Thank you Bottle Cutting Inc. for sponsoring today’s awesome giveaway package!
So we’re coming up on (American) Thanksgiving, aka, the one day a year when I actually bust out the real napkins and care about creating a beautiful tablescape for my family meal. I have a nice, neutral set that we use for special occasions, but because the linens are such a rare treat – there’s no way I’m dropping $6 on a napkin ring (times each guest) every year – know what I mean? So this year, I’ll show you how to cut a bottle into rings to make your own DIY napkin rings! Super versatile, you can decorate them any way you like, and best of all they cost NOTHING once you’ve got the right tools. Be sure to read all the way to the end of this post to get entered to win a Kinkajou Bottle Cutter Prize Pack!
And what are the right tools, anyway? Well, if you’ve been reading here this year, I have a few projects I’ve made using the Kinkajou bottle cutter and this one will join them as my 5th different kind of project, so if you really enjoy recycled craft projects this tool is a great investment. Here’s what you need:
First, the Kinkajou Bottle Cutting Tool helps you score a totally straight line. That’s what makes the rest of the process easy. You just adjust it to the right size (for these napkin rings, I used the individually-sized wine bottles), and gently rotate your bottle to score all the way around.
Set up your sink to alternate hot and cold water – I found that heating in my coffeemaker was easiest, and running cold water from the tap. Slip the separation rings onto either side of your score line, and add hot water for about 30 seconds, then cold water, alternating back and forth until the two halves separate.
You can continue cutting down the bottle to get your rings, and repeat the process. All you need is enough bottle to be able to rotate. After some trial and error, I recommend starting near the bottom of the bottle and working toward the neck, since you won’t be cutting the neck – it can serve as your hand-hold, allowing you to use more of the bottle.
Sand the rings with sandpaper to eliminate sharp edges. (I use a 100-grit sanding sponge, followed by a 200-grit.) These are smooth enough I trust my 3 year old with them (with about 100 cautions that they ARE still made of glass so they are not toys). But you don’t have to worry about cuts if you sand the edges well!
Next, decorate them however you like! I had planned to stencil mine with glass paints, but I happened to see some lacy stickers on clearance, so for $2, I had PLENTY of patterns to decorate a whole set of rings in literally just seconds.
I love the lace look with the red! And what’s really cool is the “green” aspect – I know Thanksgiving doesn’t particularly bring “conservation” to anyone’s mind, but recycled napkin rings paired with real napkins is a small step in the right direction. Re-use, and recycle.
What do you think? Are you getting ideas how you’d decorate your own set? Or what else you might use a bottle cutter of your own for? Well, get those wheels turning, because Bottle Cutting, Inc. is sponsoring a great prize pack giveaway to a lucky reader!
Someone will win a Kinkajou bottle cutter, a set of Jabiru bottle top stems a replacement cutting wheel and 2 finishing kits. Now, I know I haven’t shown you the Jabiru stems before, but they let you turn your bottle necks upside down to be transformed into instant stemware! You can use both halves of your cut bottles with the Jabiru stems!
U.S. friends and readers can enter now through November 1, 2014 at 11:59 pm EST. Rafflecopter will walk you through all the ways to get your entries in below. Good luck!
I WOULD MAKE THE NAPKIN RINGS FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
Just wanted to say thank you for sharing all your wonderful ideas …this one is right up my alley..?.In my music..I intertwine the use of
.. bottles and types of cuts in the bottles 2 create music…I am a solo flutist.
i love cutting bottles there is so many things u can do with them…they make great holders from your pencils to your jewelry & with the glass paint your options of design are endless !!
What a perfect way to reuse your empties. I am going to try this as soon as I have all the equipment! Thank you for figuring out all the hard stuff.
I would make candle holders.
I would love to light up my bottles with “twinkle” lights!
I want to make the painted jewelry dishes you featured a couple weeks back. I’ve been dreaming of them!
So cute! I’d love to try this some day!
I have dozens of ides in my head for the cutter. I have one by a different brand and have not had a lot of luck with it.
I love your napkin ring idea, Adrianne. That’s probably what I would do, too. I love love love napkin rings, but you’re right – they’re pricey!
Fingers crossed! I want one of these!
Okay, this is what happens when I don’t proof-read first. Let me try this question again. I was wondering If we can apply multiplies times or if we only need to apply the one time?
