• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Boondocks Blog

  • Home
  • Re Purpose
  • Furniture
  • Seasonal
  • About Us
    • Privacy Policy

How to Not Decoupage Plastic Bottles with Napkins

March 7, 2020 by boondocks 112 Comments

Sharing is caring!

195 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Decoupage is a great way to add decor and interest to all sorts of items in your home. If you’ve ever wondered how to decoupage napkins on plastic, check out these great tips and suggestions.

Three plastic bottles covered with pretty napkin paper using decoupage.

A few weeks ago my daughter’s friend gave me a gift.  It was a bag full of plastic bottles that were for tea.  She knows what a recycler and repurposer I am and she was sweet enough to collect a bunch of them and bring them over. A girl after my own repurposing heart!

I had them hidden away with a vague idea that I’d do some sort of spring project with them. Little did I know what a mess that would turn out to be.

​Today I am advising you on how to NOT decoupage plastic bottles with napkins. 

I had no idea what I would do with those bottles till one day I went to Ikea and spotted these cute napkins.  Aha!  I thought to myself, why not decoupage that lovely spring pattern onto the bottles?

Ikea paper napkins with blue flowers in package on a wooden table surface.

I removed the plastic covers and washed out the bottles.  They looked cute like this too but I wanted to use the napkins.  

​I figured this project would take me half an hour tops. After all I had decoupaged so many other items in the past such as a dresser, a suitcase, and a side table. In fact I had even decoupaged a trunk with book pages. Now if that wasn’t a tough project I don’t know what is.​

Materials Needed to Decoupage Napkins on Plastic

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.  If you purchase any of these products through the links, we receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. You can find our full disclosure here.

  • Mod Podge
  • Chalk paint
  • Decorative napkins
  • Plastic bottles
  • Sponge Brush
  • Paint brush
  • Twine, ribbon or yarn.

How to Decoupage Napkins onto Plastic

Brown plastic bottles after covering has been removed.

First I added the napkin to the bottle but realized after I applied it that it was a three ply napkin.  Did it say that on the label?  Silly me, I should have known better! This did not look good! 

Close up of decoupaged three ply napkin on a brown plastic bottle.

I tried again, this time with only the patterned napkin, but it looked awful. The brown color of the bottle showed through and made the pattern look muddy.  Not to mention it was very wrinkled. 

Close up of decoupaged three ply napkin on a brown plastic bottle.

Finally I did what I should have done from the beginning.  I went to You Tube and looked at how-to videos but I was so overwhelmed I almost gave up. I knew I had to finish those bottles and make my daughter’s friend proud since she had gone to the trouble of saving them for me. And I wanted to be good to the environment!

So following the tips on the videos, I painted the bottles using chalk paint.  Two coats was more than enough to give me this look. I let them sit overnight to cure.

​Half an hour project, huh?  

Upside down plastic bottles drying from being painted with blue chalk paint.

The next day I cut a strip of napkin and started from the top, adding a little bit of mod podge and carefully applying the one ply napkin. I even had to make cuts where the neck of the bottle swelled out.

Decoupaging napkins on top of chalk painted plastic bottles.

But more often than not this was the result!

Did I say this was going to be a half an hour job?

Close up showing that a napkin has rubbed off of the plastic bottle.

I even attempted to do individual flowers cutting them out and applying them one at a time.

Close up of a cut flower shape from the napkin.

But the final result was less then desirable. Instead I ended up applying individual flowers to the whole surface of the bottle. I would have been better off with the first method, just cutting large pieces and adding them on.

Adding flower shapes from the napkins to plastic bottles.

Finally after much anguish I finished with all the bottles.  

Finished decoupaged bottles,

I added various cords, ribbons and yarn on top as embellishments and called it a day!  Although it was more like two days – with the painting and all that gluing. 
​

ribbons, yarn and cords added as embellishment to finished decoupaged bottles.

I have to admit the white turned out so much better than the blue. It looks bright and crisp!

White decoupaged bottle.

Whereas the blue has spots of white napkin, maybe where I had to overlap the paper.

Blue decoupaged bottle.

And it also has these epic fails!  Now you may be wondering why I’m showing you all these mistakes.

​Because I have a confession to make. 

