Make Bottle Lamps Using Recycled Wine Bottles

Recycle wine bottles into special accessories using bottles that are leftover from meaningful occasions. Wine bottles can be transformed into soft, ambient lighting accessories by drilling a hole in the glass bottles to insert the wires for a lamp. Drilling the hole in a glass bottle is a simple task that requires a special drill bit, although, you may want to practice drilling on a few bottles to get the hang of it, before drilling on a special bottle.

Bottle lamps are quick to make and require no electrical knowledge. By purchasing marked-down Christmas lights after the holidays, you can craft inexpensive gifts to give to your friends and family throughout the year.

I like to add raffia and silk grape leaves with grape clusters to the finished lamp. These lamps look beautiful on a counter in a darkened kitchen or on a table in an entryway.

Supplies Needed:

Bath towel
Cookie sheet
Wine bottle
Masking tape
Ruler
Drill
1/2-inch diamond-tip drill bit
Water bottle
1/2-inch rubber grommet
30-light clear Christmas light string

Step 1
Fold a thick bath towel and lay it on a cookie sheet. Lay a wine bottle on it's side, centered on the towel and cookie sheet. The towel will provide a cushion while preventing it from rolling. If the label is still attached, turn the bottle with the back side facing up.

Step 2
Place a strip of masking tape across the width of the pan, from one side edge to the other side edge, across the neck of the bottle. Place another strip of masking tape across the width of the pan and across the body of the bottle, 2 inches from the bottle's bottom edge. This will secure the bottle, preventing it from wiggling while drilling.

Step 3
Measure up 1-inch from the bottom, backside of the bottle and place a 1-inch length of masking tape on the bottle. The tape will provide a stable surface for drilling, preventing the bit from slipping.

Step 4
Drill the bottle using a 1/2-inch diamond-tip drill bit. Center the tip of the drill bit on the 1-inch masking tape. Set your drill on the slowest speed setting and drill. The drilling will generate a lot of heat on the glass and the bit. To prevent cracking, have a helper spray water on the drill bit and the glass using a water bottle.

Step 5
Insert a 1/2-inch rubber grommet into the drilled hole to cover the cut, sharp edges.

Step 6
Insert the top end of a string of 30-light clear Christmas lights in the drilled hole. The top end of the string is the end without a plug. Continue to thread and insert the length of the lights into the bottle.