Thanks
‘
Hi Adrianne, I wasn’t sure if this giveaway allowed up to apply more than once or if I even needed to apply again?
Thanks,
Zonda
Hi Zonda – you can tweet every day for additional entries. If you have done anything else to enter, then once is enough. :) Good luck!!
Napkin rings are such a great idea! Though I also like your idea for candles.
I looked at Pinterest and they have so many cool ideas and we would make glasses out of wine bottles.
Your coffee bean trivets are on my Christmas gift list to make, and now I want a set of these napkin rings for me! I would love to try out this tool.
I have been thinking about making some light fixtures with recycled bottles!
Oh my Goodness! How fun would that be?! Also much safer for cutting bottles than tape and a dremel!
Beautiful napkin rings!!! A bottle cutter has been on my craft wish list. I would make windchimes, I saw beautiful ones made from wine bottles at a craft show .
This is really cool! I envision bangle bracelets and even earrings if I could get the rings small enough…
I would love to make candle holders out of my recycled bottles!
I would make the napkin rings, of course! I would also like to try a lamp shade
I’d make a glass wind chime
I would make some custom vases for Christmas gifts. Those napkin holders are so adorable! Great idea!!
glasses to drink from, candle holders, would love to try the napkin ring holders! great idea :)
I would turn then into candle holders.
I’d be totally uncreative and make glasses. :)
What fun this would be
The rings are beautiful!!!! I’m big on upcycling (especially when creating or decorating) So that kit is the coolest. Can you say hanging lights, custom stemware, and vases? Also, upcycled gifts for everybody! Still have to start with the napkin rings and some fun etching!
I would make candle holders.
I love your napkin rings. I would like to give that a try. I’d also like to make candle holders out of old bottles.
I wanted to make some candle holders and a pendant light now I also want to make these awesome candle rings
napkin rings * is what I meant to write
I’d love to make twinkle fairy lights using my empty bottles.
I just love your napkin rings!! I would certainly make napkins rings….as well as candle holders and fancy make up brush holders. Add some glass etching and you could have some really flower holders. My mind is swimming with Christmas gift ideas!!
I love this idea of glass napkin rings with the simple, yet elegant design! it scares me at the thought of breaking a glass bottle to use it’s pieces but your tutorials make me a little less uneasy.
I want one of these!! They look so neat!!
Oh, I can think of loads of things to make, Vases for cut flowers or small plants, napkin rings, hanging lamps, shot glasses, candle holders, hurricanes. The list goes on and on. And they would make fabulous gifts, since my kids and I love giving handmade things for Christmas, birthdays, etc.
I have been wanting to start cutting glass for quit a while but haven’t been able to afford the ‘right’ tools, so this would be great! I have seen so many projects that can be done with glass cutting, from wind chimes to napkin rings to unlimited possibilities! Thanks for the chance to win! I’ll keep my fingers crosses and my glass bottles ready! =)
Lovely candle holders would be nice.
I would make the napkin rings, very nice. they look so classy
I would LOVE to give bottle cutting a try! There are so many options for projects.
Omg I just love these!!! Thanks for the share ???
Wow, I want one of these Bottle Cutters. I am a fused glass artist this would be a great addition to my workshop! I could make bracelets and fire polish the edges. So… many possibilities.
Wow! Those are really pretty! I can’t believe they used to be bottles!
Oh I’d try my hand at making napkin rings too!
I think I’d make CANDLE holders. :)
I would start with a candle project
I would make them into hanging lamps :)
Love this! What a wonderful idea!
I totally want this to make hanging lights out of bottles! The napkin rings are ADORABLE and I would like to make them as well. So many cool project could be made with this tool!
I love these. They are so cute. Would love to win this kit.
There are so many ideas for bottle cutting that is readily available for you to DIY, I’m not sure which project I want to start on first. Plus as always,the holidays are coming up upon us. Gifts!Gifts!Gifts!
Wow, Adrianne! The napkin rings turned out so pretty, and what a neat tool! Yet another tool that I’ve never heard of that I now need!! :-)
I need this!! I have several cut glass champagne bottles I want to make into drinking glasses!! This bottle cutting system is perfect
Would love to make a bottle lamp or create something iusing the stems tp create jewelry stands