Incorporate Wine Crafts Into Your Holiday Decorating

With Thanksgiving over, it’s officially acceptable to put up your holiday decorations!  We all know that nothing gets you more into the holiday spirit than putting up your own and seeing other people’s decorations.  The lights, the sounds, and the creativity make the holidays fun and exciting for all of us.  Spruce up your holiday decorating with these crafts that incorporate wine bottles and corks:

1.  Snowball Wine Bottle Vases

This stunning craft makes a great centerpiece for your holiday parties!  

Materials:

• 3 wine bottles
• Primer
• Epsom salt
• Craft bond spray adhesive
• Silver platter
• Ornaments
• Votives

Instructions:

1.  Gather 3 bottles.  One should be a bit taller than the other 2.

2.  Spray a coat of primer on them.

3.  Let them dry and get out the Epsom salt.

4.  Spray the bottles with some craft bond spray adhesive.
5.  Roll the tacky bottle in some Epsom salt.

6.  Place the bottles on a silver platter.  Also spread some extra Epsom salt around the tray.  Place a few small silver balls along with 3 votives.  Inside the wine bottles, stick in some silver picks from Michael’s.

Craft courtesy of: http://www.favecrafts.com/Wine-Bottle-Crafts/Snowball-Wine-Bottle-Vases#

2.  Holiday Wine Toppers

Get them off your rack and make them an integral part of your decorations! 

Materials:

• Reindeer and Santa/tree bottle-topper templates
• Scissors
• Double-sided tape
• Felt in a variety of colors (red, white, green, peach, brown, and black)
• Fabric glue
• Binder clips

Instructions:

1.  Print template and cut out template shapes and assemble.  Apply glue to bottom of ear shapes; pinch together and hold until set. (Tip: Use a binder clip as a "clamp" to hold felt while glue dries.)

2.  Insert ears into vertical slits on head; insert antlers into horizontal slits.  Apply glue on the back side of head piece to secure ears and antlers.

3.  Run a line of glue along edge of head shape where marked; attach to adjacent edge to create cone.  Apply glue to bottom tip of cone and fold over to create nose.

4.  Run a line of glue along the edge of the neck shape where marked, and attach to opposite straight edge to create an open cone. 

5.  To attach head to neck, line up top corner point of head with seam on neck.  Apply glue, hold to set.  Fold head down at a 90-degree angle; apply glue on top edge of neck, and press together.

6.  If desired, cut a 1/2-inch strip from felt and fringe both ends with scissors to make a scarf.  Tie scarf around reindeer's neck. 

Craft originally from http://www.marthastewart.com/872942/holiday-wine-toppers

3.  Wine Cork Christmas Wreath

Use old wine corks to make this festive and beautiful holiday wreath!

Materials:

• 1 large wooden wreath support and 1 small one
• Metal wire
• Champagne colored (or whatever color) glitter
• Mod Podge + brushes to apply
• Hot glue gun + glue
• Red decorative fillers
• Optional: Vine leaves + ornamental flower + ornamental gold grape
• Ribbon

Instructions:

1.  Apply Mod Podge all over both wooden wreath frames, then generously apply the glitter all over the Mod Podge to cover up the entire surface.  Let dry for at least one hour.

2.  Once the glitter has set onto the Mod Podge, apply a layer of Mod Podge OVER the glitter, which will keep it from falling everywhere in your house.  Let dry again.

3.  Now take the wire and weave it into one of the holes (pre-existing) to attach the smaller ring to the larger ring.  Now arrange your corks and decorative fillers (without glue) to preview the spacing you will need between each cork.  For the small ring, I used 12 corks and the smallest size fillers I found in the bag.  When you are happy with the arrangement, apply the corks and fillers, one at a time, with hot glue.  Do the same for the large ring.  Let everything dry at least one hour before handling.

4.  Now is the time to attach all of your decorative elements.  Finally, attach the ribbon by passing it through the red wire from step 3.  Make sure you make a loop large enough to hang your wreath at the proper height.

Craft from: http://www.wineandcork.blogspot.com/search/label/DIY%20craft%20Christmas

4.  Lighted Wine Bottles

Materials:

• Empty wine bottles
• WD-40
• Goggles
• Gloves
• Drill
• Drill bit set
• Sealant
• Strands of holiday lights

Instructions:

1.  Gather several empty wine bottles and corks.  Wash the bottles inside and out with hot, soapy water.  Any glue residue from the label can be removed with a penetrating oil spray like WD-40.

2.  Make a simple wooden V-shaped fixture to hold the bottle while drilling.

3.  Wearing eye protection and work gloves, slowly and carefully drill a hole 1 to 2 inches up from the bottom of each bottle using a 1/2-inch drill bit designed for glass.

4.  Rinse bottle to remove any glass particles.  Add lights.  For each bottle, you need a single-plug strand of 20-25 lights.  Feed the non-plug end into the drilled hole, leaving a length of cord extending from the opening.

Project courtesy of: http://www.freshhomeideas.com/diy-projects/holiday-projects/how-to-make-...

Enjoy your new holiday decorations!