Wine Bottle D.I.Y., Top 10

There are certain times in your life when you will look around your house or garage and think, “How in the world did we amass this many empty wine bottles?” Whether you drank them all by yourself or had a lot of guests over for the holidays, there are so many cool ways to use empty bottles that I’m always loathe to take them to the depot to get my 20¢ deposit back.  According to the Encorp website, “Of all the glass bottles sold in BC, 93% are returned. These bottles are ground down into small pieces called “cullet” and used in the manufacturing of a variety of things such as fibreglass insulation, sandblasting material and even sand for golf-course sandtraps. Ground glass can also be added to asphalt in the making of new roads.” For the unreturned 7%, I like to think that they’ve found a new life in one of these great DIY projects.

Netted Bottles

This project was found on Cameo Cottage Designs. Supplies needed are: glass bottle, Mod Podge, jute/twine, glue gun and glue sticks, scissors, craft paint, sponge brush, cup of water to rinse brush and dry and wet napkins

Sea Glass Bottles

Found on Sadie Seasongoods, this project apparently came about due to glass no longer being accepted at her local recycling depot. Environmental stress caused her to find some ways to use up her glass stash and thus relieve some of her anxiety.  Supplies needed: glass bottles, sea glass paint, clear polyurethane spray, dried grass and a vintage milk carrier if you happen to be so lucky as to have one kicking around. If not, you can find them on amazon under “wire bottle carrier.”

Wine Glass Rings

If you have more skill than us, and happen to have access to a kiln, wine glass rings can make beautiful wind chimes and jewelry. Visit Saved By Love Creations for the full tutorial

                     

Self Watering Planters

This post by DIY Projects has more than one useful project posted, but we love the last one on the list, the self watering planter. The above projects will also give you step by step instructions on cutting your bottle. Although the instructions miss the detail, you can see the added mesh in the picture that prevents the soil from falling out the neck of the bottle. 

Wine Bottle Chandelier

Instructions can be found on Stagetecture. Materials needed include: empty wine bottles, plumbing pipe clamps, drill, screws, drill bits, marker and spray paint (optional). There are a thousand and one ideas and inspirational pictures on the internet, but very few usable tutorials. This is one of the most helpful that we were able to find. 

 

Bottle Wall

This was tutorial on Instructables.com was an absolute treat of a DIY as it includes a full VIDEO!!!

Watercolour Effect

Posted on Homemade Hooplah, this project is limited only by your imagination. Use on plates, mugs, glasses, wine bottles (of course) and even your fingernails!

Fairy House

Wrap a wine bottle in polymer clay and add it to your fairy garden. The youtube video below shows this process on a small bottle, but you can tailor it to whatever size you have on hand. 

Hummingbird Feeder

Turn an empty bottle into a beautiful Hummingbird feeder as found on containerwatergardens.net. Find a colourful bottle, or add embellishments like coloured glass to help attract birds to your feeder. Make sure you clean the bottle thoroughly prior to set up. Stoppers can be found on Amazon and Etsy. Prices and sizes will vary, so shop around. 

Favourite Drink Mixes

Reuse your champagne bottles with the  swing top to hold your favourite drink mixers. If you need some inspiration, visit the Queen of Entertaining, Martha Stewart’s website for some recipe ideas. 

~ R. Dolly