How to Make Cherry Blossom Art Using the Bottom of a Soda Bottle

Create elegant art using the bottom of a soda bottle, some tempera paint and heavy paper. Designing cherry blossom art is also a great project to do with the kids--even children as young as 3 years-old can be proud of their piece (with a little help).

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 Steps

Pick Up a Few Supplies

1. 1
   Empty a few 2-liter soda bottles. Make sure the bottles have the five bumpy ridges on the bottom--the ridges are an essential part of your project. For best results, empty the bottle and then clean soda with hot soapy water. Allow enough time to dry so you aren’t working with a wet bottle.
   
   
   
   • Provide one bottle per artist or per color if you plan to use multiple colors.
2. 2
   Purchase heavy artist paper. You will be dipping the bottom of the soda bottle in paint and then transferring it to the paper. This means the bottom of the bottle will be coated in paint and will dry with a bit of a three-dimensional design (which requires a heavier paper to hold the additional paint).
   
   
   
3. 3
   Choose paint. Tempera paint works well with this project because of its consistency and the non-toxic aspect. Choose several colors to design multi-colored cherry blossoms or stick with the traditional pale pink.
   
   
   
   • Pick up a bottle of black and/or brown paint and a paint brush to create the cherry blossom tree branches and trunk.
4. 4
   Find old newspaper, a paper plate per color and an area for painting. You will spread the newspaper on a table to create a workspace for your artist. A simple paper plate can hold your paint, but make sure you have enough plates per artist and color.
   
   
   
   • Consider finding old shirts to use as smocks in order to protect clothing, especially if you are doing this craft with children.

Create Cherry Blossom Art

1. 1
   Prepare workstations. Cover a flat surface with newspaper and then pour approximately two to three cups of paint onto a paper plate.
   
   
   
   • Place one sheet of heavy artist paper per workstation. Consider pre-creating the tree branches and trunk if you are working with small children.
2. 2
   Draw the cherry blossom tree trunk and branches using the black/brown paint and paint brush. Remember that each branch will hold a cherry blossom print to take this into consideration when spacing out branches (and choosing the number of branches).
   
   
   
   • Allow for ample dry time before creating the cherry blossoms. Otherwise the black/brown paint may mix with the cherry blossom color and disturb the integrity of the design.
3. 3
   Dip the bottom of the empty soda bottle in the cherry blossom paint. You want to cover the bottom but don’t over saturate.
   
   
   
4. 4
   Transfer the bottom of the soda bottle with paint to your paper. Aim for or near a branch and press down.
   
   
   
5. 5
   Remove the bottle bottom from the paper to reveal a cherry blossom.
   
   
   
   • Repeat this process throughout the paper until you have enough cherry blossoms covering the paper (you’ll know when you feel as though you are finished).
     
     
     
6. 6
   Finished.
   
   
   

Tips

• Be sure you allow ample dry time (more than you would typically allow) after painting the cherry blossoms. Because you are placing a glob of paint on the paper the paint will take longer to dry.
• Paint a background and scenery surrounding your cherry blossom tree.