One of my favorite ways to decorate throughout the year is with painted bottle vases. They’re budget-friendly, fun to make, and so easy to customize for each holiday or season. I’ve collected and saved glass bottles over time, gave them a fresh coat of paint, and dressed them up with ribbon, greenery, paper cutouts, and Mod Podge.
What I love most is that each set of bottles becomes a beautiful centerpiece or shelf display — and I can switch them out seasonally without breaking the bank. Below I’m sharing each design I created this past year, starting with fall and going all the way through summer.
Fall & Thanksgiving Bottles:🦃🍂🍁
For my fall bottles, I painted them a soft cream white. I used a leaf cutter to make paper leaves, then Mod Podged them onto the bottles. I also cut out the word FALL (using Google Docs and printed them off and cut them with a scalpel) and added that across the set. To finish, I tied a bow at the top and tucked in a few autumn leaves. Simple, seasonal, and so cozy for Thanksgiving.
Christmas Bottles:🎄🎄🎄
Christmas is all about sparkle! I painted four bottles white and added the letters to spell NOEL. At the top, I hot glued gold bows, bells, pinecones, and festive greenery. A mix of red and gold florals went inside, making these bottles a perfect holiday centerpiece.
Winter Bottles:❄️☃️❄️
For my after-Christmas winter look, I wanted something frosty. I painted the bottles white, coated them in Mod Podge, and sprinkled white glitter all over so they looked like they were dusted with snow. I added the word SNOW across the bottles and tied a simple green bow at the top. The greenery was especially fun — I found clearance fall foliage from Hobby Lobby, painted it white, and sprinkled glitter on top to create snowy winter branches.
Valentine’s Day Bottles:❤️💗❤️
For Valentine’s Day, I painted the bottles in shades of red, pink, and white. I spelled out LOVE, replacing the “O” with a sparkly white heart. At the top, I tied a pretty bow and hot glued small red florals for extra detail. Romantic and fun!
St. Patrick’s Day Bottles:☘️☘️☘️
These were quick and farmhouse-chic. I painted the bottles white and spelled out LUCK in green letters. A shamrock ribbon tied around the top, plus faux clover stems from the dollar store, finished them off perfectly.
Easter Bottles:🐣🐣🐣
For Easter, I chose a deep purple base. I Mod Podged daffodils onto the bottles and added the word SAVED on top of the flowers — a simple nod to the true meaning of Easter. A white ribbon tied at the neck and fresh yellow daffodils inside brought the whole design together.
Spring Bottles:🌸🌸🌸
Spring is always fresh and cheerful. I covered the bottles with pink printed paper using Mod Podge, then brushed pink paint over the top and wiped it back for a whitewashed look. I added the word BLOOM, tied a light ribbon at the top, and filled them with soft spring florals.
Memorial Day & 4th of July:🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
For my patriotic bottles, I painted them navy blue and wrapped them with flag-print napkins using Mod Podge. Across the front, I added the word FREE. Around the top, I tied red, white, and blue string, then filled them with simple greenery for a clean, rustic look.
Summer Bottles:🌻☀️🌻
Summer means sunflowers! I Mod Podged sunflower-patterned paper all over the bottles, then added the word SHINE. A yellow ribbon tied at the top and bright sunflower stems inside finished the look. These bottles practically glow on a sunny summer day!
Why I Love This Project
What started as a way to reuse old bottles turned into a whole year-round decorating project. These painted bottle vases are easy, inexpensive, and endlessly customizable. They’re perfect for centerpieces, mantel displays, or even as a handmade gift idea.
If you’d like to see all of these bottles come to life, I’ve put together a video showing each one — from Thanksgiving to summer. Check it out on my YouTube channel for inspiration and step-by-step visuals!
✨ Tell me — which seasonal set is your favorite? Would you make your own painted bottle vases?
—Your Frugal Crafter
Dandychandee 