Repurposed wine and beer bottles can be transformed into personalized wind chimes... They make great gifts, and add a wonderful bohemian touch to any porch decor. Try with black and white photos, seed catalogs, or any other special image for a fun family project!No time? Contact Mary or Eddie and we will whip one together for that special person on your gift list:)
Materials:
A clean wine bottle, rinsed and will all labels removed
A cork
Two eye hooks - 1/4 inch each
Jewelers wire
Glass and/or stone beads
A flat bead or pendant as a wind catcher
Images printed on plain white paper
Modge Podge decoupage from a craft store
A bottle cutting kit (about 20$) from a craft store
Small wire cutters
Instructions:
-Using the bottle cutter, follow the provided instructions to remove the bottom from a clean wine bottle.
-Cut your special images and decoupage them onto your bottle. Be sure to use a thick but even coat of decoupage both under and over your images. Images can be layered and overlap each other.
-When the bottle is dry, screw an eye hook into both the top and bottom of your cork, and attach a long (18 inch) piece of wire to each by twisting it tightly,
-Thread one length of the wire through the hole in the top of the bottle and secure the cork back in place. A dab of clear epoxy is useful but not mandatory to secure the cork in the bottle neck.
-String beads along each wire. As you thread them on the wire inside the bottle, be sure to push them up to the top, and make your flat pendant the last bead on the line so that it hangs about 2 to 4 inches below the bottom of the bottle. Form a loop of beads with the wire above the cork to form a hanger for your bottle. Secure both the top and bottom wires by twisting them tightly; to the eye hook for the top loop, and around the wire itself just above the pendant on the bottom.
-A clear coat of spray acrylic is optional for protection, but not necessary.
Hang your personalized bottle in a protected area and enjoy the gentle chime sounds!
