Saturday, February 21, 2026

"Playing" With Paint & Transfers

Greetings lovely friends & readers



 Valentine's Day flowers picked from my garden last weekend ... dahlias, cosmos, alstroemeria & some early chrysanths 💗




I saw this verse on Instagram & loved it ... it's okay to give yourself the day off !

For our craft group get together last week we were decorating bottles.  I'd visited Gail to get some bottles as she had a large stash of all shapes & sizes - these are the three I chose.


  Many of the girls were going for a slightly Gothic theme - hence Gail had already painted the medium sized bottle black.  I decided to go for a pastel theme - you can see me deciding on a green shade with the larger bottle. 
My assistant in the background, was having a wee nap  ❤



On our recent trip to Paint Me Vintage both Gail & I had purchased this Redesign with Prima transfer above.  It was a new release for Easter/spring & I adored it.  I decided to use it on my bottles.  
Our get-together didn't actually go ahead due to Liz's husband being rushed to hospital with chest pain .. so Gail & I got together several days later & decorated some of our already-painted bottles. 
 
I first used a paper serviette on the medium blue bottle, but after a couple of days I decided I no longer liked it ... this is the beauty of mod-podge .. I just sat the bottle in a basin of warm water & the serviette peeled off no problem & I wiped the bottle down.  I added this bunny transfer & also an old frame I had with a missing back.  


The smallest bottle I'd painted cream & Gail gave me this wooden frame piece.  It fit perfectly over my bunny & I painted it, waxed it, then wiped it over with a darker wax.  I'm now thinking I may add some gold to the edges of it.  


Here is the frame I painted for my medium sized bottle - sorry my photos are all over the place today  😶
I painted this with Robins Egg chalk paint & then lightly wiped the edges with Antique Gold Rub-n-buff.



My favorite of them all is the tallest bottle which I painted with chalk paint in the colour Country Green.  I added this rubber decal, painted it & then popped a small transfer in the middle.  I glued some thickish lace to the base & painted this the same green.  I then white waxed over the details to make them pop.  I think this is an old Gin bottle as it has Pierre Smirnoff engraved on the back of it.


I painted some wooden tags & attached transfers to these ... the smallest one is an old broken key ring that had a buzzy bee in the centre.   I prized it open, removed the photo, removed the glue, added a white piece of paper & a tiny transfer & glued it all back together again.  Also an old broken brooch has been glued to the rim.  Never throw away those broken bits & pieces dear friends 😉😉



Here are my bottles so far ... I love them all but my favorite is the green one.  
Let me know if you have a favorite dear friends.


The day we visited Paint me Vintage the Owner Carla, was standing at her counter painting plastic eggs to do an Easter display.  
Both Gail & I very were interested as we both had plastic eggs at home in our stashes.  
I painted 6 eggs ... 2 pink, 2 blue & 2 green.  I added transfers to these & then glued thin ribbon to the hole in the top.  I wanted to make an Easter tree.  
Remember the trees that fell down in * this post * ? ... well we are still waiting on the tree men to come & clean them up so off I go with my loppers & cut myself some branches from them to make my Easter tree.  


Hard to get a good photo on this dull overcast day.  


My little display ... Yes I agree, it's far too early to be thinking anything Easter-ish but this can just sit & wait a few weeks until I put my Easter decor out.  I found some crochet hearts in a bag of lace so I painted them with watered down PVA glue & strung these from my branches also.  


(This next part is especially for You Ellie)
Last week I gave my deck table & surrounding areas a good scrub.  I had a new length of hessian to use & wanted to do a late summer/autumnal display.


As you can see dear friends, a certain Little Cat thought this was the most wonderful fun & Mum must've put this here just especially for my entertainment.  

After nearly half an hour of this carry-on I managed to get the table runner down & he just curled up & went to sleep (!!)



I think it was about this point that I gave up & walked away!!!
Nothing is ever easy around here with the assistance of one or other of the furry family members.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend dear friends - remember to be kind to yourselves & to each other,
Thank you as always, for your welcome visits here today,
Sending much love & friendship to you all,





36 comments:

  1. Hi Ya my friend! Love, love your flowers, nothing better, ok maybe coffee! That saying is perfect, I need a day off, or two...:) The house candle is a sweet. The Easter bottles look very pretty as does your Easter tree with it's eggs, I'm sure your furry friends will want to play swing ball with them? Happy Easter decorating, I will stick to just making Hot Cross buns!

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  2. Love love love all things Easter and its soft colours. I love the green bottle.

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    1. Thank you Sandy - I do too ... all the pastels just make my heart sing. xx

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  3. Your flowers are gorgeous!!
    It is a good thing your assistant needed a nap, or the bottles may not have been painted. ;)
    I can't believe what you do with an old bottle, paint, and transfers. The green one is also my favorite one--especially when it is sporting the painted eggs and lacy hearts!
    Hard to fathom how you ever got that runner laid out flat. And I laughed to see the furry stretched out, napping on it.
    Wishing you a smooth transition from Valentines to Easter decor. LOL

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  4. The bottles and eggs are so pretty and the hearts with the glue look amazing..

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  5. Hello Julie, I like the bottles, it's surprising what can be done with a few bits and bobs that we mostly already have at home. I would make them for candle sticks. Betty

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  6. Hello Julie - although the bottles are ALL lovely, I think my favorite would be the medium sized one that is pale blue with the bunny & the oval frame on it - I just love that soft duck egg colour. You are so clever with what you come up with. I love the Egg tree also. Sarah USA xx

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    1. Thank you Sarah - I agree, that soft duck egg shade is always so beautiful. xx

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  7. All your bottles are gorgeous and they make such a delightful display. xx

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  8. Oh ,
    I love all your works , those lovely little eggs so cute .
    Easter is the best of all seasons for me . Have a great weekend hugs June.

