Make-it-yourself Valentine Decor Project: "Shabby Chic Valentine Vases"

This Valentine set a modern romantic scene; instead of putting all your roses or flowers in one vases, why not place them in single vases for a spectacular effect. Unassuming bottles in assorted size and shapes are transformed with colorful texture to create stylist vase accents. This easy to apply textured medium is achieved by combining regular acrylic paints with Liquithick Gel, a thickening medium. Bring color and personality to your Valentine decor presentation, parade the colorful glass vases as a captivating centerpiece, or line them to grace a mantel, or staircases steps. Add gorgeous roses for fragrances and candles for atmosphere.

Total time: Less than two hour to make six bottles.
Hands-on time: Plus 48 hours to dry and cure.
Skill: Super easy.
Project cost: Less than $20.00 for the project.

Basic Materials & Tools to start with:
Glass bottles in assorted sizes and shapes (recycled wines bottles are perfect)
(Empty and cleaned)
Newspapers
Acrylic paint, in assorted colors (I use pink, red, burgundy, fuchsia, peach, and lavender)
A 1 inch flat paintbrush or a stippling brush
A small palette knife
A paint tray, or use recycled plastic container one for each color.
Liquithick™ Gel by Liquitex (thickening gel medium, adds texture to acrylic paints)
Roses or flowers of choice from your sweetheart
Decorative wire (optional)
(Materials for this project are available at arts and craft stores.)

Miy how to Directions: The Liquithick Gel medium once mixed with acrylic paint will change its consistency and thickness. It modifies acrylic paints to be used in infinite ways and for various applications. The thickness of the blended colors produces handling characteristics that are very close to that of oil paint without changing the color or opacity of the acrylic paints. It makes it an ideal medium to use to transform assorted surfaces including plain bottles.

Cover your work area with newspapers. Remove bottle labels buy soaking them in warm water. Make sure that the bottles are clean inside and out, and grease free. Wash them with soapy water and towel dry. Lighter colored labels can be left on since they will be covered with a thick textured medium. To make things even easier while you apply the medium; if you have a Lazy-Susan this is a great project to use it for. Simply wipe it clean after use.

Start by adding a very small amount of Liquithick Gel to the acrylic paint and mix well with a palette knife in a paint tray or in a small plastic container. The proportions will vary with color and desired effect. Start with small bead like amounts and add more gel until you have achieved the desired thickness. (20 or 25 parts of acrylic color to 1 part Liquithick Gel). Continue adding Liquithick Gel slowly if needed, but not to much or shrinkage and cracking may occur during drying. At higher concentrations, can thicken paint to "cake" or sculptural consistency.

Work on one area of the bottle at a time, starting from the bottom up. Apply the thick color mixture around the bottle with a palette knife or paintbrush. In a dabbling like motion create peaks with the palette knife or paintbrush as you are applying the medium, much like icing a cake. Continue this process until the bottle is completely covered. You do not need to apply the medium underneath of the bottles. Once all the bottles are completed let them air dry and cure at room temperature for 24 to 48 hours; depending upon amount of Liquithick Gel added to paint or medium.

Liquithick Gel produces a matte surface sheen when dry. A varnish topcoat is not required; however for fun finish apply a high gloss varnish. Or to give the colored textured vases a shimmering look applying dabs of silver metallic gel with a cloth; dab it on and wipe it off.

Adorn your bottle arrangement with gorgeous roses in assorted colors, a different color for each vase. For a splash of contrast and visual geometry, add foliage, a few thin Pendanus leaves for each rose presentation.

Miy Variations:
•To personalize your valentine bottles with style; Add bands of decorative paper or pictures with a special message around the bottles. Small scrapbooking types of decorative tags can be slip around the neck of the bottles. Use a metallic or shimmering gel pen to write your love note. Or inscribe a message directly on the bottle with Touch a 3-dimensional paint stick. Craft wire can be randomly wrapped and twisted around the bottle incorporating assorted beads as desired.

Miy Tips for keeping your roses fresh: The inside of all vases or bottles must be washed carefully. Use lukewarm water when filling the vases. Add preservatives and use as directed. At an angle cut an inch off the stem ends while holding under water using a sharp non serrated knife. Immerse the freshly cut roses in water right away. Revitalize your flowers by changing water regularly with fresh water, preservatives and by re-cutting the stems each time you change the water.