I recently remembered a project called the “Melody Bottle” which I read about in RubberStampMadness magazine many, many moons ago (Issue 95, Sept./Oct. 1997). The artist, Melody O’Beau, cleaned out her soda bottles and altered them, filling the bottles with stamped images, confetti, and other fun stuff. The finishing touch was the addition of little battery operated music buttons and/or mini lights. I was mesmerized with the idea of mailing these whimsical bottles and spent a good amount of time creating and sending them.
All of them reached their destinations, although a few weren’t quite intact. I felt the problem lay in the relatively flimsy plastic and the size of the 2-liter bottles I was using. As I finished one of my frosty beverages the other day, I realized that the smaller bottle was a pretty sturdy, thick plastic and maybe it was time to try a Melody Bottle again.
STEP 1: Remove the label from the bottle, rinse with hot water and let dry completely. I didn’t get all of the goo off so that’s where I will put my mailing label.
STEP 2: Stamp the transparency with flowers randomly with the three different colors, using the different sized solid and outline stamps. Stamp the phrase randomly in black. Set aside to dry completely.
STEP 3: Use the assorted punches to create flowers of different sizes and colors. I used two shades of yellow, and one of purple, creating about 30 flowers. You can make as many as you want. Lay out all of the flower cutouts and give them centers. On the larger yellow flowers, I used the small crystals for centers attaching them with Quickie Glue. On all of the other flowers, I used coordinating glitter glues. Let all of the flowers dry.
STEP 4: Meanwhile, trim the transparency to fit into the bottle. I thought I’d like the transparency to bow a little bit, so I cut it a little wider than the diameter of the bottle and long enough that I could pull it back out if I wanted to trim it more. When you have the transparency trimmed to the width you’d like, trim the length so it will fit inside the bottle.
STEP 5: Cut a length of ribbon slightly longer than the height of the bottle. The end of the ribbon will eventually be attached to the inside of the lid and the ribbon will hang down into the bottle. If you want it to be straight, you’d trim the ribbon slightly shorter than the height of the bottle. I wanted mine to be a little longer. Use mini Glue Dots to attach your prepared flowers to both sides of the ribbon.
STEP 6: With the remaining flower cutouts, make centers on the backside using glitter glue. This will make the flowers two-sided and we’ll use it as confetti in the bottle. Let dry.
STEP 7: Attach end of ribbon to inside of bottle cap with E6000. Put loose flowers inside bottle. Screw on cap, gluing cap onto bottle if desired.
These bottles can be filled with all sorts of things:
- Wire doodads
- Game pieces
- Feathers
- Confetti
- Little Plastic Toys
- Charms
- Beads
- Jingle bells
- Anything you can fit inside the bottle!
The original Melody Bottle featured two really neat items: Sound and Lights.
The lights were small battery-operated light strings, with the battery assembly attached inside the bottle so that the switch poked out. This involves cutting a “door” on the side or bottom of the bottle in order to insert the battery pack and lights.
The sound was delivered via a little music button that could be glued to the outside bottom of the bottle. Just think of the possibilities of the little sound cards on which you can record your own message!
I invite you to experiment with this delightful form of mail art. I wouldn’t mind receiving one of these treasures in the mail! Send your creations to 5900 La Place Ct, Ste. 105, Carlsbad, CA 92008. You just might get your Melody Bottle published for all to see!
Supply List
- Single-Serve Juice or Soda Bottle (Artist’s Own)
- Transparency (Office Depot)
- Royal Purple StazOn Ink (Tsukineko)
- Mustard StazOn Ink (Tsukineko)
- Jet Black StazOn Ink (Tsukineko)
- Scissors (Fiskars)
- Stamps from Flower Book Kit (SunSpirit Studio)
- ”What 29th Birthday is This?” Stamp (SunSpirit Studio)
- Yellow Cardstock (Bazzil)
- Purple Cardstock (Bazzil)
- Assorted Flower Punches (Marvy Uchida, Fiskars, Amada)
- Purple Stickles Glitter Glue (Ranger)
- Glittering Gold Scribbles 3D Paint (Duncan)
- Quickie Glue (Sakura)
- Sapphire Round Swarovski Crystals (SunSpirit Studio)
- Light Orchid Nylon Ribbon (Trim Line)
- Mini Glue Dots (Glue Dots International)
- E6000 Adhesive (Eclectic Products, Inc.)
To find the products mentioned in this article and shown in these layouts, check with your local scrapbook retailer. Browse our Premier Retail Stores for coupons to a store near you.
