Steampunk Bottle

I must say I am so happy I was referred to the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge blog by a swapping friend of mine (thanks, Rhea)! It's always great to have something that gets the creative juices flowing in possibly unexpected ways. Take this weeks challenge for example- "Bottle It"! As soon as I read the challenge I knew what I wanted to do. As I started working things weren't turning out exactly as I had envisioned... they were turning out better! I also ended up using a completely different stamped image than I originally thought I would. It all ended up turning into something I was much more pleased with than my original concept- happy accident!

I am also adding this project to another challenge blog that I accidentally discovered by looking through other blog challenge submissions... La-De-Dah: My Mojo Monthly (March). As I mention a bit further down, the inspiration for this bottle was the amber colored vials and bottles that were so popular in a time long gone. My fascination with antique and vintage bottles started as a child during visits to my Grandparent's home in the country. There was a tiny closet in the back of an upstairs room with shelves full of found vials and bottles- dug up from the dirt around their farm or in near-by fields. I took one to keep as my own and still have it today. I actually use it these days as a prop when photographing most of my vintage inspired art and I still receive a happy thrill every time I look at it. (My grandmother passed away this past October and I was able to bring home some of her antique books and vintage aprons. This bottle I have is just another reminder of my times with her).

You can see in this photo my completed project...


Here is a shot of what the original bottle looked like compared to the finished project. I dripped various colors of alcohol ink into the bottle and just slowly moved it all around until the bottle was completely color coated and dry. I really wanted to get the look of the amber colored vials and bottles that were so popular in that era.
I added various Sprocket Gears from the Tim Holtz idea-ology line to the top. I had a mini battle with my E-6000 at this point, but I won in the end. I also gave the lid a faux patina using various alcohol inks (Ranger).
I wanted something industrial, but simple... lots of great metal embellishments to adorn the neck of the bottle with. I went with two of Tim's Swivel Clasps joined together to go around the neck. I then took a third swivel clasp, added a carefully selected Trinket Pin (it's the one that says Ideas... I thought it was perfect for a Steampunk project) and draped this combination off the original clasps. From this I added another sprocket gear with a small Idea-ology jump ring.

Now for what may be my favorite part... My dapper men! This is probably my most loved and most used of all my stamps. You can find these gentlemen with the Steampunk Set from Tim Holtz and Stampers Anonymous. For this part I stamped and fussy cut the men and added a band of matching cardstock from one side to the other. I also used my paper distresser from Tonic and added Vintage Photo distress ink.

The wonderful thing about this project is it reminded me that I have a small stash of these bottles I have been keeping for almost two years to alter at some point. I had honestly forgot all about them until this challenge! I hope you will be inspired to dig out something you may have forgotten about and get creating!

As always

Angela