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Our newest tutorial from Maker Team member Angele of @fabricandink is frightfully fun and right on time for Spooky Season! Angele's felt Potion Bottle is so festive and would be perfect for an evening crafting session with friends. Grab the project supplies and then toss in all your littlest odds and ends to brew up something wonderfully original!
I think old bottles are fascinating and I love to create my own aged and spooky potions in new or repurposed bottles. This is the first time I’ve created a felt bottle though! I’ve combined the classic scrapbooking and card making idea of a shaker pocket and translated it into felt with an acetate front. Follow the directions exactly or make it all your own - this project is endlessly customizable.
Skill Level: Beginner
Time: 3 - 4 hours
Additional Supplies:
Potion Bottle Pattern (click to download)
5 x 6" Acetate Sheet
Ruler
Pan Pastel in Yellow Ochre Extra Dark - optional
Directions:
Use two strands of embroidery floss for all stitching.
1. Download and print Potion Bottle Pattern above. Trace and cut out two Potion Bottles from Hazelnut felt. Trace and cut out Potion from Citron felt. Pin Potion to one felt Bottle.
You can also cut out felt elements for this tutorial using the Freezer Paper method.
2. Cut out 1⁄4 x 12" strips from Hazelnut felt using ruler and scissors or a rotary cutter. With DMC 898 and a small running stitch, attach felt strip around edge of Bottle, beginning just below the Cork outline. This will cover and secure edge of Citron felt. Stitch close to inside edge of the strip as shown.
If you have to join strips, make sure to place a stitch over the connection.
3. Cut Cork from Tawny felt and backstitch it to top of Bottle using DMC 738.
4. Cut Label from Oyster felt and position it on Potion. Lightly mark around Label with a white gel pen. Leave this area unembellished. It would be a shame to cover pretty stitching and sequins with the Label!
5. Using DMC 906 and 699, embroider leafy stems by backstitching curved lines and adding lazy daisy leaves. Add sequins.
6. Cut out four Flowers from Lavender felt. Secure with DMC Blanc and three stitches in middle of the flower to form a star. Make smaller stitches over the center using any shade of green floss.
7. Add some vertical rows of French knots with DMC 16. Placing knots and additional sequins above the Potion will make it look like bubbles are rising!
8. With Frixion pen, write out potion label then backstitch over writing using DMC 898. Remove any pen marks with heat, such as an iron or hairdryer.
As an optional step, dab around edge of Label with pan pastel to give it an aged and weathered look.
9. Use Potion Bottle pattern to cut out acetate. Trim top of acetate so it does not extend beyond rim of Bottle.
Place acetate over embellished Bottle and backstitch around edge with DMC 898. Don’t make these stitches too small or they will act like perforations and the acetate may tear. Leave top of acetate open to add loose beads and sequins.
10. Pour Clover seed beads (and additional sequins, if desired) into Bottle. These will be loose and move around when shaken.
11. Cut out Bottle Rim from Hazelnut felt and backstitch in place with DMC 898. Make sure Rim covers top of the acetate. Stitch through the acetate to keep loose beads and sequins securely inside.
12. Glue Label to Bottle and allow to dry before continuing.
13. Glue second Hazelnut Bottle to back of embellished Bottle to cover back of stitching. Allow to dry.
14. Cut out Tag from Oyster felt. Mark lettering with Frixion pen and then stitch over with DMC 898. My tag says “Witches Brew” but it could say whatever you would like! If desired, distress felt Tag in same manner as before.
15. Wrap neck of potion bottle several times with twine or ribbon, attaching Tag with one of the wraps. Add any beads or charms as optional embellishment.
Your potion bottle is now complete and hopefully you love it! This design offers lots of opportunities for customization. Use the pattern shapes but change the felt colors – imagine a black bottle with a purple potion and maybe a skull bead on the twine! The loose beads and sequins can also be substituted for tiny elements suitable for shaker pockets. I love to see what you make, so please tag me in any photos!
Thanks to Angele for designing and writing this tutorial! You can see more of her work on Instagram @fabricandink and on her website. Stay tuned for more tutorials from the Benzie Design Maker Team!
