If you’ve ever wondered how to give a bottle a mixed-media makeover, you’re in the right place! I first discovered altered bottles on Pinterest and was instantly hooked. The idea of recycling old bottles that were headed for the bin into eye-catching, artistic creations really appealed to my love of upcycling.

After binge-watching a few YouTube tutorials, I realised how surprisingly easy it is to create altered bottles. The trick is layering textures—perfectly imperfect is the goal! What’s even better is that many of the supplies you need are already around your home. This particular bottle turned out so pretty, I decided to turn it into a steampunk-style lamp.

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How to Give a Bottle a Mixed Media Makeover and Turn It into a Lamp

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Materials You’ll Need

• Recycled glass bottle (I used a Baileys bottle)
• Black gesso
• Texture paste
• Stencils (Cricut-made or store-bought)
• Spatula or scraper
• Heat gun (optional)
• Bronze wax paste
• Hot glue gun
• Heavy-duty glue (like E6000)
• Assorted embellishments:
  Broken jewellery, fabric scraps, onion mesh, grapevine twigs, steampunk charms, old zip
• Shimmer spray
• Artificial flowers
• Dried split peas (optional filler or half beads)
• Old lampshade
• Drill with a 1 cm diamond tip hole cutter
• Scrap wood with a 1 cm guide hole
• Lamp kit with threaded rod, fittings, and wiring

Step 1: Prepare Your Bottle

Start with a clean, dry bottle. I chose a Baileys bottle (after enjoying its contents, of course). Jack Daniels bottles are another great choice because the square base adds stability when converted into a lamp.

Coat the entire bottle in black gesso to create a good base. It dries quickly and gives excellent coverage for embellishments and wax finishes.

Step 2: Add Texture with Stencils

Wrap a stencil around the bottle and use a spatula to apply texture paste over it. Don’t worry about perfection—uneven textures add charm and depth.

Remove the stencil immediately and scrape any excess paste back into the tub.

Wash your stencil straight away. Once the paste dries, it won’t come off. Use a heat gun to speed up the drying process before adding more layers with different stencils.

Step 3: Add a Second Coat of Gesso

Once the texture is dry, add another coat of gesso. This makes it easier to get into all the crevices before adding embellishments. It also provides a clean base for your wax highlights.

Step 4: Highlight the Texture

Using your finger, gently apply bronze wax paste over the raised textures. Less is more—just skim the surface to bring out the details. I prefer highlighting as I go so I can see the final effect take shape.

Step 5: Decorate with Embellishments

Time for the fun part—embellishing! I raided my stash of items from past online orders, broken jewellery, and recycled bits like onion mesh and denim zippers.

Glue the elements on randomly. If something looks odd, simply cover it with more embellishments. For heavier items, use a strong glue like E6000; for light ones, hot glue is perfect.

I added a zip from old jeans and filled the inside with steampunk charms to make it look like they’re spilling out. Then, I coated everything with black gesso again for continuity.

Step 6: Add Flowers and Extra Colour

Spray your flowers with shimmer spray and highlight them with wax paste. Glue them on with a hot glue gun. Pro tip—wear gloves while spraying! I didn’t and ended up with blue fingers for days. Learn how to make your own shimmer spray and coloured wax pastes HERE.

To hold bendable items in place while drying, like the metal filigree squares, tie them with string. Add more colour with shimmer sprays and homemade wax pastes if desired.

Step 7: Decorate the Lampshade

I reused an old white lampshade but painted it with black gesso to match the bottle. I added another zip and more charms, filling gaps with dried split peas.

Paint everything black and highlight again with the bronze wax to match the bottle’s look.

Step 8: Drill a Hole in the Bottle

Use a 1 cm diamond hole cutter with a drill. Cut a guide hole in a piece of wood and clamp it to the bottle to keep the drill in place. Add water while drilling to reduce friction and prevent cracking. If you’re planning to turn your bottle into a lamp, drill the hole before adding any decorations or embellishments. Mine was an afterthought.

Step 9: Wire the Lamp

Before assembling, drill a hole in the bottle cap and insert a threaded tube. Secure it with a nut underneath. Feed the lamp wire through the bottle and up into the fittings.

Screw on the lamp components, attach the shade, and admire your one-of-a-kind altered bottle lamp!

This mixed-media altered bottle project is a great way to turn trash into treasure. It’s creative, therapeutic, and perfect for steampunk or vintage-inspired home decor. Try making a set using different-shaped bottles! Here are a few I have made.

Up close view of the altered bottle.

Side view

This was one of the first altered bottles I ever made, and now I create them full-time as a hobby. In this post, I’m sharing some of the techniques and tips I’ve learned along the way.

Here is another steampunk lamp I made using a book-shaped box.

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