Make a Beach or Seaside Table Decoration: A Tutorial

Yesterday, we went spring shopping in some of my fave haunts in THIS post.  On our shopping trip, we spied these cuties at Big Lots.  I could so see these in a summertime tablescape.  Actually, they would look great almost anywhere.  Imagine three lined up across a kitchen window sill with the sun lighting them up from behind.  Add them to a pretty spring/summer vignette on an entry table.  Or, tuck some flowers down inside each bottle and decorate an outdoor patio table for an evening dinner.

They were $6 each which wasn't terrible, but I knew I already had everything I needed at home to make my own.

Here are the supplies I used.  Ignore the Mod Podge and the bowl/paintbrush.  I ended up using a hot glue gun instead...more on that in a sec.   For this little project you'll need: a pretty wine or water bottle, scissors, glue gun, drill with a tiny bit, some small seashells or starfish, narrow jute or rope, raffia, and nylon thread or fishing line.

I stole a few blue bottles off the bottle tree you see outside on the deck in this previous SPRINGTIME table setting post.  (You can read more about bottle trees, HERE and see the one on the deck in  THIS post.)

Click HERE to continue reading...

Bottle Tree Dreams in Abundance

When I last shared a few pics of my bottle tree, it was looking pretty puny.   (If you're wondering what in tarnation a bottle tree is, click HERE. )   I've been waiting for Hobby Lobby to have another "glass" sale.  In the meantime, I've collected 3-4 more, via consumption.  Plus, my BFF, Jan, dropped a couple by recently, too.  I think she took pity on me after I posted about her amazing bottle tree.

Guess what!   Hobby Lobby has all their glassware on sale right now...50% off.  If ya got a bottle tree, now's the time to head to HL.  I think the sale ends tomorrow.  If you miss it, it will be back in a few weeks...they run their glassware on sale pretty often.

So here's how the bottle tree is looking now!  Much improved!
Click HERE to continue reading...

Jan's Beautiful Bottle Tree

A while back I shared some images of a bottle tree I had purchased at the Ballard Designs store in Atlanta.  It was on sale, marked down from $349 to $60.

I've gradually been adding a few bottles to it, including the glass float ball you see on the top. It's still a bit naked...a work in progress. :)
Click HERE to continue reading...

Missing Mouse Goes Bottle Tree Shopping

Has anyone seen my computer mouse? I was planning on posting again today, but I can't seem to find the mouse. ;)

Bottle Tree Shopping:
Not to beat the bottle tree "horse" to death, but I do want to share a resource I found recently in case you have a bottle tree and are looking for hard-to-find colors and unusual shaped bottles.
Click HERE to continue reading...

Bottle Tree Dreams and Yard Art Fantasies

Help! I'm becoming one of those people! You know the one...the crazy neighbor down the street who has so much yard art, the addition of just one more tchotchke will take his yard from tasteful to tacky, from whimsical to wacky. Okay, I'm not that bad. Yet. But I'm working on it. ;)

If you've been reading BNOTP for a while, you may remember I started saving bottles about a year ago for a future bottle tree. (You can read more about the history of bottle trees and view additional pics in THIS post.) A voice was whispering in my ear, "If you collect bottles, it will come. If you collect bottles, it will come."

I must have been channeling the movie, Field of Dreams because my bottle tree materialized on a visit to the Ballard Design's Outlet in Atlanta recently.
Click HERE to continue reading...

Bottle Tree Dreams

Hi Everyone!

Bottle Trees...Give me some bottle suggestions! :-)
A couple of weeks ago I shared these fab pics and the history behind bottle trees,
HERE.


(Image from Southern Style by Mark Mayfield)


Several folks left comments naming some of the drinks you can purchase that just happen to come in nice, big, colorful bottles, perfect for creating your own bottle tree. The suggestions were Harveys Bristol Creme Sherry which apparently comes in a pretty blue bottle. Also, suggested were Riesling wines from Trader Joes. And, apparently, some of the fancy waters you can purchase from the more expensive grocery stores come in colorful bottles.


(Image from Southern Living magazine)

Since I'd love to make a bottle tree this summer, I would love to hear your suggestions. Does anyone know of a wine or beverage that comes in a large, bright red, green, blue or yellow bottle? I'm going to be looking for big bottles since I think I want most of the bottles to be on the larger size.