Inspired by Wine and Mod Podge!

I am not quite sure if you have figured out how the randomness of my mind works yet. But this post should clue you in on that. What I made is this - a custom wine bottle label - the rest of the blog is how we got there!

It all started as I was scrolling through my reader the other day and saw this post from Jenn @ The Hostess with the Mostess about Oscar Party decorations using Photo Wrapped Cylinders. Hold the phone - is this not a GORG centerpiece!

(photo via Hostess with the Mostess)

And as soon as I saw this I thought "Meighan!" (I told you I'm random.) But here is why. My BFF Meighan is getting married at the end of August and we have been tossing around centerpiece ideas since I am helping her do the flowers (I did mine for my wedding and it has to be less stressful to do them for someone else!). I immediately shot it over and when she called back she said "What about instead of on the vases, we do that on the wine bottles?" (It is going to be a wine themed reception.)  We were thinking personal shots of her and her beau (and their pups!) on the bottles with a different one for each table. So I told her I would give it a test run here.

First, I got a wine bottle - this one I had saved because the label cracked me up (don't try to figure out what it is if you are easily offended!). My step-MIL bought it for us while we were down in Key West.  But it was willing to give itself up for the cause!

So I stripped off the top foil wrap and started to work on getting off that label. People, I am here to tell you that there are a lot of resources out there to tell you how to remove a wine label. If you want to save it - I just wanted it off!!

Here is what I can tell you after my trials and tribulations. According to the internet - my bottle, which came from California - has the highest concentration of glue. (If you attempt this on your own, may I recommend an import.) To get everything off, what worked for me was
- to soak the bottle in hot water for a couple hours
- scrub with steel bristled brush
- get frustrated
- sprinkle the bottle with Barkeepers Friend (my all time favorite cleaner!)
- scrub some more with fantastic results
Ah - a clean bottle.

Then I pulled up one of my favorite pictures of me and the hubby from our wedding into Picnik (BTW - if you aren't using this yet you are missing out!) and I put in a sepia tone, added a vignette feature, then added a focal soften, rounded the corners, added a regular border, and then added a museum mat border.  (And if you weren't using Picnik before I bet you will want to now - all of that is FREE! No sponsorship here - I am just in love!)

I printed that bad boy off onto some white card stock, cut it out and pulled out the Mod Podge! You can still see it drying a little in the photo below.

Here is a close up of the detail. I love how vintage it looks with the sepia and softening accents that I used in Picnic

I can't wait to see what Meighan comes up with - but I think these are going to look fantastic on the tables with little square vases of dark red and pink roses, votives, and scattered corks! I think these would be great as an Anniversary present or perfect for creating your own personal wine labels for an event or party.

So let's hear it - any tips you can pass along for decoupaging paper or photos on to glass? I (and Meighan too!) would love to hear your tips!

Update:  Wanna see how Meighan's came out?  Check them out here!

I am linking this up to the following parties this week! 

Met Mondays with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Make your Monday with Kim @ Twice Remembered

Made it Monday with Jules @ The Persimmon Perch 
The DIY Project Parade with Roeshel@ The DIY Showoff
Trash to Treasure with Kimm @ Reinvented 
DIY Day with Kimba with Kimba @ A Soft Place to Land
Get Your Craft On with Kim @ Today's Creative Blog
Penny Pinching Party with Jen @ The Thrifty Home
Show and Tell with Becca @ Blue Cricket Design

Also linking this up to the Mod Podge Challenge at the CSI Project!