Yes, you read that right. Pharmacy bottles. Before you get concerned about my medicinal habits, let me explain.
My brother-in-law, Jerome, found himself in need of a career change a couple of years ago. He decided to go back to school to become a pharmacy technician. No small task, but he stuck with it and graduated at the top of his class. That part has nothing to do with these trees, but I’m just so proud of him!
His training involved some practice with the bottles used in a pharmacy. They were empty, and would have been disposed of after the class was finished with them. Like any good crafter, Jerome saw a better use for them and brought them home. Lots of them.
He dog-sat for us when we went to Seattle for a couple of days, and spent most of that time working on these. I think before this he thought I was a little crazy for all the crafting I do. He thinks I’m completely off my rocker now.
After a couple of tubes of glass and bead glue, and possibly some damaged brain cells, he had glued together 132 bottles and a variety of beads and decorations. Not to mention inserting Christmas lights into every single bottle.
The tree on the far right is actually made from mini-bar size vodka bottles. Luckily, he was given the bottles already empty. Otherwise we might have an entirely less attractive group of trees. Here’s the vodka tree lit up.
I didn’t get a photo of this one with the lights on, but it was a wedding gift for Jerome’s friend, who was one of the many married on 11/11/11. Seems appropriate somehow.
This blue tree is ours. It looks really pretty in the window in my kitchen.
Jerome is definitely the biggest Kiss fan I’ve ever met. He has been for all of the 22 years I’ve known him. This is his tree.
I’ve never seen someone so happy to be done with a craft project. In fact, it kind of seems like he’s running past my craft room when he comes in the house now. I’d feel bad for him, except I really love my new blue tree.
I think sometimes crafting is like having a baby. Eventually, you forget the pain you went through to get the amazing end product and you do it all over again.
WOW These are really awesome! I will be on the look out for some bottles similar to these. Would he be willing to do a tutorial? I think I can figure it out, but a picture is worth a thousand words, or so I have heard.
I’ll see what I can do, but I think the poor guy is traumatized. They’re pretty simple though – it’s mostly a matter of gluing everything together, waiting for it to cure, then sticking the lights in the back. Good luck!
Do you or he have any idea on using some other kind of bottles? This is so pretty! I want one, but I want to make it myself, with your brother’s help, of course. =)
I’ve seen these made from baby food jars too. I’ve ordered bottles from this website before: http://www.specialtybottle.com. One thing to keep in mind is that you have to be able to fit the light bulb inside the neck. The top opening on the ones Jerome used measure 1/2″ across, and the bottle is about 3″ tall.
Thank you for both suggestions on jars to use. I hadn’t really thought about what kind of jars to use.
I would try your local cracker barrel, ask them to save some of the syrup bottles. Soak the label off in warm soapy water. I have also made the trees with a little tinsel inside the bottles, it adds a little sparkle.
Thanks for the tinsel tip, Deana. He used those inside his bottles as well, but I forgot to mention it!