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Craft Tutorials | Adult Crafts | Crafts for Seniors | Message in a Bottle Craft

Message in a Bottle Craft

Author by Amanda Davis on January 1, 2010 Updated on March 27, 2019

5 from 4 votes
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This is truly a universal gift idea. Whether it be romantic, for Valentine’s Day or an anniversary, a message for a dear friend, a birthday gift, or even words of encouragement, this project can be tailored to fit just about any occasion.

This was the brain child of my 16 year old daughter. Being the frugal young lady I have raised her to be, she was trying to come up with a heartfelt gift for her boyfriend that would A) not cost a lot, B) be straight from the heart, and most of all C) be appreciated. She asked me if I would help her turn this idea into a reality, so here’s what we did.

[full instructions at the end of this post]

She typed up a lovely note on her computer in a pretty font (no she didn’t offer to let me read it, and I didn’t ask). She printed the letter on an antique looking piece of paper I found at the craft store. We used an empty wine bottle, some sugar and a few doo dads for decoration, finishing it off with SnoTex paint. We used sugar instead of sand for this because she wanted it to be more of a snow scene than a beach scene. More Christmas-like. Because I had most of these things on hand, this craft only cost us about $1.00 (for the paper).

Did he like it? YES. He loved it. it went over very well and I was really proud of her for being so creative this year!

My gears really started turning on this one, the ideas just kept coming! Here are some alterations you could easily make to this craft to fit different occasions:

Traditional: use sand and small sea shells; antiqued paper for the note; jute to tie the note; and burlap around the neck of the bottle.

New Baby: use white sugar; pastel colored buttons dropped into the sugar; pastel colored paper for the note (a note from a dear friend, parent, sister, etc – great way to include a gift check!); white or sheer ribbon to tie the note; pastel or white wide ribbon for the neck, maybe with little baby booties hanging from center of bow.

Valentine’s Day – Mixture of red and white sugar, or even turbinado sugar; confetti hearts sprinkled inside; white or pink paper or a heart themed stationary; red or pink ribbon to tie note; gold, red or white wide ribbon for bottle neck.

Anniversary – Color scheme could be based off of your wedding colors or your spouse’s favorite colors; sand or sugar, depending on the gift (especially if there’s plane tickets to a tropical paradise! LOL); matching ribbons and confetti.

Teen Girl Birthday – White and colored sugar; white paper – tape money or gift check to paper; purple yarn or ribbon to tie paper; purple and yellow confetti or buttons in sugar; yellow bow for outside; use acrylic paint to add purple and yellow polka dots to outside of bottle.

There are so very many different ways that this could be used. Definitely a great gift idea!

Message in a Bottle
(instructions are for winter/Christmas themed bottle listed, but you could adapt this however you please)
by Amanda Formaro

 

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5 from 4 votes

Message in a Bottle Craft

Author: Amanda Formaro

Supplies

  • empty wine bottle with cork you can buy corks at the craft store if you need one
  • thumbtack
  • 24 " thin red ribbon
  • sheet of antiqued stationary paper
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • red and green craft jewels beads, or confetti
  • 18 " wide red or silver ribbon
  • SnoTex paint

Instructions

  • Remove all labels from bottle, wash and dry. Print note or letter on to antiqued paper. If you are going to include a monetary gift, attach it to the letter with a small piece of tape. Roll up letter tight enough to fit inside the opening of the bottle. Tie the letter with the thin red ribbon, leaving one end of the ribbon long, trimming the other end. Attach the long end of the ribbon to the bottom of the cork with the thumbtack. Set aside.
  • Pour enough sugar into the bottle to about 2 inches deep, or deep enough so that when the letter is placed inside the neck of the bottle, the top portion of the letter will remain in the neck. This way the letter can easily be removed.
  • Drop confetti, beads or craft jewels into the sugar. Note: if using craft jewels, they may end up upside down. To avoid this, glue craft jewels together, back to back, so that no matter what side it lands on, the jewel will show.
  • Insert the rolled letter into the neck of the bottle, make sure the long end of the ribbon is in the neck as well, and insert cork. Tie red or silver ribbon around the neck of the bottle into a bow, trim ends. Use SnoTex paint to decorate the outside of the bottle. Let dry.
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Amanda Davis
Amanda Davis is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four children. She loves to bake, cook, make kid's crafts and create decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years.
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Filed Under: Crafts for Seniors, Recycled Crafts for Adults, Valentine's Day Crafts Tagged With: adult, adult craft ideas, adult crafts, adults, crafts for adults, holidays, recycle, recycle crafts, recycled, recycled crafts, wine bottle

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Comments

  1. Debra says

    March 8, 2013 at 9:31 pm

    I just love it. Is Snow-tec paint the only paint one can use?

