44 Live: DIY Wine Projects
After 10 years of producing and bottling wines for Wisconsin, we’ve racked up quite the empty wine bottle and cork collection. With the wine all drank and the corks all popped, what’s left to do? PROJECTS!! Here are some of our favorite DIY projects for wine bottles and corks.
Wine Bottle Lamp Shade
Supplies:
- Old Wine Bottle
- Diamond Tipped Drill or Engraving Tool
- Wiring and Low Voltage Light Bulb
- Lampshade with Structure Pieces
- Place old wine bottle on soft surface. Use diamond tipped drill or simple engraving tool to slowly drill small hole. If using engraving tool, be sure to cool glass every minute.
- If you want to remove label soak in hot water for about 10 minutes.
- Insert wiring through hole and assemble bulb at the top of the bottle (be sure to ask the store for proper assembly instructions).
- Place the assembled lampshade over the light and vuala!
Glass Flower Vases
Supplies:
- Old Wine Bottles
- White Spray Paint (make sure it’s glass usable)
- Super Glue
- Polymer Clay Flowers (available at almost all hobby shops)
- Remove label from wine bottling by soaking in hot water for about 10 minutes.
- Spray wine bottle and flowers with solid colors (yellow and white are favorites)
- Once dry, arrange flowers on bottles with super glue.
- Add one or many to each wine bottle.
Cork Candles
Supplies:
- Corks
- Mason Jar with lid
- Acetone Alcohol
- Small glasses
- Soak cork in a capped mason jar filled with acetone alcohol for one week.
- Remove and allow to dry for half hour.
- Place cork in any style/color small glass
- Light and enjoy!
Wine Cork Bath Mat
Supplies:
- At least 100 corks (varies depending on size)
- Hot Glue
- Non-Adhesive Shelf Liner
- Pocket Knife (sharp)
- Cutting Board
- Scissors
- Ruler or Yardstick
- Hot Glue Gun
- Sand Paper
- Cut each cork half lengthwise with sharp pockets knife. If edges are jagged, use sandpaper to smooth out.
- Arrange corks into a rectangular shape with the flat sides down. Use the yardstick along the edges so the configuration is as straight as possible.
- Measure and cut the shelf liner to size with pencil, yardstick and scissors.
- Transfer the outer rows/columns of corks to the bath mat with a dab of hot glue (make sure edges line up evenly).
- When frame is in place, transfer remaining corks to their positions without glue. Once you adjust so the frame is evenly filled, place glue on each piece and press back down. Done!