"Message in a Bottle" Birthday Card

My daughters wanted to make a birthday card for their uncle. He loves the sea and he’s a great fisherman.

I suggested that we made something different than a classic card.

So, why not give him a “Message in a Bottle”?

I took an old milk bottle favor, that measures 5^1/2 inches height and gave it a good coat of Finnabair Art Basics Black Gesso. Then, I dry brushed some Americana Decor Metallics “TIN”. I glued real shells – that we always collect on our summer vacation – using Art Basics Heavy Body Gel and sprinkled some bronze microbeads from my stash.

Using a palette knife, I randomly applied some Artex Iron Paste that gave an excellent effect of rust. I let the paste dry completely. Next, I dry brushed some Media Fluids “Titan Buff” and then some Media Antiquing Cream “Patina Green”. 

I sprayed it with Americana Acrylic sealer, to seal the antiquing cream, and gave, the whole bottle, a wash with Media Fluids “Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide”.

For the message paper, I took a plain printer paper, wet it with a mister and colored it with Yellow ochre watercolor, using a wide flat brush. While it was wet, I crumpled it, then unfolded it and dried it with a heat gun. When dry, I went over it with Distress Ink “Brushed Corduroy” wet it again to activate the ink, for a more distressed look, and then dried it once more with the heat gun.

Now, all that's left is for the kids to write their message and give the bottle to their uncle. 

What a surprise!

Thank you for visiting my blog!

Until next time, 

Be Brave, Be who You want to Be!