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Light up with Wine Bottles

Dec 1st 2008ChloeCrafts and Artsy stuff & Green-Friendly Tips

It’s magic — those tiny lights that twinkle in the wine bottles in the rooms at our own North Carolina Bed and Breakfast, Big Mill Inn-the perfect romantic getaway.

Lights twinkle in the rooms at the eastern North Carolina Bed & Breakfast accomodation, Big Mill Inn

The idea is really simple: just drill a hole in a glass bottle and push the lights in. Guests ask me all the time, "How do you do it?"  Now is the perfect time to learn and these glowing wine bottles make great gifts.

First you need an empty bottle; wine bottles are good because they are free. The best ones are light green, usually Chardonnay, or blue, usually Riesling, but not always. The dark green bottles used for red wines like Merlot just don’t illuminate well.

Eastern North Carolina B&B recycles wine bottles

You can either drink the wine or beg your friends to give you their empties. I have been saving wine bottles for years and now I have quite a stash.

Supplies and Equipment you will need:

  • Light green or blue wine bottle
  • 1/2-inch ceramic tile drill bit (each bit will drill 6-8 bottles)
  • Small piece of masking tape
  • Electric drill (battery ones just can’t cut it)
  • 20-count tiny Christmas light set. You need the kind that has a plug on one end only, not the end-to-end kind. The best time to buy these is at Christmas, they are difficult to find otherwise. It is a good idea to wear glasses or protective goggles. Gloves are also a good idea. Some of the bottles will break.

    Bed and Breakfast near Greenville NC uses ceramic bit to create romantic lighting

    Place a small piece of masking tape on the back of the bottle about 3 inches up from the bottom. Start drilling; don’t use too much pressure, the bottle might break. The tape is to keep the drill bit from jumping around when you first get started.

    Be VERY careful; this is a slow process and is not to be attempted by impatient folks.

    Drill until the bit goes all the way through the glass. There will be glass dust in the bottle so you will have to rinse this out.  Allow bottle to dry.

    Romantic B&B getaway at Big Mill Inn in Eastern North Carolina

    Push each light into the hole that you have just drilled. This can be tedious and is not for the fainthearted. After all 20 are inside you are finished. Voila, it is gorgeous and magic!

    Some folks decorate the bottles with all kinds of sequins, glitter and bottle covers. I don’t add anything because I like to see the wine labels.

    We have these pretty wine bottles everywhere here at Big Mill B&B.  Everyone loves them and the price is certainly right. Oops, forgot to tell you that the ceramic drill bits cost about $16 each.

     What a fun way to recycle!  

    • 14 Comments »

    14 Responses to “Light up with Wine Bottles”

    1. Patti on 01 Dec 2008 at 1:43 pm #

      Chloe – I have always loved these – thanks so much for sharing the instructions!

      Happy Holidays!
      Patti

    2. Chloe on 01 Dec 2008 at 2:18 pm #

      Thank you, Patti…Each one you make gets easier. Hope you have a great holiday too.
      Chloe

    3. Sarah and Lickety-Split on 19 Mar 2009 at 10:07 am #

      Loved this idea and had to show Sarah. I was educating myself on the pros and cons of blogging and read your comment on bedandbreakfast.com. So, of course, I had to come read your blog-very well done. I have a lot to learn. My blogging skills are minimal but my paws have a hard time on the keyboard after I have been digging up the bulbs outside that Sarah has planted. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Lickety-Split

    4. marian on 01 Aug 2009 at 8:49 am #

      What do you use to hold the bottle while drilling the hole? Thanks for reply. MF

    5. Chloe on 01 Aug 2009 at 9:42 am #

      I use an old towel, just in case I break the bottle. I also put a towel under the bottle so that it isn’t as likely to roll around. Good luck! Chloe

    6. Mishich on 27 Aug 2009 at 3:56 pm #

      Thanks for sharing. I live in Kuwait and it’s hard to find the 20-25 count lights, specially the ones that don’t make the bottle get hot to the touch. Do you know where I can buy these online.
      By the way, these sell very well in our annual christmas bazaar and kuwait being a dry country, people wander where do i get the bottles from :) :):) I dig in the trash.

    7. Chloe on 27 Aug 2009 at 9:10 pm #

      Hi, Mishich, thanks so much for your comment. We can get the 20 count lights at any store during Christmas. But I hear the LED really work great and they have them at large craft stores like Michael’s. I hope you can find them and keep digging in the trash! :)
      Chloe

    8. Jennifer Mamo on 24 Sep 2009 at 6:04 am #

      Aloha Chloe! thank you for the idea and the instructions! I plan on making a whole bunch for Christmas. My friends are all wine drinkers and I know they will just love this!

      Mele Kalikimaka!
      Jen

    9. Chloe on 24 Sep 2009 at 8:53 pm #

      Thanks, Jen, Hang on to the corks…I will show you how to make a glorious cork wreath.

    10. abaiey on 02 Oct 2009 at 9:08 am #

      THIS IS COOOOL JOB. CAN HELP TRASH ISSUE ALSO… i also into your way, jst a little bit diffrent

    11. Victoria on 14 Oct 2009 at 10:08 am #

      Thank you soooo much for writing this “how to”! My budget is soo tight this Christmas, and now I have a wonderful idea for gifts.
      I’m running out now to pick up my drill bit … wish me luck! :)

      Victoria

    12. Chloe on 18 Oct 2009 at 3:49 pm #

      You are certainly welcome, Victoria. And keep saving those corks. I plan to write a Chloe’s Blog entry about making a cork wreath..they are fabulous.
      Chloe

    13. Rose on 31 Jan 2010 at 12:14 am #

      Love these! They are like fireflies in a jar! We made some after Christmas. Fun – 35 and 50 strand Xmas lights were on sale for a couple of bucks.

    14. Chloe on 31 Jan 2010 at 1:27 am #

      Hi, Rose, I am now using some of the LED short strand lights and they are gorgeous, and they don’t heat up at all.

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