Empty wine bottles can really add up and take up space in your recycling bin. And sometimes, they’re such a pretty color or shape that you can’t bear the thought of tossing them at all! If that’s the case, then some of these wine bottle crafts might be exactly what you were looking for.
Not only are many wine (and liquor) bottles attractive, but glass recycling is disappearing in areas across the country. It’s an unfortunate case of economic feasibility, but it means that all those wonderful wine bottles could end up in landfills! Even more reason to gather wine bottle crafting ideas in case that should ever happen in your neck of the woods.
Wine Bottle Tiki Torch
DIY wine bottle tiki torches are a fun way to reuse those empty wine bottles for your next outdoor get-together or soiree. They look elegant and fit the theme, plus they add a little ambiance to your backyard event. Bonus: you can add essential oils during the DIY process which will help them deter bugs, too!
DIY Sea Glass Bottles
Once you learn that “sea glass paint” is a thing, your empty wine bottles will never be the same! Because you can transform plain, clean wine bottles into DIY sea glass bottles like this! And it’s a spray paint, so anyone (and I mean ANYONE) can make this craft project look this good.
Christmas Ornament Toppers
File this idea away for Christmas- topping bottles with your prettiest ornaments! Simply turn the ornaments upside down and set them carefully on the bottleneck. Isn’t this a great idea for extra special bottles and a fresh new way to display your most cherished vintage ornaments?
Bottle Pumpkins
Fall aficionados may really enjoy this crafty project- painting glass bottles to look like pumpkins! If your wine or liquor bottles have the right shape, they can be carefully painted to give them a very gourd-y appearance! Some twine and a leaf around the neck finish give them the perfect finishing look for your autumn decor.
Solar Lights
A pretty wine bottle, especially one in cobalt blue, should never get tossed. Even if it lives in a cupboard for a long time until you figure out the right craft for it! But give this idea a spin: wine bottle lights that look magical at night.
Boho Bottle Charms
If I told that these “coin” bottle charms are actually made from metal buttons, would you believe me? Well, they are- and talk about a cathartic craft, since you literally smash them (carefully) with a hammer! And once you’re done, they’re the perfect charms to string around bottles for some funky Boho decor.
Pottery-Style Faux Finish
If your empty bottles have interesting designs in the glass, then giving them a faux finish like this will make them look like pottery! It’s really amazing what some spray paint and craft paint can do with the right technique.
Message in a Bottle
Ok, now that the song version is stuck in your head, maybe the DIY version will be stuck in your crafty to-do list! Turning wine bottles into a playful version of “message in a bottle” is as easy as adding beach sand, a rolled up book page, and wrapping the cork in twine. How pretty would these be as thrifty beach wedding decor?
Decorative Flower Vases
Ok, this isn’t a DIY project at all! But a cluster of empty bottles- wine bottles, antique bottles, any interesting bottles at all- looks fabulous when used for single stems of flowers or greenery. They make quite a statement centerpiece in your home, and collecting the right bottles for the cluster is half the fun!
Blinged Out Bottles
Even thought this example showcases smaller bottles, there’s no reason you can’t do the same when the chardonnay is gone! Embellishing glass bottles with broken jewelry is a great way to marry two different items that you might ultimately toss. It’s such a fabulous save for anyone who appreciates decor that’s “extra”- isn’t that what the kids say nowadays?
Tinted and Transferred
While this liquor bottle started out clear, colorless, and plain, it certainly isn’t now! It’s been tinted to a healthy shade of cobalt blue and a transfer decal was added for a mid-century modern touch. Such a great way to extend the life of a whiskey bottle that was destined for the recycle bin.
Coastal Style Bottle Decor
Wine bottles, or any interesting bottles for that matter, are ideal for incorporating into your home decor. And if you enjoy coastal decor, then transforming your empty bottles of rosé into these beachy bottles might really appeal. You can change the color with specialty paints and add some nautical netting- either the DIY kind or pre-knotted.
Crated Demijohn Vase
A staple of French country decor, crated demijohns are highly sought after antiques. But you can make a smaller version for your tabletop with a wine bottle like this! The wood comes from a craft store, which makes it easy to find and work with for moderately-skilled DIYers.
Spooky Halloween Decor
Speaking of fall, what about using your empty wine bottles for Halloween projects? Transforming them into faux poison bottles is as easy as making them dirty (get the kids to help!) and adding spooky labels. Plus, different colors and shapes work well together for that “mad scientist” look- just like a creepy laboratory!
Hydrodip Magic
If you’ve never heard the word “hydrodip” before, well now you have and now you’ll want to try it! It’s the DIY technique of getting beautiful swirls of color like this on glass bottles. Think of it like paint pouring or tie-dye, but on your empty wine bottles; and definitely a craft project that your older kids might want to try with you.
Wine Bottle Crafts
Think you’ll be setting any bottles aside for these craft projects? Either way, there are loads of inspiring project ideas out there for your wine bottles, all of which will keep them out of the recycling bin and/or landfill.
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.
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