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Home » arts and craft » DIY Gold Leaf Bottle Vases

DIY Gold Leaf Bottle Vases

February 20, 2017 Brittany Bailey 9 Comments

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DIY Gold Leaf Vases from Recycled Bottles | Pretty Handy Girl

Remember when you were a child and you would pick wildflowers and present them proudly to your mom in a soda bottle? The simplicity of a fresh picked bouquet and the opulence of real gold leaf makes these DIY Gold Leaf Vases the perfect gift for anyone! I like to keep recycled bottles on hand to dress up and use for vases. Teachers, my hairdresser, a friend. . . no one is exempt from receiving a pick me up bouquet.

Make a dozen of these beautiful gold leaf vases and keep them on hand for a quick gift or to display your own horticultural achievements!

DIY Gold Leaf Vases from Recycled Bottles | Pretty Handy Girl

Ready to make a few DIY Gold Leaf Vases in minutes? Let’s get leafin’.

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

DIY Gold Leaf Vases from Recycled Bottles | Pretty Handy Girl

  • Recycled bottles or jars
  • Paint brush
  • Adhesive gold leaf sizing
  • Gold leaf sheets
  • Rag
  • Chip brush (or gold leaf brush)

Optional:

  • Lemon Essential Oil
  • Rubbing Alcohol or Goo Gone
  • Nail polish remover with acetone
  • Q-tips
  • Hairdryer

Preparing Recycled Jars and Bottles:

Clean out your bottles and jars with soap and water. Soak them to remove the labels. Any gummy label residue can be removed with Lemon Essential oil (my favorite non-toxic glue residue remover).

DIY Gold Leaf Vases from Recycled Bottles | Pretty Handy Girl

The lemon oil works faster and doesn’t leave any toxic or drying chemicals on your skin. But, if you don’t have any lemon essential oil on hand, use Goo Gone or rubbing alcohol (be sure to wear gloves or wash your hands immediately after use.)

DIY Gold Leaf Vases from Recycled Bottles | Pretty Handy Girl

If there are any date stamps on your bottle, you can remove it with a Q-tip and Acetone based Nail Polish. I can’t help laughing every time I use this trick because I learned it from the Lego Movie! Anyone else remember the Fleece Crested Sceptre of Q-tip and The Pole-Ish Remover of Ni-Eel?

Clean your bottle or jar really well with rubbing alcohol.

DIY Gold Leaf Vases from Recycled Bottles | Pretty Handy Girl

Instructions:

Lay your clean glass bottle on a covered work surface (you will make a mess.)

DIY Gold Leaf Vases from Recycled Bottles | Pretty Handy Girl

Paint the adhesive sizing onto your glass bottle. Anywhere the adhesive lays gold will stick, so decide if you want to be random or use clean lines.

DIY Gold Leaf Vases from Recycled Bottles | Pretty Handy Girl

Allow the adhesive to dry (you can use a hair dryer to speed the process and prevent the adhesive from running and dripping.)

Carefully lift up pieces of the gold leaf and lay them flat on top of your glass bottle. Pat the leaf into the adhesive.

DIY Gold Leaf Vases from Recycled Bottles | Pretty Handy Girl

Use your brush to dust off any excess gold leaf. Continue adding gold leaf until all the adhesive is covered.

DIY Gold Leaf Vases from Recycled Bottles | Pretty Handy Girl

Wipe off any excess gold leaf flakes with a dry rag and you are done!

DIY Gold Leaf Vases from Recycled Bottles | Pretty Handy Girl

Here’s a quick video to show you how the gold leafing process works.

Fill your new gold leaf vases with flowers and enjoy!

DIY Gold Leaf Vases from Recycled Bottles | Pretty Handy Girl

Or give them to someone special.

DIY Gold Leaf Vases from Recycled Bottles | Pretty Handy Girl

Leave me a comment to let me know how you like this project. Or let me know if you have another way to upcycle glass jars and bottles.

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Comments

  1. Katie says

    February 20, 2017 at 11:00 am

    Can the gold leafing get wet? Or will that’s cause it to come off?

    Reply
    • Brittany Bailey says

      February 21, 2017 at 10:37 pm

      YES! I’ve handwashed these bottles several times and the gold leaf stays on really well. You have to scratch it really hard with a fingernail to get it to come off.

      Reply
  2. Colleen Taylor says

    February 20, 2017 at 10:25 pm

    I love the look of these bottles turned glam. I have saved a few unusual bottles & I keep wondering why, now I know! Thanks for this Brittany!

    Reply
  3. Barb says

    February 24, 2017 at 11:04 am

    Metal leafing is one of the best inventions. It can be used on EVERYTHING! I would like to find a suitable replacement for the adhesive though…

    Reply
  4. Abigail Jones says

    June 11, 2017 at 11:21 am

    The scene of the gold leaf bottles in front of the window is so beautiful. I might save some bottles and make a great gift for my parent.

    Reply
    • Brittany Bailey says

      June 14, 2017 at 9:43 am

      Thank Abigail. Warning, saving glass bottles can be habit forming. I have a box waiting for use. 😉

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Brittany aka Pretty Handy Girl. I like the smell of coffee and sawdust in the morning. I live to break stereotypes and empower you to take on your own DIY project.

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