Tutorial: Vintage French Soap Dispenser

Today’s tutorial involves two things that are close to my heart. . . vintage and French. 

This morning I was tidying up my bathroom and noticed that my soap dispenser needed filling. I already had a lot planned for today. . . hmmm, really should have just filled it, but no, my mind started ticking over on the possibilities. . . and then this happened. . .

• I cleaned off that horrid plastic sticker with some Eucalyptus oil.
• Next I gathered some supplies: Mod Podge, a foam brush, some vintage French graphics and scissors.

• I used two different graphics that I downloaded from Karen at the Graphics Fairy; one floral label and a vintage French label. I adjusted their size to fit my plastic bottle, reversed them and printed them off on matt photo paper.
• Next I applied the Mod Podge to my bottle and gently laid the graphic (picture side down) in place. I pressed and flattened the labels and removed any lumps and bubbles with my finger.
• When both graphics were completely dry, I held the bottle under gently running warm water and using my thumb, I rubbed the paper backing with a light circular motion. This causes the paper to roll, curl and flake off. I left it to dry and then repeated the last step to remove some more areas of white where I’d missed bits of the backing.

While I was rubbing the rose label I accidentally ripped a small section of the label at the back of the bottle with my ring. At first I was horrified. . . but on closer inspection I decided I liked this slightly distressed look and continued with it.

The rose flower label is from here and the French label from here.

There’s no disguising that this is a modern plastic bottle. . . but I much prefer these pretty labels to the company logo that was there before.

And with a pretty label on each side, I can choose a different one each day!

I’m linking this at:

Brag Monday at the Graphics Fairy, at Brambleberry Cottage, Beyond the Picket Fence, for Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic  Cottage

and Thrifty Thursday at Tales From Bloggeritaville

Make sure you check out these awesome linky parties.

Thanks for visiting,

Hugs ~ Kerry