not locate one... :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great tutorial! So easy and the effect is just gorgeous!
    Please stop by StoneGable for TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS going on now! This is a technique to share!!!!
    LOVE IT!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Gorgeous bottles, Rosemary! Thank you for all the great tips! I've tried the Mod Podge method before with mixed results, but now you have inspired me to give it another try:)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wonderful...thanks for the "how to" :) Laurel

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful. You are not only brilliant, but so kind and generous to share with us. Bless you! xox ~Donna

    ReplyDelete
  12. LoVeLY. Wondering what you do to the insides of the bottles??

    ReplyDelete
  13. These look great I may have to try this out.

    Cynthia

    ReplyDelete
  14. Can I use ant kind of paint I want on the bottle? I forgot to ask that question when I made my comment. I want to get that silver look. I love it.

    Cynthia

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Rosemary, Congratulation on being featured at Debra's Vintage Inspiration. Great tutorial here today. I would like to give this a try.
    Happy Day!

    ~Emily
    The French HUtch

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks for the info - I'm happy to see you can also use ink jet images since I don't have a laser printer and don't usually want to spend the time/money to take images to a printing place.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great info! I love the aged and distressed look of your bottles! Thanks so much for inspiring me!

    blessings,
    karianne

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a great tutorial! I'm sure I'd never make anything as pretty as you do! I'll leave it to the pro!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Those look like they originally were found that way. Love them!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Rosemary
    Wonderful and very easy to follow tutorial. You are such a great teacher. Love this technique!

    Have a wonderful week
    xoxo
    Kate

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank You Rosemary...this post was so helpful! I really love the way your bottles look with silver and the labels. Just Right!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Love the look of both of these ~~~adding this to my to do list, a good project to do inside during the long, wet, winter here.
    Your tutorial sounds easy-peasy thanks.

    Happiness, Mickie

    ReplyDelete

  23. Thank you for your secret , not that I will ever get it done LOL

    ReplyDelete
  24. CONGRATS Rosemary on Headlining at Common Ground !! You are now Officially QUEEN FOR A DAY !!! Take Care, JOE & GLENN

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thanks, you are such a good and generous teacher. I need all the help I can get and you are amazing with your skill and imagination. I have a bunch of bottles I'm going to tackle.

    ReplyDelete
  26. oh...so very cool and you were so precise in telling us exactly how to achieve something like this. so ....the next question is this: are your bottles naturally mirrored in all their gorgeous vintageness OR did you actually create them to look like faux mercury glass using a mirror spray paint? IF so....did you spray the inside of the bottles with their tiny little openings? inquiring minds sure would like to know because i'm simply crazy about this look. i have a very narrow ledge brick ledge for a mantle and would love using votives and then a cluster of mirrored bottles like this. the addition of that clear glass ball atop one of them is just the icing on the cake. I love all your things. congratulations on everything!

    ReplyDelete
  27. You have been blogging for a year but a professional for decades I know. Love this technique and that you like imperfections-me too.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Have you thought about reproducing your images and selling them?

    ReplyDelete
  29. C'est manifique! I love your style!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Rosemary,
    You do such a beautiful job with your bottles...thanks for sharing with us, how you do them:)

    Blessings,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  31. Rosmarino,
    As always, bella, Bella. I always come back to your gift for instruction & sharing. Kim

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thank you for the turorial on those beautiful bottles. Really great job they look beautiful.

    Blessings from Canada
    Bernice

    ReplyDelete
  33. These look so effective, thanks for the instructions will have to give it a try!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Those are just beautiful Rosemary. I never heard of the product. I do love the images.

    ReplyDelete
  35. you do such lovely work. that bottle looks like it has been that way forever.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Rosemary, you outdo yourself over and over. Just beautiful! I'm following now. Thought I was before and I wondered why I wasn't every catching your posts. Hope you'll stop over and follow at Quirky Vistas too, if you like.
    Liz

    ReplyDelete
  37. The bottles are lovely, Rosemary! Thank you for sharing your project and process and Potpourri Friday!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Pinned it as a tutorial.

    ~Bliss~

    ReplyDelete
  39. Beautiful Rosemary, thanks for the tutorial. Now I need to find the time to do it. I found two old bottles recently that would be perfect candidates!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hi Rosemary, I like your blog. For me the favorite book of the Bible - the Scriptures.
    Emily

    ReplyDelete
  41. Love the bottles... very unique! Thanks for the tutorial/info!