Bottle decoupaged with blue paint showing through.

​If you scroll up a bit you can see that I was bragging about my decoupaging abilities. But it turns out that they are practically non-existent. 

I was humbled by a few lowly plastic bottles. It’s not about the size of the item you are working on, but the finesse that is involved!

Finished Decoupaged bottles set in achicken feeder.

And so I am eating my words!  I still have much to learn about decoupaging. After I finished this project I even found a site that had lots of helpful hints! And here is a seven step guide.  Now why hadn’t I seen these before? 

Three decoupaged bottles.

It serves me right for being so arrogant! I should have known better after my battle with the Fabulous Ikea Desk Makeover!

Consequently, I bow my head in shame and I’ve added a few muffins in the photo to take your attention away from all the decoupage mistakes!  How am I doing?

Finished decoupaged bottles next to cake stand with cupcakes.

You can see here that I am far from perfect.  I made more than my share of mistakes with this project. The biggest one being that too much bragging will get me nowhere.

Thank goodness my older daughter had made those muffins to save the day, er, the photo shoot! 

Decoupaged bottles with Ikea napkin,.

And so I present to you a set of decoupaged bottles for spring!  But really this is about how not to decoupage plastic bottles with napkins. And having some food around really saves the day!

Have you ever had any epic fails with mod podge or am I the only one?

decoupaged plastic bottles with Ikea napkins and how to not do it, #Decoupage #Avoidmistakes #papernapkins #plasticbottleupcycle #repurposedplasticbottles #prettyspringcraft #modpodge #springcraft How to Not Decoupage Plastic Bottles with Napkins www.theboondocksblog.com

More Decoupage projects:  

An Ancient Tray
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is clock-5_2.jpg
Five minutes to a Pretty Clock

This blog is for entertainment purposes only; my DIY tutorials are not professional advice. Read my full disclaimer here.

Filed Under: Chalk Paint, Decoupage, Projects, Re Purpose, Up Cycle Tagged With: crafts, decoupage, home decor, upcycled

Previous Post: « How to Paint Wood Chairs in 3 Simple Steps
Next Post: How to Beautifully Transform a Black Ikea Malm Dresser »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marjan Hoebeke-Pfaff

    March 22, 2017 at 3:08 am

    Never mind the trial-and-error, dear Mary, nor the not-how-to: The bottles are absolutely lovely! Even if blue weren’t my favourite colour (with green and lilac) I’d put the bottles on the mantel right away (and help you eat the muffins)!
    Have a great day,
    Marjan

    Reply
    • Mary

      March 22, 2017 at 5:35 am

      Thank you Marjan for the encouragement. I don’t know if I’m being hard on myself or not. This really was much harder than I expected it would be.
      Let’s enjoy the muffins together!

      Reply
  2. Lynn Spencer

    March 22, 2017 at 6:55 am

    What a hoot! We’ve all had those projects but you managed to save the day. I agree that the white paint is the way to go with the napkins and the finished product really does look great and spring-y.
    We always have something to learn, right?
    Thanks for the ‘how-not-to’ my friend.
    Hugs, Lynn

    Reply
    • Mary

      March 31, 2017 at 3:41 pm

      Lynn, I cannot believe I got taken in by some pretty soft napkins. Haha!

      Reply
  3. Gail @Purple Hues and Me

    March 22, 2017 at 8:40 am

    No worries, Mary, your bottles look wonderful! Everyone loves decoupage and will offer their method of mastering the technique. I think it’s the one area that will get crafters frustrated one time or another. I always have trouble with it and love using cling wrap to help with smoothing out wrinkles. I found a wonderful lady, Patioelf, and I call her the Queen of Decoupage. She’s done every type of decoupage there is and has easy to follow tutorials on each one! !https://www.youtube.com/user/patioelf/about

    Reply
    • Mary

      March 31, 2017 at 3:46 pm

      Gail I saw her videos on You Tube. What a talented and patient lady.

      Reply
  4. Jas @All that's Jas

    March 22, 2017 at 8:44 am

    Live and learn! At least you’re brave enough to share your mistakes 🙂 They turned out nice, especially the white ones, so the effort was worth it.

