Upcycle Glass Bottles, Vases & Jars that Sell!

It is easy to design and upcycle glass bottles, vases, and jars that cost little to no money to create and SELL QUICKLY! I’m excited to share a few ideas on how upcycled glassware has become one of the top-selling products in my vendor booth.

Textured vases, jars, bottles, and pitchers are quick-selling items & fun to create! Easy mixture by adding baking soda to your favorite paint

This post includes photos of my past glass projects that have sold to help give you different ideas, a few tips and tricks, a material and supply list, and 13 different ways to develop and apply your designs.

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Upcycle glass bottles and jars benefits

Be eco-friendly by using discarded glass (and it’s FREE)
The sky is the limit with what you can create
You can use items you may already have. It’ll cost you nothing but your time and creativity.
They are easy to transform & fun to decorate
It’s a great way to upcycle bottles or jars that are not selling on their own
Decorated glass can be a wonderful seller
They SELL (if priced reasonably)

I printed images from **The Graphics Fairy** on rice paper and applied them to the painted bottle using **Mod Podge**.
See my post HOW TO CHALKPAINT on GLASS & apply printer paper cutouts!

Tip: Before painting, you’ll want the bottle to be dry inside & out.

Here are a few suggestions to “speed up” drying time

Placing it in a dehydrator on low temp for a few minutes
Placing it inside an oven with the light on (but the oven shut off)
Using a hair dryer on low setting
Placing it in front of a fan
Putting it on a sunny window ledge with an absorbent dry cloth inside

clear glass pitcher painted with random brushstrokes with a rub-on transfer applied

Watch this tutorial (& more) over on my channel

prime, paint, rub on IOD transfer, antique wax & seal (left) –
prime, paint, sandpaper distress, ink stamp & seal (right)

Supplies & materials you may need for upcycling glassware

Glassware (Jars, vases, pitchers, plates or bottles)
Rubbing alcohol & lint-free cloth
Primer (Gesso or Slick Stick) * I now use Bonding Boss by Dixie Belle
Paint (chalk paint, mineral paint, enamel or acrylic)
Colored wax
Paintbrush
Wax brush & a lint-free cloth
Top Coat Sealer (Gator Hide by Dixie Belle or Spray Sealer)
Embellishments of your choice (ribbons, flowers, greenery, etc)
Baking soda to create textured paint for a stone/concrete/pottery look
Rub on transfers, ink stamps, air-dry clay, printed napkins, freezer paper transfers, stencils, vinyl decals or waterslide decals

Freezer paper transfer applied to textured chalk paint – See my post on **CREATING DIY FREEZER PAPER TRANSFERS**

Preparing glass pieces for priming and painting is one of the most important steps in glass painting. See my post, Glass Bottle Painting Project That SELLS Quickly, for a step-by-step process for creating durable finishes.

Tips for getting sticky labels and stickers off glass

Try to peel off as much as you can before trying other methods
Soak in hot, soapy water
Soak in white vinegar
Scrub with a Magic Eraser or toothbrush instead of a paper/cloth towel
On low setting, heat glue using a hairdryer (hold the bottle using a hot mitt)
Apply a citrus essential oil or Goo Gone on leftover glue (Don’t worry because rubbing alcohol or hot, soapy water will remove any oil residue)

I don’t recommend using a razor blade like I’ve seen before because you can scratch the glass, injure yourself, and it can also make the gooey mess worse.

Mixed media using waterslide decal printed using an inkjet printer & ink stamp from IOD

Ideas for decorating & designing on glass bottles

You can apply multiple options to create a unique “one of a kind” mixed media piece

handpainted designs
waterslide decals
air dry clay
raised stencil
rice paper designs
freezer paper transfer
printed napkins
printed tissue paper
rub on transfers
ink stamps
distress paint
colored wax
textured paint

Mixed media bottle using paint, antique wax, white wax, clay, paint distressing & sealer. Embellished with printed cardstock words, beads, ribbons & fabric flower

Free Printable Pages

You can print images on any paper you choose using my free graphics here on my blog. I created full printable pages that are free for you to download & print on your choice of paper. Feel free to use them for your projects.

I also recommend printable images from TheGraphicsFairy.com for vintage prints and Betty over at 2×4 Block Printables on Etsy for an amazing selection of creative prints.

Easy to download designs from **2×4 Block Printables over on Etsy** that I printed using rice paper (you could use tissue paper)

Posts that You May Enjoy

Vintage Thrift Haul & Free Printable Tag
Upcycled Home Decor & Free Printables!
Free Printable Floral Tags for Spring!
DIY Transfers – Create & Apply to Your Projects!

Thank you for joining me today! I hope you enjoyed this post & that it inspires you to transform a few glass bottles or jars.
Be sure to sign up for our newsletter for updates on more free printables & DIYs!

Shop This Post and My Favorite Products

HP INKJET Printer (my HP model is no longer made but this is similar) – Basic, easy to use
Reynold’s Freezer Paper – (for DIY transfers)
Waterslide Decal Paper (for inkjet printer DIY transfer)
No Spray Waterslide Decals – white matte – (for inkjet or laser) DIY Transfers
Iron-On Transfers for light fabric (for inkjet printer) DIY Transfers
Mod Podge (32 oz. matte)
Gesso Surface Prep Medium (16-oz white)
Wax & Chalkpaint Brush
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