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      March 9, 2013 at 9:32 am

      There are other brands of snow texture paint as well. You can certainly use regular paint, you just won’t have the texture :)

      Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    June 7, 2011 at 4:05 am

    This is so awesome! GREAT IDEA! :D Thanks so much for sharing. :)

    Reply
  3. Tyla says

    January 13, 2011 at 4:54 am

    Very cute. I'm going to pass the idea along to my daughter. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  4. Donnie says

    January 11, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    That's a really cute idea.

    Reply
  5. Jenny @ Embellishing Life says

    January 10, 2011 at 11:54 pm

    Love it! I'm doing this for my hubs this year! Thanks for the inspiration…again!

    Reply
  6. One Cheap B*tch says

    January 10, 2011 at 10:32 pm

    You are so right! This works for so many gifting occasions! I have a bridal shower coming up and I think I might do something like this for the bride. Thanks for sharing!

    Jeanine

    Reply
  7. Carrie @ Dittle Dattle says

    January 10, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    Awesome! I love the added texture :D

    I would be honored to have you add it to my blog party

    Amaze Me Monday Blog Party

    Reply
  8. Semalee says

    January 8, 2011 at 6:43 pm

    Oh my gosh! This is so cute! I love the way you really enhanced it. I'm thinking this could be a fun thing to leave on a friend's porch who needs encouragement too :)

    Semalee @ Nailing Jello to a Tree

    Reply
  9. Holly says

    December 19, 2010 at 8:09 am

    This is probably the prettiest message in a bottle I have ever seen.

    Reply
  10. The Rusty Teapot says

    December 11, 2010 at 10:52 am

    TWO THUMBS UP!
    Brilliant Idea
    Wonderful Tutorial
    Terrific Photos!
    LoVed it!
    Thank You 4 Posting

    Reply
  11. Anonymous says

    December 10, 2010 at 8:37 pm

    I love this idea, Thanks!! I'm having my girls make them for the Grandparents with letters and Pictures from them in the bottle for Christmas :)

    Reply
  12. Kate says

    November 13, 2010 at 7:39 pm

    I got all the supplies to make this craft for my boyfriend for Christmas I am so excited! Thanks for the great idea!

    Reply
  13. jennwa says

    January 9, 2010 at 6:37 pm

    Great idea.
    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  14. Beth@The Stories of A to Z says

    January 7, 2010 at 2:17 am

    My hubby proposed to me with a message in a bottle so I'm very fond of this craft! Love it.

    Reply
  15. luvin says

    January 3, 2010 at 9:40 pm

    wow oh wow totally love all your crafts
    thanks for sharing
    grannieg

    Reply
  16. Delilah says

    January 2, 2010 at 9:59 pm

    These are so cute! Great tips! Thanks!

    Reply
  17. Snooky doodle says

    January 2, 2010 at 8:15 pm

    what a nice blog :) really nice crafts

    Reply
  18. Sonia says

    January 2, 2010 at 1:02 pm

    This is a fabulous idea..I keep wondering what to gift my husband all the time, and its a fact that he likes gifts to be cute and meaningful..I'll do this for Valentine's Day..He's gonna love it!!

    Reply
  19. Amanda says

    January 2, 2010 at 12:33 pm

    Thanks ladies! I was pretty proud of my daughter for initiating this. There are sooooo many possibilities with this!

    Reply
  20. artsy_momma says

    January 2, 2010 at 1:54 am

    Very cool! I might have to try the Valentine's Day one since it's hard to come up with something for my DH….

    Reply
  21. leelea says

    January 2, 2010 at 1:02 am

    Too cute!! I just scrubbed a wine bottle my mom gave me with goo gone this morning!!!! As I was scrubbing, I was thinking of what I could do with it!!!! Now I know!!! Thanks!!! Great idea!!!!

    Reply
  22. creative gal says

    January 2, 2010 at 12:36 am

    I like this idea!

    Reply
  23. CC says

    January 1, 2010 at 11:55 pm

    I love this idea…it would be wonderful this Valentines Day..how pretty it would be. Thank you so much for the idea..

    Reply
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