Choosing Bottles

• Choosing the correct size, shape and color of bottle will enhance the project you are creating. Colored glass bottles can be difficult to find in colors other than blue, green and brown. Liquor bottles are available in deep blue and green colors and are sometimes found in nontraditional shapes. Wine bottles can be blue, brown and green. Tea bottles, such as those from Snapple, are clear and a nice size for some projects. Choose bottles where the label and glue are easy to completely remove.
  
  

Projects

• The most common use for recycled bottles is decorative vases. Some bottles come with long necks, which make nice vases for long-stemmed flowers. Decorative vases are a nice gift and the bottles can have decoupage attached or painted to match the receiver's interests.
  
  Lighted bottles are made by choosing a wide bottle that will fit a string of 20 or 50 Christmas lights inside. Drill a hole on the lower backside, out of which the cord and plug will hang. Use a drill bit for glass and drill a hole that is approximately 3/4 inch in size. The outside of the bottle can be painted in winter or Christmas themes. Some examples are snowflakes, Christmas bulbs, or speckled snow with evergreen trees. After the paint is dry, spray with a sealer. Gently push the lights through the hole in the bottom, with the cord and plug hanging out. Try white lights in a blue bottle painted with snow and snowflakes.
  
  Wide-mouth bottles are nice containers for decorative potpourri. The outside of the bottle or jar can be decorated with paint or etchings. A matching ribbon is nice accent at the top of the bottle. Potpourri is available in many scents and can be visually enhanced with shaped buttons or beads mixed through.
  
  Paint shaped bottles for use as storage containers, desk sets or decorations. Add a fitting cork to the top to finish the decorated piece.