How To Make Cheap & Easy Flower Vases

by Karen Ekstrom

Cut your old glass bottles and use them as vases, cups, pots, lamps… etc. You name it! We will show you DIY tips on how to cut them, and then decorate them as vases. 

By Karen and Mary Claire Ekstrom 

Materials 

Bottle Cutting Kit (Can be found at any local craft store)

Ice

Flat Head Screwdriver (If you want to adjust the bottle cutting height)

Sandpaper

Lighter or Matches

Desired Bottle(s)

Cutting Directions

Roll bottle on cutter with medium pressure.

A slight etch will cut perfectly, so try to make the slight etch in ONE REVOLUTION on the cutter.

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Hold the etch over a candle flame, and slowly rotate 3-4 times until etching is an opaque black all around.

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Stand up the bottle, and immediately rub an ice-cube around the burned etch.

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Rub until a crack appears, or until etch appears to be glowing.

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 With an ever-so-slight tug, the top should come loose. If it does not, repeat the burning and cooling of the etch.

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Sand the top and edges until smooth.

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Then, submerge bottles in warm, soapy water for at least two hours. The longer you let them soak, the easier it will be to remove the labels. When it comes time to remove the labels, peel as much as you can off with your fingers. Then, use a knife or vegetable peeler to remove any extra gunk. If the bottles are really old and dusty, I would advise also running them through the dishwasher after this step.

Turn Those Cut Bottles into Vases

Materials

Cut bottles

Hot glue gun

Raffia

Flowers

Water

Wine bottle box (if transporting)

Directions

Twist a few strands raffia into ropes of 1/2 inch diameter.

Tie twisted raffia around the top of your cleaned and cut bottles. Hot glue the knot in place on the glass.

Wait five minutes for hot glue to dry.

Cut desired flowers according to height of the vase.

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Pour water into vase, and place flowers inside.

Move the vase to the wine bottle box for transporting.

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Finally, show them off at the party!

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2 comments

Jo August 28, 2015 - 10:34 am

Loved, Loved, LOVED these vases on the tables at Rachel’s rehearsal dinner!!! It was impossible to tell that they had previously been bottles, they looked like custom-designed vases. With the colorful flowers they perfectly fit the casual chic vibe of her wedding. They were awesome!!

Reply
Karen Ekstrom August 28, 2015 - 11:22 am

Oh my… flattery will get you EVERYWHERE! Rachel’s wedding was fabulous! You did a great job and deserve a fabulous vacation… so you can recover! (Why is it the bride and groom get a vacation and the parents don’t???)

Reply

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