Fun Ways to Reuse Wine Bottles and Corks

Hey, wine lovers! Curious about what you can do with your empty bottles and corks? Surprisingly, there are loads of things you can make — from upcycled glassware to home décor.

Before you peruse our list, note that some of these bottle projects are not for the faint of heart. Some require cutting or drilling holes into the glass. So be sure to wear safety goggles and gloves at all times, and try a few of the simpler projects first if you’re new to working with glass. Remember: Reuse is great, but safety always comes first!

Wine Bottle Bird Feeder

Image courtesy of Zoe-Rochelle

“There are so many interesting ways to give a standard-size glass wine bottle new life,” crafter Ellen Thomas wrote on her blog, The Chilly Dog. While searching for inspiration, Thomas dreamed up this fun and functional bird feeder that she made from a minimally altered large wine bottle. It’s sure to add some funky flair to your backyard.

There is no cutting involved with this project, but you will need to drill a few small holes in the glass, so be cautious.

For step-by-step instructions on how to do it yourself, head to The Chilly Dog.

Wine Bottle Light

Image courtesy of Billie Ward

This darling wine-bottle light from Wit & Whistle blogger Amanda Wright is perfect for adding a touch of alternative chic to your home without spending loads of time or money. Made from an empty wine bottle and a strand of twinkle lights, this project should only cost you a few dollars and is fairly simple to make.

As you can probably guess, you’ll need to drill a hole in your bottle to complete this project. Remember to wear safety gear, and be patient to avoid cracking the glass, Wright advises.

For step-by-step instructions on how to do it yourself, head to Wit & Whistle.

Wine Cork Stamps

Image courtesy of Meghan Hofer

Why shell out your hard-earned dollars on stamps at the craft store when you can make your own from all those leftover wine corks? These cute cork stamps are perfect for adorning gift packages, stationery, or whatever your crafty heart desires.

While you don’t work with glass for this project, it does require some pretty careful cutting work with a crafting scalpel or small blade. So those reminders about safety apply here, too.

Get step-by-step instructions on how to make these from marcellahella on Instructables.

Painted Wine Bottles

Image courtesy of Kat, We Can Re-Do It

If you’re looking to get some reuse out of your wine bottles but aren’t quite ready for cutting or drilling, this is the project for you. In a few simple steps, you can easily embellish your plain glass bottles with a pretty painted design, transforming them into elegant decanters for water, olive oil, and other kitchen essentials. How clever!

Get step-by-step instructions for this fun project from Kat at We Can Re-Do It.

Wine Bottle Tumblers

Image courtesy of re-modern.com

If you’re comfortable cutting glass, give this project a try. Transform glass bottles from your recycling bin into elegant cocktail tumblers in five steps with help from Eddie at Instructables.

You’ll need a glass cutter, gloves, and eye protection for this project. For smoothing the cut edge of the glass, Eddie uses a Dremel tool (be sure to wear a dust mask so you don’t breathe ground glass). Be very careful: The cut edges of the glass are extremely sharp.

If you’re ready to make these for your next at-home happy hour, head to Instructables for the instructions.

Wine Bottle Table Numbers

Image courtesy of Unblushing

A cute idea with zero cutting, these adorable bottle table numbers are sure to be a hit at your next big soiree. This chalkboard paint design from Unblushing is super-versatile — meaning you can easily use these bottles as vases or centerpieces even if you don’t have a wedding or large gathering coming up.

For step-by-step instructions on how to make these yourself, head to Unblushing.

Inverted Bottle Planter

Image courtesy of Haley Pierson-Cox

Made from a cut and inverted wine bottle, this hydroponic planter is a design lover’s dream, perfect for adding a touch of green to desktops and windowsills.

As you may imagine, this is a somewhat advanced project. Blogger Haley Pierson-Cox of The Zen of Making does a great job explaining the process, but if you’re uneasy about working with glass, you may want to keep this one in mind for later down the road, when you’re more familiar with glass cutting.

If you’re up for the challenge, head to Red-Handled Scissors for step-by-step instructions on how you can make it.

Cork Place-card Holders

Image courtesy of Rachael

Take a break from all that advanced glass cutting work with this fun 10-minute project from Hannah Clay Wareham of The Homesteady. Perfect for sit-down dinners, these place-card holders take mere minutes to make and can be easily reused for many gatherings to come.

For step-by-step instructions on how to make these yourself, head to The Homesteady.

Decoupaged Doily Bottles

Image courtesy of Kirstin Therese from Craftiments

By adding a few paper doilies and some decoupage glue, blogger Kirstin Therese of Craftiments transformed her empty wine bottles into dainty vases that are perfect for fresh flowers. The whole process requires minimal effort (and no cutting, for a change), so it’s a great way to repurpose those bottles if you’re feeling a bit nervous about some of the other projects on our list.

For step-by-step instructions on how to do it yourself, head to Craftiments.

Originally published on January 20, 2014, this article was updated in October 2020.