Turn a Simple Bottle into a Shabby Chic Treasure

Have you ever wished you could turn an ordinary glass bottle into a vintage treasure fit for a storybook shelf? This beginner-friendly tutorial will walk you through every dreamy detail, thanks to Donna at Mason Creations etc., who’s crafted a shabby chic masterpiece using napkins, paint, clay, and a little creative magic.

This project combines decoupage with clay molding and layered antiquing to give an old bottle new life. You'll find it’s the perfect introduction to working with chalk paint, rice papers, and embellishments—even if you're just starting out!

👇 Watch the full step-by-step video below and follow along! 👇

Step 1: Prep Your Bottle Like a Pro

To begin, wipe down your bottle with an alcohol pad to remove any dust or oils. Then brush on Polyvine Multi Surface Lacquer (Dead Flat Finish) to remove the shine and give your paint and napkin something to grip. This step turns your glass into a frosted canvas and is key for long-lasting adhesion.

Step 2: Bright White Base Coat

Apply two coats of Dixie Belle Chalk Paint in Cotton to the entire bottle. Napkins are semi-transparent, so this white base helps their colors pop instead of looking faded or muddy. Let it dry completely.

Step 3: Napkin Placement Made Easy

Donna used a floral napkin with soft pink roses. She traced her bottle to cut the napkin to size, then added a few small slits around the top edge to help it curve smoothly on the rounded surface. Peel away the two blank backing layers—only the top printed ply is used.

Brush a thin coat of Polyvine Heavy Duty Wood Varnish (Satin Finish) onto the painted bottle, lay the napkin gently in place, and carefully brush more varnish over the top. To eliminate wrinkles, lay a misted plastic sheet (like from a cut Ziplock bag) over the surface, then press gently with a paper towel.

Step 4: Mold Magic with Air-Dry Clay

Using DAS Air-Dry Clay and silicone molds, Donna created scrolls, roses, and leaves to frame the napkin and add dimension. Freeze the clay-filled molds for 20 minutes before popping out the shapes—this helps them hold their details.

Attach the embellishments with Aileen’s tacky glue while still damp so they can curve with the bottle. Let one side dry fully before flipping to work on the other side.

Step 5: Matching Paint for a Seamless Look

Donna color-matched the napkin’s rose tones using Pentart paints in Rose, Magnolia, Country Green, Country Blue, and Dark Blue. She layered colors carefully, dry brushed with Dixie Belle Magnolia, and added shading using a custom antiquing glaze made with Pentart paints and glazing medium.

The result? The molded roses and scrolls perfectly echo the napkin’s delicate floral palette.

Step 6: Aged Porcelain Napkin Finish

For that vintage porcelain look, Donna used the Pentart Fine Line Crackle System over the napkin. Once the fine cracks formed, she rubbed in Pentart Antique Paste in Umber, wiping away excess with a dry cloth. This defined the cracks beautifully and added antique charm.

To seal and give it a glossy porcelain finish, she used a solvent-based varnish.

Step 7: Final Touches

She painted and detailed the bottle’s cork with the same techniques and added a lovely pink organza ribbon bow around the neck. Tiny touches like dotting Pentart silver paint on raised details brought the whole look together.

This project is a beautiful way to explore layering and blending techniques—while also learning how versatile napkins, chalk paint, and air-dry clay can be.

A big thank you to Donna at Mason Creations etc. for sharing her talent and creativity with us! Her gentle instruction makes even the most detailed projects feel possible for every crafter.

🎀 Ready to try it yourself?
We carry all the paints, papers, Polyvine products, and embellishments featured in this tutorial—perfect for your own shabby chic creations.

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Happy crafting from all of us here!