    Reply
    • Mary

      March 31, 2017 at 3:47 pm

      Jas I love a good laugh but this time the laugh was on me. Two days for a half hour project!

      Reply
  5. Ellen

    March 22, 2017 at 8:59 am

    This is a spectacular post with all the honesty and humor that makes you the triumphant winner! I admire your determination to see the project through the ups and downs to an enlightened conclusion. Life is certainly full of “how-not-to’s!! Thank-you for this delightfully entertaining post. P.S. The muffins are the perfect addition!

    Reply
    • Mary

      March 31, 2017 at 3:54 pm

      Thank you so much Ellen for your words of encouragment. It turned into quite a daunting project. And here I thought I’d be done in half an hour. I almost didn’t finish in time to post about it.

      Reply
  6. Linda at Mixed Kreations

    March 22, 2017 at 9:07 am

    I think that the bottles turned out lovely Mary! The chalk paint made a big difference. A while back I decided to mod podge some napkins on something and me not one to read first I jumped right in not realizing they were 2 ply. Through me for a loop, ended up cutting in pieces and gluing in.

    Reply
    • Mary

      March 31, 2017 at 3:55 pm

      Linda I had no idea I was supposed to use chalk paint first. I guess it acts as a primer. Oh the horrors of those napkins.

      Reply
  7. Nikki Frank-Hamilton

    March 22, 2017 at 9:21 am

    Mary, I have not decoupaged, although I didn’t think that it was this hard, now I know before I begin a project. The colors are lovely, as well as the pattern. What would you do differently, I looked at the tutorial and it seems as if thin items are hard to get smooth.
    The end result, with the ribbons and string, look so pretty, I bet that adding flowers and greenery will make for a lovely accent. Wrinkle and all!

    Reply
    • Mary

      March 31, 2017 at 3:57 pm

      Nikki it normally is not hard at all. It was the napkin that threw me for a loop. The napkins are very hard to smooth out. And also the chalk paint made a lot of difference in that it acted as a primer for the bottle.

      Reply
  8. [email protected]

    March 22, 2017 at 9:33 am

    Lol! They actually look lovely, but I know what you mean Mary. I had an EPIC fail when I painted an upholstered chair a couple of years ago. Talk about a time suck! Unlike your pretty project, the chair ended up in the dumpster :/.
    XXX

    Reply
    • Mary

      March 31, 2017 at 4:05 pm

      Doreen with a chair you expect that there will be difficulties especially if you are painting the upholstery. But this was a tiny project. I have no excuse for taking two days. 😉

      Reply
  9. Laurie

    March 22, 2017 at 9:59 am

    Mary, Been there, many times! The napkins are so pretty and the end result after much trial and error is not so bad. To me, part of the fun is trying new things, so the next time you try your hand at decoupage, who knows what marvelous things you will create! Have a great week!
    ~Laurie

    Reply
    • Mary

      March 31, 2017 at 4:26 pm

      Laurie you are so right about that. Each time we attempt something we get better at it.

      Reply
  10. Michelle

    March 22, 2017 at 10:32 am

    I admire your determination Mary. I’m convinced there are certain things that just cannot be modged and I would have given up after the first bit of brown showed through and never even thought about using paint to block it out. All things considered you did an amazing job by trying and trying again until you got it right. That’s so admirable and I’m really glad you got some muffins as a reward for sticking it out. You’ve earned them over and over again.

    Reply
    • Mary

      March 31, 2017 at 4:30 pm

      I have a good daughter who takes care of me when she sees me in dispair. Haha! Two days is unacceptable for this project Michelle. 😉

      Reply
  11. jeanie

    March 22, 2017 at 11:09 am

    Hi Mary,
    First, thanks for coming to Marmelade Gypsy and revisiting the Hanna-Barbera cartoons with me! Your visit led me to you and I am simply delighted!
    Epic mod podge fails? You bet! More than a few. But I really loved seeing your step by steps and hearing your pitfalls (and the links) to avoid future failures! I’ve used a lot of napkins before in my mixed media art and they are tricky to separate and one goof up and you have a mess. The chalk paint was a great idea but anything with contours is not my friend!
    But the end result is really pretty and very springy. I love the blue (and now I have to get to our IKEA to see if they have that pattern!). All worth it in the end, I think! (Oh, and I’m now following you! Delightful blog!)

