How to Decorate Glass Bottles with Tissue Paper

Decorating glass bottles with tissue paper is a cost-effective way to create festive centerpieces, gifts, and decor. Tissue paper is easy to find and comes in a variety of colors and patterns so the possibilities are limitless when it...

Method 1 of 4:

Wrapping Glass Bottles with Tissue Paper

Lay 2 sheets of tissue paper flat onto your work surface and slightly misaligned. Use two different colors of wrapping paper and lay them slightly misaligned with each other so both colors are visible at the corners. You can use 2 solid colors, 2 differently-patterned sheets, or 1 patterned sheet and 1 solid-colored one.^{[1] X Research source}
1. The color on the bottom is the main color that will be covering most of the bottle. The one on top will be the accent color sticking out from the top.
2. If one side of the bottom tissue paper is more vibrantly-colored than the other, make sure the vibrant side is facing down so it will layer the outside of the bottle.
Place the bottle in the center and wrap it with the paper. Slide your hands under the tissue paper after you place the bottle and lift up the sides to lay flat against the glass. Some of the paper will get bunched up and that's okay—it adds texture and bulk to the centerpiece.^{[2] X Research source}
1. You may need to straighten out the paper as you bunch it up around the bottle so the accent color sticks out enough.
Tie the tissue paper at the neck of the bottle with ribbon or string. Lay the bottle on its side and run a ribbon or string under the neck of the bottle or anywhere near the top. Flatten the tissue paper and tie a knot or a bow.^{[3] X Research source}
1. Don't use a rubber-band or any elastic type of string because it might loosen over time.
Arrange the top of the tissue paper and add any finishing touches. Tease the tops of the tissue paper outward like flower petals or upward like flames—however you like! Feel free to add any finishing touches to the piece like balloons, glitter, or stick-on extras.^{[4] X Research source}
1. For instance, if the piece is going to be used as table decor for a birthday party, you might insert a stick balloon into the bottle's opening.
2. Avoid putting a candlestick in the top and lighting it because the tissue paper could catch on fire once the candle burns down.

Method 2 of 4:

Prepping Bottles for Mod Podge

Peel off the label off of the bottle if it has one. If the bottle has a label or any stickers on it, peel those off as carefully as you can from 1 corner to remove the whole sticker. If there's any residue left, scrub the bottle with steel wool to remove those bits.^{[5] X Research source}
1. Remove any sticky label residue by boiling the jar in a mixture of water and baking soda for 5 minutes. The sticky bits may come off on their own while it's in the water but if not, a steel wool sponge will do the trick.
Clean the inside of each bottle with dish soap or soda water and rice. Get rid of any residue from whatever was in the bottle by filling it with soapy water and shaking it up. To remove stuck-on grime or stains, fill the bottle with soda water and uncooked rice and shake it vigorously for 1 or 2 minutes.^{[6] X Research source}
1. It may help to use a funnel to pour rice into small-neck bottles.
Wash the outside of the bottles with mild dish soap and water. Use your everyday dish soap to scrub down the outside of each bottle. Hold it up to a light to see if there are any spots with sticky residue or opaque stains and focus on scrubbing those areas until the entire surface of the glass is smooth and shiny.^{[7] X Research source}
1. Let the bottles dry completely after you wash them.
Apply a base coat of acrylic paint if desired. For a standard white backdrop, dip a paintbrush into white paint and apply a thin, even layer onto the glass. Let it dry for 15 to 20 minutes and apply a second coat, if necessary. If you want the color of the tissue paper to pop, use a color that's opposite of the main color of your design on the color wheel.^{[8] X Research source}
1. For instance, if you're using orange and yellow tissue paper, use a blue or violet base coat to make those colors stand out.
2. You may want to do this if you don't plan to cover the entire bottle with tissue paper.
3. For a thicker, more opaque base-color, use a sponge to dab on the paint.

