Itty Bitty Bottles
Lately I’ve been lovin’ bottles. I seek them out in boutiques. I search for them in flea markets. I hunt for them in the little dump in a hidden location at the forest preserve down the street from my house. I can’t get enough! My hope is to alter enough of them in a pretty enough style to sell them. I keep practicing, finding ideas wherever I can. At the same time, I’m practicing photography skills. So this post is a combination of the two.
The latest creations. These bottles are just a few inches high and are covered with script tissue paper.
My camera is a Nikon D3000 and for this photo, I used a 35mm lens.
Aperture was set to f/1.8. Shutter speed was 1/50 sec, and ISO was set to 200.
Close-up shot shows the script tissue paper is not laid smooth on the bottle.
I used Mod Podge (what else?) to adhere it and purposely created wrinkles.
This photo used the same aperture and ISO setting, but I changed the shutter speed to 1/25.
I wanted this photo to be soft, so kept the contrast lower when editing using Photoscape.
The bottle in the background was found at my secret little dump site.
I like the shape and don’t plan to alter it. Some things are better left untouched.
Here, I changed the focal point on the camera to center on the back bottle.
These bottles reside on an old barn board shelf.
And yes, the barn board was also unearthed from the secret little dump.
The metal piece on this bottle is actually a button from a friend.
She brought over a whole bottle full of buttons for me to use in my crafts.
I used a wash of white paint and water on this bottle, and dabbed most of the paint off with a paper towel.
Finally, I applied the script tissue paper with Mod Podge. I used tissue rolled around a wire to wrap the top.
Still using an aperture setting of f/1.8 … focus the camera on the first bottle.
Focus on the second bottle.
And focus on the third bottle.
I continue to practice using my camera. Will I ever feel comfortable with it?
I hope so. I think so. I couldn’t even focus the camera when I first got it!
So much to learn … but it’s fun!
I just LOVE your photos. They are really impressive. I have just bought myself a DSLR and am enjoying using it so much. Next month I’m doing a little photography course, so hopefully will get some great tips there. Thanks for sharing.
My garage sale buddy has been snapping up bottles too and decorating them. I think making cute little glass items is right up there with all the other addictions. Let us know if you ever recover.
~Bliss~
Your bottles are beautiful.
Dee
I purchased a whole big box of little bottles at a garage sale last year for pennies, I still haven’t used them for anything but small flower blooms. Great idea you had and you pics look great:)
I love both the bottles and the photography. I would definitely purchase a couple if I came across them. They turned out very cute!
Your photos are wonderful! (bottles too!) I would like to take pictures just like this someday!
I love your altered bottles.. I’m always looking for old bottles too, but hate the prices I see on some of them at flea markets. Your photographs are beautiful and it looks like you’re really mastering your camera. Beautiful Post!
Blessings!
Geneva
those bottles are TOO cute! found you via the blog hop and am excited to follow along xo
I love what you did with these bottles! Very creative. I’m always looking for ideas for old canning jars that I’ve been holding on to. I’m not telling you where I’m storing them all! Ha! Your blog looks like a fun place to hang out, think I’ll follow along if you don’t mind.
cute bottles, jennifer, and, i’m so impressed with your photography! someday, i’ll figure out all those settings:)
The bottles are really cute. I was wondering if you would link it in my Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop. Here is the link:
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/06/natural-aftershave-and-wednesdays.html
I would love to have anything that you would like to link.
Sincerely,
Debi Bolocofsky
http://www.adornedfromabove.com
Adorned From Above
Thanks for sharing your settings, Jennifer. How did you find a secret little dump? Hmmm…I don’t have any woods nearby, guess I’ll just have to keep working the garage sales and Goodwill.
Liz
What cute bottles! I love altering neat vintage bottles too, and had never thought to use tissue paper. Great photos, too!
these bottles are so gorgeous, love your wonderful photography!
Very pretty, Jennifer! The bottles looks wonderful with the script tissue paper. I think I need to look for some of that just for projects. Your photos came out great, too!
I’m a bottle lover too…yours are lovely!
Blessings, Grace
Both the bottles and the photography are gorgeous! I’ve been looking for bottles, too, but haven’t found any free ones yet. I think I need a secret little dump!
Jennifer,
LOVE your bottle creations!
(((Hugs)))
Anne
Your photography looks great as do the bottles. I need to learn how to use my camera too,it certainly is all confusing to me. I know it’s suppose to take great photos but the operator doesn’t really know what she (me) is doing, so most of the time I put it on auto. Though I really would like to learn how to use it correctly.
Your bottles are great. I wish you luck finding lots of little bottles and success in selling them.
Looks like you are getting the hang of your camera just wonderfully!!! The bottles are adorable and I love the textured way you applied the paper on the one. Great idea!
Love those new window treatments in your previous post also!
Hi Jennifer, Your bottles and photos are all beautiful! Have a great week.
Love the bottles! Thanks for sharing at Creative Things Thursday!
Beautiful bottles and photography! Thank you for an inspiring post!
Blessings,
Amanda
I adore bottles and have a hard time passing them by. Your photography and alterations are wonderful♥
I just love the bottles. They would fit perfect in my home. I’m a new follower so glad to find your blog.
So cute! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
Sherry
Looks like you’re doing very well with your camera. I think everyone should have a “secret dump site”!
How amazing that your bottles were the main feature in a recent article about Hometalk! They are wonderful! I’m a Hometalk ambassador and we would love to have you post some more projects!
Thanks for the inspiration!
karianne