    Reply
    • Mary

      March 31, 2017 at 4:37 pm

      Thank you so much Jeanie! I totally understand about all those horrid contours. Thank goodness for You Tube and experts. It seems that for me chalk paint can do no wrong! I hope you find the napkins. I bought them here in Greece. And I think you for following me.

      Reply
  12. Kim

    March 22, 2017 at 2:13 pm

    Mary, I am so impressed that you stuck with it and finished. I love the way they turned out! I tried it with eggs and gave up halfway through and just painted. You are a dedicated girl! Happy spring!

    Reply
    • Mary

      March 31, 2017 at 4:48 pm

      I’ve actually decoupaged christmas globes but the paper was thicker than the napkin I used here, so it was much easier.

      Reply
  13. Florence

    March 22, 2017 at 2:17 pm

    Well they look good now, so I think you saved the day. I’ve only decoupaged with napkins once, but they weren’t a rounded surface. I imagine rounded is much harder. I think the only way you can do it is to piece it. In fact, I saw a project on Pinterest last night where someone did a paper mache bunny rabbit & that’s how they did it. I’m dying to get started on my next decoupage project. So what are you going to use the bottles for?

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 8:36 am

      Florence I was so full of myself I thought I could just put a whole napkin on there and be done with it. haha! Silly me! The Bottles have thier place of honor in the living room to give us a bit of cheer!

      Reply
  14. Jeannee Taylor

    March 22, 2017 at 2:28 pm

    It was a great success!………In the end, so what if at first you did not succeed? You persevered and they came out quite lovely I think. They are pretty ! Thanks for sharing the ride!
    Jeannee

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 8:40 am

      Jeanne I think you know that the process is so much more fun than the end sometimes. It may have taken me forever but I got a good lesson on the way. And a fun post!

      Reply
  15. Katrin

    March 22, 2017 at 5:13 pm

    Mary the bottles look lovely and I also love those napkins! Whenever I try to decoupage it turns into such a mess that I have almost given up! I might give it another go some time!

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 2:38 pm

      Or we can do it with scrap paper that is heavier than napkins. I like using gift wrapping paper, it’s so much easier Katrin. Don’t give up.

      Reply
  16. TwoPlusCute

    March 22, 2017 at 10:39 pm

    I enjoyed this post so much Mary! Not because you were humbled of course. I don’t even see a reason to be “humbled”. (I strongly believe that – unless it involves parachuting – “if at first you don’t succeed, keep trying”.)
    But because I like the reality behind projects and it’s so relatable to mess up and try saving a project!
    And I am not sure we need cookies (though I won’t say no to them) because the bottles turned out really pretty. Love the colors!

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 3:02 pm

      Thank you Dione! I am now at a point where I am enjoying the journey as much as the end result. And of course the cookies really help.

      Reply
  17. Marie|The Interior Frugalista

    March 22, 2017 at 11:53 pm

    Oh I so enjoyed this post, Mary. You cracked me up with the muffins. I’m laughing “with you” because we’ve all been there – although I don’t see a fail in these bottles. The napkins are so pretty and really dressed up the bottles and I love how you wrapped assorted ribbon and twine around the tops. I could see these on a white tray with a stem of Spring blossoms in each sitting on a window sill or dining table.

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 3:06 pm

      Thanks Marie for the vote of confidence. From now on I’m going to stick to decoupaging thicker paper. Those napkins are nasty!

      Reply
  18. Pili

    March 23, 2017 at 5:34 am

    You are my hero Mary, I promise I would have smashed them with my feet on the floor or throwing them to the burning pile. It reminds me the first time I tried to use napkins to decoupage, everything went wrong lol. But yours turned out really beautiful, seriously. And yes, white is the base always, that was the first lesson I learned. I can imagine your future projects, now the sky is the limit!

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 3:08 pm

      Pili I too would have thrown them on the floor but unfortunately they wouldn’t give me the satisfaction of smashing! Haha.

      Reply
  19. Debrashoppeno5

    March 23, 2017 at 6:54 pm

    The bottles turned out so pretty in the end. Decoupage is tricky but you have helped us and now we know how to decoupage bottles to make pretty vases.

