Middle Sister Wines: 14 sassy wines including Pinot Grigio, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Moscato

Whenever I finish a bottle of my Forever Cool Merlot, I mourn the loss of such beautiful glass to my recycling bin.

Luckily, I recently discovered all these DIY Wine Bottle Projects so I can turn my empty wine bottles into brand new goodies! Check out my Pinterest Board for wine bottle project ideas, or keep reading for my Tutorial on Glass Cutting and Instructions to make 2 gorgeous wine bottle transformations!

Intro to DIY Wine Bottle Projects

No matter how you want to transform your bottles once the juice is gone (Where did it go?! Such a mystery.), you’ll want to remove the labels first. I recommend soaking your bottles in soapy water for a few hours, OR using nail polish remover to saturate your labels. Then take a razor blade and gently cut and peel off the label. Now you’re ready to get started on your project of choice.

Glass Cutting 101

Most wine bottle crafts require glass cutting. These projects require a few specific tools and a fair amount of precision, but don’t let that discourage you (stock up on empty bottles ahead of time in case you make a mistake... what a burden!) Glass cutting is really easy once you get the hang of it, and it opens you up to some of the more creative and beautiful ways to recycle wine bottles.

*SAFETY REMINDER*
Use caution while working with glass - edges can be sharp and sudden cracks can send shards flying. Always wear your Sexy Safety Glasses, and consider Work Gloves while handling small pieces.

You will need:

• Bottle cutting kit
• Cutting oil
• Grease pencil
• Diamond sanding pads

​I seriously recommend watching this tutorial before and/or while cutting your bottles. This guy uses the exact kit I suggest above, and his tricks will help minimize mistakes, cracks, and jagged edges. The video’s intro is long, so start at 3:40 and follow along!

1) Measure and Mark: Mark your bottles at the desired cut line using the grease pencil. Then place your first bottle into the cutter and, using the grease mark as a guide, adjust the blade to the correct height. Tighten and secure the cutter.

2) Score: Oil the surface of your bottle all the way around the cut site. Carefully and evenly rotate the bottle along the cutter blade to scratch, or “score” the bottle. Important: Precision is key here. Your score line can’t have any breaks or variations on pressure. It does not have to be deep, just consistent.

3) Hot and Cold: Remove your bottle from the cutter. Over the sink, slowly pour a stream of boiling water over the score line for about 30 seconds. Rotate the bottle while doing this so that the entire line gets hot. Then, repeat the process using cool water (not too cold) from the faucet. The bottom of the bottle should fall right off! Note: If it does not fall off, repeat the hot and cold process until it does.

4) Sandy Edges: Sand your newly cut edge to smooth out any rough or sharp spots. 

Now You're Ready. Let's Make Something Beautiful!

Project 1: Wine Bottle Votive Lanterns	Project 2: Wine Bottle Wind Chimes
Basically, the idea is to cut off the bottom of each bottle and create lanterns that radiate candle light and create a romantic environment for any room or occasion. The process is relatively simple, but it does require some precision, so stock up on extra bottles just in case. I’ll walk you through the process. Read More...	Wine bottles can be used to make amaaaazing wind chimes because they are beautiful, strong, and make pretty sounds when the wind blows! You can also use recycled or found objects to complete this project, so it won’t even cost much - just the cost of a bottle of wine! Read More...

Want more? Check out my Pinterest Board for more wine bottle transformations and DIY ideas, or suggest another tutorial by leaving a comment below. Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Peace, Love, Merlot.