It doesn’t get any easier than this wine bottle with solar lights. This is my contribution for out monthly Thrift Store Decor Project. Surely you can find wine bottles at thrift stores, right? I have a funny story about this wine bottle . . .
During my first year camping, I went to Patoka Lake Indiana with friends. We had spent the afternoon at the beach with the dogs and were really a hot mess. On the way back to the campsite, we stopped off at the winery. Between the three of us we couldn’t come up with much money, and nobody had a credit or debit card on them. The friends went in to “shop” while I stayed in the car with the pups. I don’t drink, and if I did, I’m sure it wouldn’t be wine! The bartender felt so bad for the ladies, she ended up giving them a couple of wine glasses, and opened the bottle for them because I don’t have a corkscrew in the camper.
So, I’ve been holding on to the bottle for the last couple of years. As I was looking for a project, this wine bottle was the easiest to grab. Do you know that blue has always been my favorite color?
When you finish checking out this project, be sure to visit my blog friends to see what they’ve been up to.
How to Remove Wine Bottle Labels
To easily remove the labels on wine bottles, warm them in a 350° oven for about 10 minutes.
I chose to put mine on a baking tray.
While the bottle is still warm, use a flat spatula to pry off the label.
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After using how water and a little goo gone, there was still a small amount of sticky residue. I reached for a sanding sponge and it worked great to remove any remaining residue.
Not really having a plan, I used some craft wire to fashion a handle. I thought it might be better to hang, the solar light wine bottle than rest it on a table. Beside the bottle, you can see the small fairy solar lights that fit the wine bottle. The little rubberized piece is to make it watertight.
Wine Bottle Solar Lights
Initially, I put the piece over the solar light, but when I placed it in the bottle, too much of the gasket was visible.
So, because I didn’t like it being so visible, I placed the gasket in the bottle like this. Then I sort of worked the solar light “cork” into it nice and tight.
I like the way the wire looks around the neck of the solar light wine bottle, but not so wild about how the wire handle looks. These fairy lights have an on and off switch and they charge really well on my covered patio. They don’t necessarily need direct sunlight to charge.
So, on to plan B. I removed the wire and reinstalled the wine bottle solar lights.
Arrange Fairy Lights with Wooden Stick or Skewer
To get the lights situated in the wine bottle, I used a twig to arrange them a little better. You could use a chopstick or a wooden skewer to do this.
I really love the solar lights for outdoors, but if you want to do this indoors, you may want to use battery operated lights for wine bottles.
Wine Bottle Solar Lights Perfect for Weddings
I made this beer bottle solar light project several weeks ago. It's the one sitting on my patio table that allows me to know how easy these lights are to charge. In order to get the lights to light up, I cut a dark colored piece of paper and placed it on the top. That's good to know should you want to use these indoors at a wedding or some other sort of celebration where they may not want to come on due to lighting in the room.
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Thrift Store Projects
Wine Bottle Solar Lights (you are here)
Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.
Cathy
Love this...
Where did you find the stopper? All I saw on Am. was corks.
Thanks,
Cathy
Gail Wilson
Cathy,
If you click the link in the post "small fairy lights" you will see the stopper ones, not cork.
have fun!
gail
Alberta Eiden
Thanks Gail for all the info.
petticoatjunktion
I have to try this. Thanks Gail for the idea!
kristinsalazar597020196
This is super cute, I have some of those lights but they are with a battery, love the solar idea! I keep all of our bottles that are that color, they are so pretty! I didn't know you could take a label off like that either, thanks for the tip!
Gail Wilson
I love solar lights soooo much! I have them all over the backyard and I take them camping with me. So much better than battery lights.
Happy to teach you something new about removing wine bottle labels. š
gail
nurserc
I use one of the long Bic type candle lighters and heat the labels on the bottle up. Then they just peek right off. They also work well to remove prescription labels from their bottles so you can repurpose them.
Gail Wilson
I had no idea!!! I had a sticky label on a picture frame today, I should have tried that!!!
thanks for the tip.
gail
Stormee Heyd
You can also use a hair dryer and a scraper to get the labels off wine bottles. Usually gets most of the residue. Aim the hair dryer at the label (I put the wine bottle in my lap in a towel) and use the scraper (I use a plastic one so I don't scratch the bottle) and it comes right off.
Gail Wilson
Awesome Stormee! Thanks for your input. I'll have to try that sometime.
thanks for stopping by and taking the time to add to the conversation. š
gail
houseofhawthornes
What the heck! I had no idea that's how you took a wine label off! Cute fairy light idea!
Gail Wilson
Yay! Happy you learned something useful Pam!
Thanks for stopping by!
gail