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 3:13 pm

      That would make me very happy Debra, to know that I have helped through my mistakes. Now you can all just go to You Tube and avoid those mistakes.

      Reply
  20. Mary Denman

    March 23, 2017 at 11:32 pm

    Mary, while I think they turned out great, I love the whole premise of the post! It made me smile!
    Have a wonderful weekend!

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 3:15 pm

      Mary we have to laugh at ourselves once in a while. After all this is not rocket science!

      Reply
  21. Poppy

    March 24, 2017 at 6:32 am

    Hi Mary,
    Please don’t beat yourself up too much over this decoupage ‘disaster’. For me, it’s always the effort that counts. Your desire to please your daughter’s friend, is much more admirable than the project itself, whatever the result.
    Poppy

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 3:25 pm

      Poppy, in hindsite, I think I enjoyed the process so much more than the end result. And I managed to learn a thing or two.

      Reply
  22. jodie filogomo

    March 24, 2017 at 4:47 pm

    Well you had me laughing out loud, Mary!!
    Not at the bottles themselves, because I think they turned out wonderfully (you know, we are are own worst critic, right?). But your dialogue was hilarious.
    That’s exactly how I talk to myself!!
    jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 5:27 pm

      Haha Jodie! I did more than talk to myself with this one. I still cannot believe it took me two days!

      Reply
  23. Maya

    March 24, 2017 at 6:52 pm

    Sorry to hear these plastic bottles gave you so much trouble. My daughter went nuts for the Arizona tea and last summer we collected every single one, but I got rid of those bottles immediately – straight into recycling….
    Your post sounds and is very realistic – something that I am sure each and every one of us has experienced crafting fails at least once in our crafty adventures, so I appreciate you sharing this!

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 5:30 pm

      Maya just imagine the fun you could have had if you had kept all those bottles. I have to say it was fun painting them. It was the other part that sent me into a tizzy.

      Reply
  24. Keri

    March 24, 2017 at 10:12 pm

    Mary, I think the bottles look wonderful! I’m sorry that you had so much trouble with this project but look what happened when you persevered. You did a great job! I like the print on the napkins! Don’t sweat this project, it was a learning process and you’re still the decoupage queen. 😉

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 5:33 pm

      It’s all in good fun Keri. I have learned to not take myself seriously and to laugh at myself when doing these projects. The moment I stop laughing is when I will stop creating.

      Reply
  25. Carol Benton ("Mimi")

    March 25, 2017 at 9:01 am

    I must admit, your title was intriguing to me (how NOT to do something). I am delighted to know that I’m not the only person to have epic fails in my projects. Been there! But — you persevered and did not let those plastic bottles defeat you! Yaayy! The final product is so appealing. The finished bottles are quite attractive, and I love the finishing touches you put on them with ribbon and twine. Great job!

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 5:39 pm

      Thank you Carol. When someone gives you a gift you cannot afford to disappoint. Otherwise I might have given up after the first hour.

      Reply
  26. debbie-dabble

    March 25, 2017 at 5:46 pm

    Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by!!
    Love this idea!! So simple yet so pretty and unique!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 5:42 pm

      Thank you so much Debbie!

      Reply
  27. STEPHANIE ABBOTT

    March 25, 2017 at 8:51 pm

    I hate it when I think I’m about to do any easy project and it turns into a huge ordeal. But those turned out really cute!

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 5:44 pm

      But never again Stephanie! It is not a Monet that it should take 2 days! 😉

      Reply
  28. Cynthia Chilson Finger

    March 26, 2017 at 11:49 am

    You are too hard on yourself, Mary! Your bottles are pretty! Just perfect for Spring. I have a love/hate relationship with Mod Podge so I will definitely be checking out those tips. Take care, Cynthia

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 5:46 pm

      I would have been much happier if I had checked them out sooner too Cynthia!

      Reply
  29. Katerina Konstantinou

    March 27, 2017 at 10:28 am

    I love that you wrote this explaining what happened! I was thinking that I am the only blogger around that posts fails haha! Although I won’t call your project a fail only a time consuming one!

