Polymer Clay "Bottles of Hope": Bring Good Wishes to Cancer Patients

Polymer clay can be used to make objects both decorative and functional. It can be serious art, or just for fun. But there's one use that can be really meaningful to a special group of people - cancer patients. Here's a little about the history of Bottles of Hope, how to make them, and what to do with them.

A bit of history
Bottles of Hope were the brainchild of Diane Gregoire, a polymer clay artist who in 1999 was receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. She started collecting the empty glass bottles used by the nurses for intravenous treatments, then covered them with clay and gave them to the other patients.

The little bottles, with their bright colors and interesting designs, provided a temporary distraction from the realities of illness. They also became a symbol of hope because Diane told the recipients to write down a wish and put the paper in the bottle, and the wish would come true. For this reason they were first called "wish bottles," but they have since been renamed "Bottles of Hope." Diane's idea was a big hit with the nurses as well as the patients, and soon spread outside the hospital - and around the world.

How to make one
The only things you need to make a Bottle of Hope are polymer clay, a used glass medication bottle 2-3" tall, and whatever tools you need to create your design. The clay and tools are readily available; the bottles are less so, because the glass versions are gradually being replaced by plastic ones, which won't survive oven curing. Check with your local hospital or doctor's office for bottles. Also, many people have been able to get bottles from veterinarians' offices.