Miniature Sailboat in a Bottle

I have always been curious about ships inside bottles. It is a fascinating craft that I have always wanted to explore. I had heard theories that perhaps the bottle was cut in half or that all the pieces were assembled inside the bottle, so I set out to discover how it was done.

The answer was truly captivating. The ship is created with a collapsible mast and sails, which are folded flat against the ship. Once inside the bottle, the mast and sails are carefully raised into position.

I was so inspired by this process that I wanted to create my own ship. I also created the video I add in this step (This is my first attempt to appear in a youtube video (I mean my face) and although I think it shows how nervous I was, I think it's a good start. This is in Spanish but English subtitles can be activated)

This experience has taught me that with patience and attention to detail, we can achieve anything we set our minds to.

1. Drawing materials (paper and pencil)
2. Miniature bottle (size determined by the artist)
3. Polymer clay (blue and white)
4. Wire (I used plastic-covered wire commonly used to seal bags of bread)
5. Fabric (white)
6. Thread and needle
7. Resin
8. Blue ink (for the resin)
9. Insulin syringe
10. Cutter
11. Glue (I used nail glue)
12. Tweezers
13. Green paper
14. Yellow (almost brown) cold porcelain
15. Brown marker

To get started with this exciting project of making a miniature sailboat in a bottle, it is essential to have a clear idea of the size of the bottle and the different pieces that will make up the scene. Therefore, the first step will be to draw the bottle in its real size, as well as the island, the palm, the water, and, of course, the sailboat. In this way, we will be able to have a better understanding of the size and proportions of each piece and make sure that everything fits perfectly inside the bottle.

During this step, I faced the challenge of not having a small, thin wire on hand. To solve this problem, I improvised by stripping a plastic-covered wire commonly used to seal bags of bread and similar food products. I cut the wire to the size of my palm and then coated it with light brown cold porcelain.

Using a cutter, I added some horizontal lines to give it a realistic appearance similar to that of a real palm. To add the finishing touch, I used a dark brown marker to give the palm a darker color.

Fold a piece of green paper in half. If you don't have green paper available, you can paint a white sheet with a green marker. Next, use a sharp cutter to make many small slanted cuts in a row, as shown in the picture. Carefully cut out a shape that resembles a long thin triangle, while keeping the folded part of the paper intact, as it will become the central axis of the leaf.

In the previous step, you learned how to create several realistic-looking palm leaves from green paper. Now it's time to attach these leaves to the tip of the palm tree trunk. Using tweezers, spread a small amount of glue (such as nail glue) onto each leaf, being careful not to use too much glue. Then, gently and carefully position the leaves onto the tip of the palm tree trunk, ensuring that they are evenly spaced and attached securely. Repeat this process for each leaf until you've achieved the desired fullness and lushness for your palm tree.

To create the island, start by adding a small amount of cold porcelain mixed with white glue to the bottom of the bottle. Using a small stick or toothpick, carefully shape the mixture to create the desired island shape. It's recommended to use a small amount of cold porcelain at first and gradually add more until you achieve the desired result. This method will allow you to adjust the shape and size of the island without adding more material than necessary.

Before the cold porcelain dries, use a pair of tweezers to carefully insert the miniature palm tree into the bottle. Adjust the position of the palm by inserting part of its trunk into the island, ensuring that it is securely attached and stable in the desired location.

To create the ocean, use a small amount of resin. It is important to carefully follow the instructions provided by the supplier in order to achieve optimal results. For example, in my case, I needed to mix equal parts from two bottles of resin using syringes to ensure precise measurements. Once the resin was mixed, I added a few drops of blue ink to give it a realistic color. Although I read that alcohol-based inks work best for coloring resin, I found that ink meant for alcohol-based markers worked just as well. Mix the resin thoroughly with the ink.

To add resin to your miniature scene, you'll need a small insulin syringe to inject it into the bottle. Carefully insert the syringe into the bottle and begin injecting the resin. It is important to take your time and inject the resin slowly to avoid air bubbles and to ensure even distribution.

As you add the resin, continually monitor the appearance of the scene to ensure that you are achieving the desired effect. If needed, use a toothpick or small stick to adjust the resin. Remember, it's always better to add the resin slowly and in small amounts, as this will allow you to have greater control over the final result.

To create the mast and the anchor points for the sails, you'll need a bit more wire, similar to the type used to make the palm tree trunk. Begin by creating a small loop at one end of the wire and cutting it to the desired length for the mast (using your initial drawing as a guide).

Next, create three small "U" shapes with the wire. Insert one of these "U" shapes into the loop at the top of the mast. This will create a hinge effect, allowing you to fold the sails and lay the mast down when placing the sailboat inside the bottle.

To create the base of the sailboat, we will be using polymer clay. Start by creating the basic shape of the sailboat. Then, take a small amount of blue polymer clay and flatten it out. Place it on top of the sailboat shape, followed by a small amount of white polymer clay also flattened out, as if creating a sandwich.

Next, use a cutter to give the sailboat its final shape. Be sure to follow the initial drawing closely to ensure accuracy. Trim any excess clay from the edges and use your fingers to smooth out any rough spots.

Once you are satisfied with the shape of the sailboat, put the anchor points in it (the "U" wire shapes), two of them in the sides, and the one with the mast in the center of it.

It's time to bake it according to the instructions on the polymer clay package. Usually, this involves preheating the oven to a specific temperature and baking the clay for a certain amount of time.

To create the sails, I used a piece of white fabric from which I cut two small triangles following the initial drawing. Next, I tied the corners of the triangles to the anchor points and the mast using thread and a needle, as shown in the drawing.

There is just one corner of the triangles that I didn't knot. For this corner, I simply passed the thread through the anchor point and the sail, without making knots. The idea is to fold the sails and lay the mast when putting the sailboat inside the bottle. Then, when pulling this thread, the sails will unfold, and the mast will rise.

To place the sailboat inside the bottle, apply a small amount of glue to the base of the sailboat. Then, carefully insert the sailboat into the bottle, using a pair of tweezers to position it as desired. Once you are satisfied with its placement, allow the glue to dry completely. This step may require some patience and finesse, so take your time to ensure that the sailboat is positioned just right.

After the sailboat has been carefully placed inside the bottle and allowed to dry, it's time for the most exciting step - raising the mast and unfurling the sails.

Take hold of the thread attached to the sail and gently pull to raise the mast and unfurl the sails. Be sure to do this slowly and carefully to avoid damaging the delicate components of the scene. With a bit of patience and a steady hand, you'll see the mast rise and the sails unfurl, creating a beautiful and realistic miniature sailing scene inside the bottle.

After successfully raising the mast and unfolding the sails, the next step is to carefully adjust the position of the mast and sails using a pair of tweezers, if necessary. Then, place the bottle cap on top of the bottle and cut off any excess thread.

Congratulations! You have completed the sailboat miniature inside a bottle project. I hope you enjoyed creating this unique and charming craft.