my melted bottle beads

[Yaqulek]

WOW. Those are so bright, I love the colours. Definitely the prettiest beads made this way that I've seen - I need to try this!

As for the beading elastic, it's tough stuff so pull the knot as tight as you can - literally until you think it's gonna break (it probably won't unless you are, like, the Incredible Hulk or something). Then stick a dot of Superglue or nail varnish on the knot to help hold it together. These will make some really pretty bracelets!

Thanks! 

I really like this.  Any change you could use a toaster over to melt if you used a paper clip to hold together or something like that?

  I don't know, not something I would try. I used needle nose pliers and a candle, I kept rotating the plastic and tried not to get it too close to the flame.

I love these!
i feel inspired to try it myself. i have an embossing gun that gets pretty hot.. do you think that would work the same?

i love the colors yours turned out. Looks great!

Thanks .  I imagine it would work, I have never used an embossing gun before tho.

[Xandrigirly]

I love the coloring of these! They're so bright, they'll make great pieces.

[Anabaena]

So cute! I wish I had a heat gun!
And a nice way to get new beads! 

[Old Lace]

This is an awsome idea. Now I know what to do with all those pop bottles I've been saving. 

[Krinkie]

They look fantastic!!!

Did they need varnish or sealer of some sort???

[thesunandtheturtle]

Wow they look great, nice colors you had in them.

[Cinnamoon]

Wow! I love the paint etching. It makes a beautiful effect on the beads. Painting the bottles must have taken a while, but it looks like it was worth it! They are beautiful.

[Yaqulek]

They look fantastic!!!

Did they need varnish or sealer of some sort???

I didn't varnish them, since I didn't have anything to varnish them with, but I now that I have Mod Podge I might try it.

Wow! I love the paint etching. It makes a beautiful effect on the beads. Painting the bottles must have taken a while, but it looks like it was worth it! They are beautiful.

Painting them doesn’t take any time at all really, since acrylic paint dries so fast, but etching them takes a bit more time especially if its a pattern like this one.






Something like this simple gradient pattern with no etching is really quick. The paint doesn’t have to be thick, a wash or dry brushing works.


The purple is another gradient. The pink is not etched, I painted lighter colored stripes, then painted the whole bottle a darker pink when the stripes dried.