Since my county no longer recycles glass, the last thing I planned on buying from the thrift store was an empty wine bottle. But this particular glass bottle was an unusual shape and seemed ideal for upcycling. It made me think of a demijohn bottle that you might see French country decor. So, repurposing it into a demijohn vase seemed like its decorative destiny.
A quick search on Google told me that based on the embossed name on the bottle, it was an interesting vintage piece from Petri Wine.
In other words, not just your average glass bottle!
But back to my idea for a demijohn vase or demijohn bottle. You know what I’m talking about- those HUGE wine jugs that sit in an old wooden crate.
They’re typically big enough to live on the floor as a massive vase or to hold loose change.
Anyway, I started wondering if I could create a smaller, tabletop-sized version of a demijohn bottle with my glass carboy from Petri wine. All I’d need was some basswood from the craft store.
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Making a Demijohn Vase
With craft wood in hand, we first measured the circumference of the glass bottle to determine the size of our demijohn crate.
After measuring twice to cut once, we made the first piece of the crate- a square ring held together with super glue (using this kind because it has a dainty little brush).
The sizing was perfect, so we recreated the square ring a second time, but added three slats as a platform bottom.
Then we cut four equally long pieces of square dowel to act as the risers (or, corners of the demijohn crate).
Finishing Up the Crate for a Small Demijohn
Once I had all the components of the wooden crate cut and sanded, I glued them together.
It was the perfect little craft for my demijohn vase!
But I had to do something about that naked wood color.
I decided to try a new-to-me stain on it, starting with one of the scraps I had leftover. And let me tell you- this weathered oak stain by Minwax was PERFECT on the basswood.
So, I wiped the weathered oak stain on the entire crate for my demijohn bottle. And it looked GORGEOUS!
I mean- can you believe it? That perfect brown-grey color that just screams “vintage”. I’ll definitely have to try it on other species of wood to see what the results would be!
Anyway, while the weathered oak stain dried on the wooden crate, I turned by attention back to the glass carboy.
I decided to give it just a kiss of green color with some stained glass spray paint.
I gave the glass demijohn just two or three light coats of the stained glass spray paint.
And when everything had dried, I had both adorable components of a demijohn vase.
Demijohn Vase from an Empty Wine Bottle
The demijohn bottle or glass carboy looked wonderful inside the little wooden crate. Wouldn’t you agree?
I was doubly pleased with my choice of stained glass spray paint and weathered oak stain once I saw them together!
And now I had a demijohn vase that looks like it comes straight from an beautifully appointed home done up in French Country. And all with an empty wine bottle from the thrift store!
I love that this demijohn vase is small enough to sit on a table or bookcase and not some enormous glass carboy on the ground.
And if you enjoyed this idea for a glass demijohn, then you’ll love this collection of glass bottle crafts for even more inspiration!
Don’t forget to check out this post for more upcycling ideas for French Farmhouse decor, too!
Craft on!
S
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Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.
This came out gorgeous!
Thanks, Deb!
love this. I enjoy getting your emails with all of your various ideas. Love everything you create
Thanks, Cathy!! I try not to overdue the emails. 🙂 But I’m so thrilled to hear that you enjoy them!
Very cute, love the little crate!!
Thanks, LuAnne!
I LOVE this. You know I love to do things with wine bottles. (As well as drink the wine!) Nice find by the way…very cool bottle.
Thanks, Bev!! It felt a little oxymoronic- to buy a bottle when you know all too well our recycling hindrances here- but it’s such cool shape and it’s definitely older. I think the winery was sold in the 50s or 60s. Which, while not old per se…but old for a wine bottle that would otherwise be thrown away!
Sarah, OOH LA LA. . . . . that stain color, with the perfect hint of green from the Kyrlon stained glass paint on the wine jug – girl this is just perfection! I love, love, love it!
Thank you so much!! Girl, you should have heard the inappropriate noises I made when I first tried that stain on the basswood. I was PRETTY ecstatic!
What a great project…the crate turned out wonderful, and the bottle, too! Great job!
Thanks, Linda!
Love this idea but it made me think. I see you used the stained glass green paint. Do you know how it differs from the sea foam sea glass paint?
Yes, I’ve used the sea glass paint on two projects in the past (http://www.sadieseasongoods.com/tag/sea-glass-paint/). The stained glass paint is clear (colorful, but clear) and smooth the touch (not frosty/textured).
That makes sense… thanks for sharing the other projects with me.
Genius! I’ll bet no one else has thought about doing this even though they would want a “real” demijohn. You rocked it!
Thank you so very much, Fonda!
So very gorgeous. Also, it doesn’t seem like an overwhelming project. Thanks for sharing your talent with us.
Maureen
Thanks, Maureen- and it’s definitely not overwhelming! 🙂
Love this project. I am obsessed with demijohns. Now I create my own.
Thank you so much, Sharon!
super cute…I gotta get some of that spray paint. I’ve used wine bottles –the regular kind, as garden bed edging. Bury them upside-down to just beyond the shoulder. Mine is mixed colors but you could do all one color too, depends on the wine you drink. No pics– it’s night here now.
Thanks, Lisa!
So pretty! I have one of the large antique versions… but this is such a fun smaller version!
I’m only ever admired the real-deal big versions…and those just won’t work in my small-ish house, so… 😉
Even though I’ve never used one of your ideas exactly as presented, I always learn some little tidbit to file away in my mind for some use in the future.
I love that, Janet! I learn little tidbits along the way, too, and am ever happy to share. 🙂
I can’t help but ask… did you buy the adorable little (sugar?) bowl to the right of the glass bottle?
I did not!! It’s funny (or maybe sad) what I miss when I’m laser-focused on the item that I’m purchasing!
Wow, this is amazing. Very clever and creative!
Thank you very much!!
Wow, wow, I love, love, love this. You did a fabulous job. Beautiful!
Thank you, Ivory!! I really appreciate that!
You are the queen of recycle and DIY!! I LOVE this project and will have to do this for my home!! Thank you so much for sharing this fabulous idea!!
Aww, thank you, Elizabeth!!! XOXO
How on earth did I miss this one Sarah. It looks gorgeous. You’re so clever with the ideas you come up with. I’ll be hunting for unusual wine bottle, empty or maybe full 😉 to make this for our little holiday cottage. It’s perfect
Awww, thank you!! And I think you’ll have WAY MORE FUN if you locate an unusually shaped wine jug that just happens to be full. 😉
Awe, such a cute idea!
Great project, as usual! Great tutorial, too!
Thanks!
Wow, nicely done. I love this post.
Thank you, Ivory!
love this!!! I am not handy with power tools. how did you cut the strips of wood?? great project!!! thanks
Angela from NJ
Thanks, Angela- and no power tools needed! Just a basic hacksaw was used.
Oh I just love this! I can’t believe I hadn’t seen this before. Just a question…what was the exact stain color you used on this? I just have to have one of these! I already have the perfect bottle I purchased quite some time ago. I’m pretty sure I also have the wood…so all I need is to make it! This reminds me of something you would see going into a museum showing…the set up of it all when they bring the pieces in and uncrate them.
I just double checked and I link to it in the blog post where you see all the capital letters in bold blue font!