Bistro Candle Holders

We got our idea to turn beer bottles into candlesticks from a neighborhood bistro. We thought it was a terrific idea for BBQs or holiday parties where there are a lot of tables and not enough candlesticks. Of course we thought they would look better if they were dressed up a bit, so we etched ours with a holiday theme, but you can use almost any stencil design you want, according to the occasion you will be using them for.

Supplies:
#15-0200 Armour Glass Etch Cream
#20-0446  Rub N Etch Stencil - Christmas Trees

#61-3329 Rub N Buff metallic wax

#08-9606 Brushes

#08-9999 Gloves

#08-9415 Masking Tape

#08-9777 Scissors

Green glass beer bottles- 2 pcs

Decorative wire

Rhinestones

Glass beads in holiday colors

Paper towels

Old bath towel

Directions:

1. Clean the bottle in hot , soapy dish water . Remove all labels and glue.
   
2. Make a nest with the bath towel to keep the bottle from rolling around while you apply the stencil.
3. Remove the frosted paper backing from the stencil sheet and set aside. Gently cut out the desired tree stencil from the stencil sheet. Be careful not to scratch any of the blue stencil material.
4. Apply the tree stencil to the bottle with the dull side down and the shiny side up. Secure with a couple of small pieces of masking tape.
   
5. Rub over the stencil using the popsicle stick. (refer to your package instructions that came with your stencils for more details) until the blue color changes from dark blue to a lighter blue (you will see the stencil transfer to the glass). Once the stencil has completely transferred, remove the plastic and the entire blue stencil should now be on the glass.
   
6. Cover all exposed areas of the glass in and around the stencil  with masking tape, overlapping all the edges of both the stencil and tape. Entire side of bottle should be covered.
7. Take the frosted backing paper from the stencil sheet and gently rub over the stencil and tape to ensure a tight bond and prevent any leakage of the cream where it is not wanted. This also will produce a crisp, clear image once etched. When you are finished rubbing over everything, return the frosted paper back to the backside of the stencil sheet to protect the delicate blue stencil layer while it is stored away.
8. Put on the gloves. PAT a thick layer of etch cream onto the stencil with the brush, covering the design with about a 1/4 inch thick layer. View the directions and How To Videos.
9. Wait 2 full minutes.
   
10. Rinse off all the etch cream under very warm running water. Stencil and masking tape will come off easily. Rinse until the bottle is completely clean and all bits of the stencil, cream and tape have been removed.
    
11. Place a small amount of gold or silver Rub N Buff on the end of a piece of paper towel. Smear the Rub N Buff over the tree etching (don't worry, you don't have to be neat about it). Immediately wipe off the excess Rub N Buff with a piece of paper towel. Continue until the Rub N Buff polishes to a nice luster. Clean up any Rub n Buff that is not wanted with a clean piece of paper towel.
12. Decorate your bottle with wire, glass beads, rhinestones and other embellishments
    

NOTE: For best results hand wash bottles only (no chemical cleaners or dishwasher- it will strip off stones & Rub N Buff).