While wine tasting in the Dundee area, my friend Dana and I noticed these candles made from cut wine bottles. I figured there must be an easy DIY approach to the project, so I set out to peruse Pinterest. I pinned a link for DIY bottle cutting that used simple things from home – yarn, nail polish remover, and a candle. After many, many, many unsuccessful tries using this method, we gave up and took to the internet to find a solution. That solution was the Generation Green Bottle cutter. With a few clicks on Amazon, we ordered the bottle cutter and set out on a different path. After reading the reviews, we knew that there would be some failures and it would take some practice, but we moved forward optimistically. The process starts with scoring the bottle and then alternately dunking it into boiling water and ice water until the bottle breaks along the score. We triumphantly cut the first test bottle and set forth with the actual wine bottles. We had success with 3 wine bottles and then it was downhill from there. We suspect that the thickness of the bottles may have had an effect on the success rate. After 9 subsequent failures, we decided to move on to candle making. We bought a block of wax because it was a good value. However this created a lot of work for us because we had to break it up into smaller pieces. Using a hammer, we took turns smacking the block of wax until we had small enough pieces to melt. Once the hard work was complete, the act of melting wax, adding scent, and pouring was a snap. Lessons learned – 1. use jars that are already the size you want (you can always decorate them) 2. Purchase wax that is already chipped into smaller pieces 3. And finally, DRINK MORE WINE! If you are going to cut your own bottles, you will need a lot of them with a failure rate of 75%!
Bottles ready to go
Yarn soaking in nail polish remover and string/candle ready to go
The Generation Green Bottle Cutter
First bottle scored
The boiling water/ ice water dunking set-up
Successful break along the score
Unsuccessful break of one of the thicker bottles
Setting and prepping the wicks
Melting the wax to the exact temperature
First pour of the hot wax
Wax setting
The finished candles
So drink more wine! Cheers!
Flirting with Creativity 