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 5:50 pm

      This was such a fun post to do Katerina. Not only was I humbled but I actually learned a lot. And you got to see my human side! 😉

      Reply
  30. Julie

    March 27, 2017 at 1:53 pm

    What beautiful muffins….bottles, what bottles!!!
    You saved it in the end, they look great, especially the ones that you painted white, so well done. I do love a good 1/2 hour project don’t you?!

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 5:52 pm

      The muffins were beautiful but even more yummy! As for half hour project, I’ll be in the corner muttering under my breath!

      Reply
      • Julie

        April 7, 2019 at 7:09 pm

        Although I remembered I’d seen your epic fail before it has made me laugh so much to read this again so thank you for sharing this at Handmade Monday.
        (you know they were not actually an epic fail though right?)
        Your step by step walking us through your thought process as well as the crafting process is hilarious !!

        Reply
  31. Zografia | Bisozozo

    March 27, 2017 at 3:09 pm

    Everything we do teaches us a lesson. And what’s the point of doing things that are always perfect? We’d stop learning eventually!

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 5:55 pm

      You are so right Zografia. I had never thought of it that way before.

      Reply
  32. Cristina

    March 29, 2017 at 1:37 pm

    Mary, this looks amazing. Pinned. 🙂

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 6:02 pm

      Cristina, do not be fooled by it’s looks. It is evil! 😉

      Reply
  33. Linda Nelson

    March 30, 2017 at 11:26 pm

    I think they came out so cute.

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 3, 2017 at 5:59 pm

      Thank you Linda. Getting positive comments from all of you is making me feel better.

      Reply
  34. Lisa Silfwerbrand

    April 1, 2017 at 6:38 pm

    Oh Mary it sounds like you had so much “fun” with these! They turned out beautifully though and I love the look of the pretty napkins you picked out. Thanks so much for linking them up to the Inspiration Galore Project Party last week. You are one of my features tomorrow over at Recreated Designs. Pinned and shared. Have a wonderful weekend!

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 1, 2017 at 6:43 pm

      Thank you so much Lisa. Enjoy your weekend.

      Reply
  35. Katie

    April 14, 2017 at 9:59 am

    Decopage is mess business. The napkins you used are adorable. I think the bottles turned out cute and the color is perfect for spring. I’m sorry they were a pain in the neck. Thanks for sharing at Monday Social.

    Reply
  36. Ivory

    August 12, 2017 at 8:48 am

    Mary, I did not read where you did lot of bragging, instead, you shown much humanity by admitting your mistakes. I love the way your project turned out. Your daughter friend must be so proud! I would have never thought to do anything like this. Your result is fabulous . Thank you for not giving up, and presenting this breathtaking results to your readers, and step by step of how we too, can also get the same results.

    Reply
    • Mary

      August 12, 2017 at 10:41 am

      Thank you so much Ivory. Your comment is so sweet. I always try to look at my projects with a sense of humor. Nothing is worth getting so frustrated over that we have to ruin our health. Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed my post.

      Reply
  37. Deborah

    August 21, 2017 at 6:36 pm

    Oh, but it does make a good story!! 🙂 And don’t we call these our “learning experiences”??? 🙂 Yep. Relating here. Too many times when my mental image and idea totally didn’t equate when I gave it a try!

    Reply
    • Mary

      August 22, 2017 at 12:17 pm

      At least we learn, and learn to be more flexible in the future.

      Reply
  38. Stacey

    August 22, 2017 at 6:41 pm

    What mistakes? I don’t see any! I just see a creative person who gave it her best shot.
    I’ll be honest with you – I don’t craft that much for fear that it will turn out terrible. I’m impressed with what you did!

    Reply
    • Mary

      August 23, 2017 at 2:57 pm

      Stacey no need to worry about a craft turning out terrible. You saw from my bottle fiasco that even if it was not perfect it was still a great learning experience.

      Reply
  39. candy

    March 22, 2018 at 9:13 pm

    The white bottles turned out great. Good for you hanging in there and finishing. Found you on Blogger’s Pit Stop Link Party

    Reply
    • Mary

      March 25, 2018 at 12:40 am

      Thank you Candy, I was not about to let a few bottles do me in!

      Reply
  40. Kathy A

    March 23, 2018 at 4:04 pm

    Thank you for sharing your beautiful “failures.” Now we all know NOT what to do! You have saved us all hours of frustration, wasted materials and time! Thanx!