    ReplyDelete
  42. ok... I am your newest follower! What a great blog you have and the best part is that I feel I know you... I am a fellow western Chicago suburbanite!!! I can't wait to peruse your blog as you are so generous with your talent! You might be interested in my blog (I would love to have you visit me!! and follow if you like) as my latest post is about transforming a piece in my OWN garage! Why travel when I have things calling to me out there??!! Well, I'm off to see what else you are up to!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Great tutorial! I am your newest follower. Thanks for stopping by Posed Perfection today and leaving me a sweet note about the Cottage Cheese Pancakes. I hope you'll get the chance to try them. I'd love for you to visit again and maybe even "follow me" back. Have a great weekend!
    Blessings,
    Nici

    ReplyDelete
  44. Gorgeous, as usual! This may be a silly question, but how do you get the mirror image?

    ReplyDelete
  45. Great stuff!! looks amazing! I have tried this several times but it just turns out wrong. This makes me want to try again. Thanks for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Thanks for sharing Rosemary. I love your technique and how the bottles turned out. They're fantastic!

    Jody

    ReplyDelete
  47. Rosemary, I wanted to stop by and congratulate you on your feature in Romantic Homes. I don't know if I have already done so because this month has been such a blur to us, but I just wanted to make sure that I had done so. I love these cute little bottles, and I appreciate the tutorial!

    xo,
    RJ

    ReplyDelete
  48. woow,,,,,that is a great job :) I really must try it myself ....
    and do not miss...

    S
    A
    T
    U
    R
    D
    A
    Y

    S
    H
    O
    W

    O
    F
    F

    it is FUN :)
    WELCOME
    Håkan ( The Roseman)

    ReplyDelete
  49. wow rosemary i really have to try this, thankyou so much for showing us, i would love it if you came and linked up at my party at http://www.twiggstudios.com/2012/08/sunday-show-off-linky-party_25.html

    you always have the greatest vintage projects xx

    ReplyDelete
  50. Hi Rosemary! You make mé wanna try this! That's really awsome! Thank you so much for leaving a nice comment on my blog! I'm so glad 'cause then I found you!!! Wonderful and inspirational you are!

    ReplyDelete
  51. These are Beautiful! You are so creative and talented! I just love everything you do!

    ReplyDelete
  52. I think you should open a school and hold classes and charge big money for these ideas Rosemary! You are so good at it, and the things you create are so fabulous! Love these bottle. Love.

    ReplyDelete
  53. That bottle is terrific!!...You always amaze me..you should have your own show!!!

    ReplyDelete
  54. This is awesome!! I can't wait to try this for my girls' bathroom. Thanks so much for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Hi Rosemary, these are absolutely beautiful bottles. The effect is different from the ModgePodge technique. I likey!
    Thanks for sharing and for being so generous with your tutorials!
    Would love if you'd stop by and join us for Frugal Treasures Tuesday party.
    Barbe

    ReplyDelete
  56. Awesome! Thanks for showing that. Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  57. Your bottles are full of Awesomeness!
    Luv them. Thanks so much for the tutorials.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Yes...love these! Thanks for the tutorial. Hope to give this a try later today. Have a nice Labor Day Weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  59. They look stunning, and so authentic!!
    Nice work!!

    Jeannine @ The Concrete Cottage

    ReplyDelete
  60. Rosemary, those look great... I can't find a splendid blender marker, any ideas where they might be sold?
    Thanks, Ciao

    ReplyDelete
  61. amazing bottles. lots of steps. not sure I'd have that much patience. =)

    blessings and thanks for how to's.

    barb

    ReplyDelete
  62. It's 9/27/12 and I just discovered you through I think DIY. I am so glad I saved that post. You are absolutely a real artist and so willing to share your talent through your tutorials. Love your quote from Romans in your profile. I am 72 years old and though I save a lot of blog posts showing designs and how to do them...I don't know if I'll have a chance to do them...especially the one about your image transfers onto bottles...but you help me dream and hope for a little better home for me to be in so I can do something like the bottles. GOD bless you and keep you and your family under the palm of His hand. Mary

    ReplyDelete
  63. where do you buy the tops for the bottles? I have done a few bottle projects for my home and can't find a top to complete the project

    ReplyDelete

I love your comments, and would love to reply if you have a question. Please make sure you are not a No-Reply comment. I can't respond if you are. If you are not sure, read my post "No-Reply, Noooooo", or send me a regular email. Thanks so much for your readership. I appreciate each and every one of you.