Method 3 of 4:

Applying Tissue Paper with Mod Podge

Rip off strips or pieces of tissue paper to make a design. Use scissors to cut the tissue paper into small squares or cut out specific designs on the paper that you like. You can even mix and match different types of tissue paper to create a funky design.^{[9] X Research source}
1. For instance, you might cut out a collection of stars from one tissue paper and cut small strips of solid colors to make a confetti-like background.
2. For a more rustic look, ditch the scissors and tear the tissue paper with your fingers.
Use a sponge brush to apply the mod podge to one section of the bottle. Pour about ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of mod podge onto a disposable plate or bowl and dip the sponge brush into it. Apply it to the glass in long, even strokes from the top to the bottom or wherever you want to put the tissue paper.^{[10] X Research source}
1. You can also use a regular paintbrush.
2. You can purchase matte or glossy mod podge at any craft store.
3. Only apply it once side at a time so you can still hold the bottle.
Arrange small pieces of tissue paper onto the glass. Whether you've cut up or torn small bits of paper off to make a design, start applying those small pieces however you like. The glue won't dry for 1 hour, so don't worry about having to work quickly.^{[11] X Research source}
1. If some of the tissue paper accidentally gets creased when you stick it on, use a balled-up strip of plastic wrap to smooth it down.
Hold the bottle by the opening to turn it and decorate the other side. Hold the bottle with your fingers inside the opening and turn it so you can access the other side once you're done decorating the first half. Apply more mod podge with the sponge brush and stick on more bits of tissue paper to suit your design.^{[12] X Research source}
1. You can also hold the bottle by the neck and work on that area once the main body of the bottle is finished.

Method 4 of 4:

Creating Festive Designs

Create a stained-glass look with various colors of tissue paper. Buy different colors of tissue paper and cut out an equal number of squares, circles, or triangles from each sheet. Don't worry about sticking them on in an orderly fashion—stick as many on as you can. When you're done sticking on the pieces, emphasize the stained-glass look by painting lines with black acrylic paint over the overlapping areas.^{[13] X Research source}
1. If you're doing more than one layer, note that you'll need to add more mod podge so the tissue paper sticks.
2. For instance, you might use red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple tissue paper to create a stained-glass rainbow effect.
3. You can also stick to different pastel colors of tissue paper for a softer, more elegant stained-glass effect.
Paste on animal-print paper for a festive, themed look. Look for zebra, cheetah, leopard, giraffe, or tiger-print tissue paper to make the perfect jungle-themed gift or decor piece. Use just one pattern or use a mix of a few patterns if you can't decide which one you like best!^{[14] X Research source}
1. Consider painting the bottle with black, white, or red acrylic paint first and cutting the animal-print tissue paper into small oblong circles. Stick them on to make paw prints walking all around the bottle.
Design your own paisley pattern by using a flower-punch cutter. Insert any color of tissue paper into the opening of a punch-cutter to make perfect floral shapes. Cut out as many as you like and paste them all over the bottle or incorporate a few of them into a larger design (like an outdoor garden scene).^{[15] X Research source}
1. You can buy punch-cutters online or at most craft stores.
Use tissue paper with hearts on it for Valentine's day decor. Head to any supermarket or drugstore to find seasonal gift wrap tissue. Cut out the individual hearts and arrange them randomly on the bottle or cut the paper into strips and put them on in a more deliberate fashion.^{[16] X Research source}
1. For instance, you might arrange them so they're spiraling upward around the bottle from the largest to the smallest.
2. You might also place hearts of equal size in a big circle around the circumference of the bottle.
3. Note that if the tissue paper has glitter incorporated into it, those little bits will create a rough texture on the bottle.
Make leaf-shapes out of the tissue paper for fall decor. Use scissors to cut leaflets out of green, yellow, orange, and red tissue paper. Arrange them onto the bottle in a feathered pattern (as if they're coming off of a central stem) or as if they're falling from the top of the bottle to the bottom.^{[17] X Research source}
1. Consider using popular leaf shapes like the maple, palm, or holly leaves.
Cut out different sized circles for a modern, playful look. Use a pencil to trace circles of various sizes onto the tissue paper and then use scissors to cut them out as cleanly as you can. Arrange the dots on the bottle in a random fashion or in a more orderly design (like from largest to smallest).^{[18] X Research source}
1. A protractor can help you draw perfect circles, but if you don't have one, use things like buttons, coins, and bottlecaps to trace the outline.