    Reply
    • Mary

      March 25, 2018 at 12:41 am

      Thank you Kathy. Sometimes it is just as valuable to know what not to do than what to do.

      Reply
  41. Emily @DomesticDeadline.com

    March 26, 2018 at 9:06 am

    I love that you shared the fails, the end result does look great. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty

    Reply
  42. Jann Olson

    March 28, 2018 at 11:45 pm

    What a creative idea to use the plastic bottles. I love to decoupage with napkins! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    Reply
  43. Nikki Gwin

    March 29, 2018 at 11:26 am

    Well, for all your despair, I have to say that they turned out quite lovely! I have covered eggs with napkins before but not bottles.
    🙂 gwingal

    Reply
  44. Erlene

    August 26, 2018 at 3:20 am

    Thanks for sharing this. Gives me some things to think about before starting my first paper napkin decoupage project.

    Reply
    • Mary

      August 26, 2018 at 8:12 pm

      Erlene, I hope you see my mistakes and don’t make the same. The bottom line is you can really not go wrong with it, I think it is just a preference. Good luck!

      Reply
  45. Melanie

    December 20, 2018 at 6:16 pm

    Well after looking and looking I finally found you.Your the first I have a better understanding of what to do.So,THANK-YOU.😁

    Reply
    • Mary

      December 20, 2018 at 9:02 pm

      Thank you Melanie for taking the time to reach out to me to let me know. I had a hard time with it myself but I’m very glad that my tutorial makes sense! Happy Holidays to you!!

      Reply
  46. Michele

    February 12, 2019 at 11:39 am

    Mary, I am so glad you are still learning! We have all tried something and messed it up. That is how we learn. I haven’t started trying to springify my home yet, but I am getting spring fever. As I write this we are getting eight more inches of snow, as if we needed any more!

    Reply
    • Mary

      February 12, 2019 at 12:41 pm

      We are always learning Michele. I am just painting a rubber bucket right now and the paint is peeling off. So it never ends. We too got a few inches of snow and are also expecting it to turn into freezing rain. The worst kind of weather.

      Reply
  47. jeanie

    April 3, 2019 at 9:21 am

    Napkins are really pretty for things like that but a big pain. I may be doing the same with wooden eggs this month, depending on time with Rick’s surgery and I know what I’m in for! You learn the little cheats by messing up (and I learned some from you!)
    I have those napkins! I love them — and the bottles ARE pretty, even if they weren’t a quick little project!

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 5, 2019 at 12:39 pm

      Thanks Jeanie. I’ve learned that what seems simple is usually not. Good luck with your Easter eggs.

      Reply
  48. Pam

    April 5, 2019 at 10:14 am

    Thanks for sharing your tips! It will save us from making the same mistakes. I have been wanting to do more decoupage with napkins. I have only used this kind of technique for greeting cards. Yours turned out great! Thanks so much for sharing at Thursday Favorite Things!

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 5, 2019 at 12:41 pm

      Thanks Pam. I think I need to work on this a bit more.

      Reply
  49. Julie Briones

    April 6, 2019 at 8:09 pm

    I’m really glad you shared this on Homestyle Gathering, Mary. Even though it’s an older post, it was helpful to see your transparency, as well as wonderful to see the links you listed for helps! Thanks for sharing… I think the bottles look great!

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 7, 2019 at 9:32 pm

      Thank you Julie, I think we always learn something when we make mistakes. Now if only we can keep from repeating them.

      Reply
  50. Audra @ Renewed Projects

    April 7, 2019 at 10:48 am

    I’m Queen of “This project will only take fifteen minutes,” and four days later….I’m finally wrapping things up. I totally get it!
    I like your bottles! Especially when grouped together. The blue and white undertones complement each other. Despite the rocky beginning I’d say this project ended in success!

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 7, 2019 at 9:34 pm

      I’m actually working on another one that was supposed to take 15 minutes. We’ll see when I finally finish with it.

      Reply
  51. janet Trieschman

    April 8, 2019 at 9:56 pm

    I feel your frustration. I am surprised at how the blue and white paint make the bottles look different.