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  9. Ah! Bless! Well...I've just got back from town...A visit to
    Costa coffee with a few friends...putting the world to
    rights...HeHe! Oh! dear Trump is 'still' alive...? :).

    And! Yes! I would say the tall green bottle is my favorite
    to...stands out by far...though they look great as a group..
    And with the crochet hearts, and baubles it 'ALL' comes
    together nicely...! Roll on Easter...! :).

    And, nice to see a certain 'little' cat joining in and giving
    a helping hand..(paw)..! :). Bless!x Though he looks a bit
    worn out and decided on a nap..! :).

    Goes without saying Julie, another 'great' post....Especially
    the bottles...I to, will be working on a bottle tomorrow..?
    Once l get the cork out, and enjoy the first glass..! Hic! HeHe! :O).

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    1. Lovely! Thankyou Shirley.....
      And..Yes! I enjoyed a large plate of home made Tagiatelle
      pasta..on Sunday..covered in my famous home made pasta
      sauce..!
      Enjoyed with a bottle of Sicilian 'Corte Aurelio' red table wine..!
      Which in fact is a family wine, my family own a wine plantation
      in Sicily, it makes up part of a co~operative, and used to mix
      with other grapes from other vineyards, to produce various wines..!
      🍾 🍾 🍾 🍾 🍾 🍾🍾 🍾 🍾 🍾 🍾 🍾🍾 🍾 🍾 🍾 🍾 🍾

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  10. Oh my! You are so very creative and clever. I didn’t realize you can undo modgepodge! Learn something new everyday. Dotti in CT

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    1. Hello Dotti ... thank you for your sweet comment. I didn't realise you could undo mod podge either but I can honestly tell you it worked a treat & came off so easily. Just warm water & I think I used a tiny squeeze of dishwash liquid. Have a lovely week Dotti. xx

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  11. Thank you for the photos of Little One - he is just living his best life, isn't he? What a sweetie (even if he prevented you from getting things sorted for a while!) I love your pre-Easter display and the eggs and crocheted hearts look so lovely together.
    Have a lovely week and give Little One a stroke from me!
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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  12. Now I see what all the painting was about! I vote for the squattier fat bottle with the rabbit. Love the look of all. They appear to have molded features not just added on ones. Fun. And why not think of Easter decorations. Here the candy is out in the stores and the Spring pale colors are such a relief to the eyes. You and Gail did a great job of thinking this craft through. Hope your friend's husband is on the mend. Now Miss Pip and Little One did great helping you out. Thanks for the home grown flower bouquet. My mini daf leaves are just peeking out as the snow just melted Thursday. Oh yes, it is to snow tonight maybe 3 inches. Can't have green grass to look at too long! Might strain the eyes. Lynn and Precious xx

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  13. Love the bottles & your Easter tree. had to chuckle at Little One, everytime i put down a quilt top to photograph one of the cats thinks it's there for them. :) :)

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  14. I am always amazed and intrigued at the different projects you find to do. The addition of little frames on your bottles is so fun and effective. Love the old branch and eggs/hearts in the bottle at the end of it all.... clever you!
    Hugz

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  15. You always have the most beautiful projects happening. I think my favourite bottle is the smaller creamy coloured one.

    God bless.

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  16. Wonderful saying Julie. Nice to see the furry ones helping, even if they do sleep on the job, helping must tire them out! I like all the bottles and they look fantastic with the eggs and hearts. You are very clever.

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  17. Oh, you are so incredibly gifted and talented. The bottles and eggs are beautiful!

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    1. Thank you so much Chrissy - you are so kind. xx

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  18. Oh wow! You always make something plain into a work of art when you Julie-afy it. Love those soft colours. And your fluffy helpers always know when they are needed.

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  19. It's a wonder you get anything done, Julie, with your feline friends always about.....but you certainly seem to. Those bottles are gorgeous. Love too, your Easter display. It won't be long till Easter arrives.

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  20. You put such effort into everything, Julie. I love everything. My bestie went to the 'Tattoo' in Auckland last week. Have you heard of it? Have a good week Julie.xxx

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  21. I love everything especially the assistant.

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  22. The bottles are beautiful Julie, I think I liked the duck egg blue one. Your dear furry friends never fail to amaze.

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  23. Julie, all of the bottles are beautiful! I think my favorite is the pale green or bluish color, the one with the bunny and oval frame. Aren't cats funny! They want to sleep wherever you're trying to work but won't dare sleep where you want them to. We bought Smokey the cutest heated little "cat house" for the front porch. He refuses to go inside! I've tried everything! :)

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  24. Beautiful as usual! I love all the bottles. I think the quality tester in your last pictures should get some kind of compensation for making sure the fabric is alright, lol!

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    1. Thank you JJ. I think the quality tester in the last pictures would very much like some compensation for trialing the fabric for me (!!!) 😉 Should be called Little Rascal not Little One. xx

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    2. The compensation from you being is he gets to do it again any time he wants, lol!!! He is indeed a little rascal!

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  25. Julie, your mind is awgirl with ideas 'all the time' I think!! And from your mind come the most delightful finished projects.
    Blessings and hugs
    Jennifer

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  26. What a wonderful time you've been having. All your creations look so marvellous. Good to see Little One making himself comfortable everywhere . . . 🐈

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  27. Your bottles look great Julie. As does everything you make. I always love seeing what you get up to. xx

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