How to bedazzle a liquor bottle

What to know first

Glass is smooth, hard and non-porous, so it needs a solvent-type adhesive rather than a craft glue, and it has to be spotlessly clean: fingerprints and label residue are what make stones slide off. A bottle is also something people pour from and hold by the neck, so the neck stays bare and the design sits on the shoulder and body. Most people decorate a full bottle as a gift, so plan the design around the label — covering it entirely, or framing it.

What you need

• Glass bottle (full or empty)
• Glass or resin flatback rhinestones, mostly 3 mm
• E6000-type adhesive
• Isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth
• Wax pick-up pen
• A towel or cradle to hold the bottle on its side

Step by step

1. Decide whether to keep the label. To remove it, soak and peel, then clear residue.
2. Clean the glass with isopropyl alcohol and avoid touching the areas you will decorate.
3. Mark the design and a clear band around the neck.
4. Lay the bottle on its side and glue one strip at a time, turning as each strip sets.
5. Outline the label or logo first if you are framing it.
6. Let the glue cure fully before wrapping or gifting.

Avoid

• Glue on the neck, lip or cap
• Oily fingerprints on the glass
• Soaking the finished bottle in water