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 13, 2019 at 11:51 pm

      It was a revelation to me too Janet.

      Reply
  52. Menaka M

    April 8, 2019 at 11:53 pm

    There does exist a few projects which end up taking too much of our time with lesser than expected outcome. However we do learn something from them. Seems like this is one of them. I did like the outcome though – Thanks for joining us on Bloggers Pit Stop – Pit Stop Crew

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 13, 2019 at 11:52 pm

      Thank you so much Menaka and thank you for the feature.

      Reply
  53. Kathleen - Bloggers Lifestyle

    April 9, 2019 at 4:53 am

    Mary, our Menaka has chosen your interesting post to be featured on the next Blogger’s Pit Stop. Well done.

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 13, 2019 at 11:59 pm

      Thanks so much Kathleen, it is always an honor to be featured at your party.

      Reply
  54. Amy

    April 9, 2019 at 9:42 pm

    Oh, Mary, you crack me up! I have, admittedly, had my fair share of “quick” projects that ended up being way more complicated than anticipated. In fact, I recently did a fairly quick craft project (truly) that ended up in the trash once they were finished. You win some, you learn some. 😉

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 10, 2019 at 7:31 am

      At least we can say we learned from our mistakes. Or in my case I try but even then I need more mistakes to learn Haha!!

      Reply
  55. Liberty

    April 11, 2019 at 10:32 pm

    This is hilarious! If I hadn’t already featured you just last week at Best of the Weekend, I would feature you tomorrow. The internet NEEDS more posts like this, where people are honest about the struggles. You could have just posted this like normal and acted like you had no problems.
    I find it sooo funny because I thought decoupaging a plastic ornament would be easy and it was a terrible fail. How people get those beautiful eggs around Easter time is beyond me. But I have some really pretty napkins and I guess I’ll keep trying, a little at a time….
    It’s all because of the curviness— surely a flat surface is easier, right? Maybe I should try a square egg? hahaha….oh wait, that gives me some ideas….

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 14, 2019 at 1:12 am

      Liberty a flat or square egg certainly would do the trick! And what about those flimsy napkins? They certainly don’t help the situation. Thanks for all your support. And I will always keep it real on this blog because perfection is overrated!

      Reply
  56. April J Haris

    April 12, 2019 at 2:03 pm

    Bless you for being so honest, Mary, but they really did turn out beautifully in the end. I think we all take on projects that take longer than we anticipate sometimes. Thank you so much for sharing this creative and inspiring post with the Hearth and Soul Link Party.

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 14, 2019 at 1:13 am

      Thank yo April for that vote of confidence. Now if only I could finish them in less time then it took originally!

      Reply
  57. Leslie Tyger - Find-Fix-Make-Mend.Com

    April 13, 2019 at 12:25 pm

    I love that you posted how NOT to do something. The mistakes we make as DIYers get glossed over so often <3

    Reply
    • Mary

      April 14, 2019 at 1:14 am

      I always hope that by me showing all the mistakes I make it will help someone else to avoid them. Thanks Leslie for stopping by!

      Reply
  58. Debbie

    April 9, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    Hi Mary, your honesty did make me laugh and whilst the end result may not be as perfect as you would have liked they are still attractive looking bottles. As for those muffins? The perfect distraction!

    xx

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Let’s Connect!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Recent Posts

  • DIY Pallet Table with Reclaimed Wood Legs
  • 20 Creative DIY Pallet Projects to Make!
  • Shabby Chic Wicker Basket Upcycle
  • 20 Household Items Re-Purposed For Halloween Decor

Explore Our Top Posts

IKEA Malm Dresser Makeover
How to Stain a Laminate Table

DIY Pallet Couch

Footer

Disclosure

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy & effectiveness of the information displayed on this website, The Boondocks Blog makes no guarantee as to the procedures & information contained here. The publisher will not be liable for direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages in connection with or arising from the use of the information displayed on TheBoondocksBlog.com. This website is not intended to substitute the advice of a professional. Find our Privacy Policy here.

Copyright

©The Boondocks Blog, 2015-2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s owners is strictly prohibited. One photo, excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to TheBoondocksBlog.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Copyright © 2022 The Boondocks Blog on the Foodie Pro Theme

195 shares