DIY: Christmas Lights in a Bottle

bottle christmas lights twinkle DIY - Christmas Lights in a Bottle tutorial featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

bottle christmas lights twinkle DIY - Christmas Lights in a Bottle tutorial featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

The other day, I wrote about attempting to drill through glass and I finished up the project this weekend. I think it turned out beautifully — I love the idea of bottled light thanks to Christmas Lights in a bottle!

These would be pretty by a wintery window or under an entry table. I like the way the gold paint makes the bottom of the bottles look misty and glow-y, even during the daytime.

bottle christmas lights twinkle DIY - Christmas Lights in a Bottle tutorial featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

I’ve got a ton of images and DIY instructions below if you’d like to try this too.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN A BOTTLE TUTORIAL

I started with these apple juice bottles. I have long admired these bottles — I love the contrast of the big round barrel and the teeny little handle — and was glad to finally come up with a project where I could use them. The juice is good too! I got impatient waiting for the family to finish up the contents, so I had my oldest son pour what was left into another pitcher, then I washed out the inside.

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Next, for my Christmas lights in a bottle project, I used my handy mini scraper tool to take off the label. This tool is basically a straight edge razor blade with a handle. When you’re done using it, you can flip the blade upside down so the sharp part is hidden in the handle. Such a useful tool! I use it to take sticky things off windows and other glass — no chemicals required.

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Once the bottle was clean and label free, it was time to drill through the glass. We used a 3/8″ drill bit designed for glass and tile. The drilling takes a little while — maybe 20 minutes — because you can’t go too fast. The drilling will create white dust (I guess it’s technically sand) and as the hole gets bigger, it will smoke a bit from the heat.

[UPDATE: Hah! Apparently I did it all wrong. Lots of readers are chiming in with suggestions for safer and easier and faster ways to do this. Among other things, suggestions include wearing a mask, drilling while using water to cool the bit, and using other tools entirely.]

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Next we painted. I experimented with some old jam jars and baby food jars first to try different techniques — like paint dripped from plastic spoons. But the kids voted and liked the sponged look best, so that’s what we did for the final project.

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I used a disposable sponge brush and Liquid Leaf paint — but any metallic enamel paint should work. The paint is not water-cleanup, so a disposable brush is great for this project. I only needed a little bit of paint to get the coverage I wanted. Instead of brushing the paint on, I was mostly “patting” into place.

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Once the paint was dry (it dries very quickly), we started stuffing our Christmas lights in the bottle. You’ll need a 50 light string that is not made to connect end-to-end. We had the hardest time finding lights like this. We went to 4 stores, but they all carried only end-to-end lights (which are the kind I prefer for my Christmas tree). Finally, I tried to think of who might carry old-school Christmas lights and Big Lots came to mind — because they often carry items from last season. Hooray! They had just what we needed.

bottle christmas lights twinkle DIY - Christmas Lights in a Bottle tutorial featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

The lights fit through one at a time, but it was a bit tight — I would recommend using a slightly larger drill bit and the light stuffing would go much faster. Oscar and Maude loved this part the best. Stuff every light on the string in, and the plug will dangle out the back, ready to find an outlet.

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And that’s it! The Christmas lights in a bottle are a very satisfying project and a fun addition to our holiday decor. Though really, these don’t have to be holiday at all. We could use these for any sort of event where we want a little glow-y light happening. Maybe we need to have a party where bottled light is the theme. : )

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340 thoughts on “DIY: Christmas Lights in a Bottle”

  1. 51 Lynn September 14, 2012 at 1:04 pm
    I really like this idea.My husband used to make beautiful lights from the glass blocks he would get at the hardware stores. He would put clay on the side where the hole was to be and had a tiny stream of water dripping and would drill the hole. It may become hot. Stop and let it cool. I would insert the lights and make a beautiful bow. I added stems of flowers, holiday decorations, little baby gifts, etc, use your imagination, inserted into the bows and they would hang over. I gave about 20 as gifts. I have to make the jug now.

  2. I am so excited to see that I have the same exact drill! I just need to buy the bit!
    Thanks for this tutorial. No glass is safe near me!

  3. I also drill bottles. I have only drilled wine bottles and liquer bottles. I found a diamond tip drill bit at Lowes and use a drill press. I also broke many bottles before I kindof found something that worked best. I spray the hole as I am drilling with a water bottle and that keeps it from getting too hot and breaking on me. I have seen some who have immersed the bottle as well. It also only takes a couple of minutes instead of 20. Just a little tip for you:-)

  4. Loved this site. I make bottles with lights, but have not done the drilling into them. I have the cord coming out of the top and then decorating the cord. But I do like your way and will have to try that.

  5. I had someone give me me one of these in a wine bottle with the label still on it. I love it and want to try doing the same thing. Thank you for the instructions.

  6. Another version of this is to use a jar instead of a jug and put a string of lights in with potpourri. The lights head the potpourri to release the fragrance. And you use lace instead of the lid, so this is best done with mason jars.

  7. i also add potpourri threw the top hole of the bottles and with the lights warming the potpourri the aroma fills the house :)

  8. If you wet a sponge and hold it near the hole it will not dust and bottle is less likely to crack. I did stained glass for a few years and the sander had a base with water so the glass didn’t crack.

  9. It is great fun and beautiful. I have done it for years, I use a glass bit in a drill press that has water running over it, and that is right the sand is really glass. I always wear a mask and glasses and gloves. No matter how careful you are once in a while one is going to break. So if you have children helping, be sure they are properly protected. But have fun with it, it is worth it.

  10. Just a thought… Why post all of the lights through. Just take the plug off and post plug end wire through. Then put plug back on. Simple.

  11. Hi. I have just come across this on Pinterest I cannot wait to try it. I have been collecting wine bottles and forcing myself to drink the winery be ready for Christmas. I am grateful for all the other hints too so off to Bunnings tomorrow for my diamond tip drill bits and my eye protection. Thanks for inspiring me try something moderately creative for the first time in about 15 years. Plus I get to drink the wine first!!
    Trish

  12. I saw this link through Pintrest and really wanted to attempt this. I followed the tutorial step by step but I was disappointed when I realized the 3/8″ drill bit did not create a large enough hole for the lights to pass through. I know further down in the tutorial you stated a larger hole would make stuffing the lights go quicker but I think the larger hole is needed to fit the lights through at all. I would suggest moving that part to the top part of the tutorial where you discuss the drill bit size needed. I just think that might be a better place for people to really take that thought into consideration when deciding how large of a drill bit to purchase :) Thanks for sharing this great idea though!

  13. Much easier method of removing labels. Immerse object in warm soapy water and let soak for 10 minutes. Then, simply rub over label with sponge and voila! Label removed!

  14. If you will put a piece of tape over the area you are going to drill it will keep all the glass dust from getting on you, and if it cracks or shatters it won’t be as dangerous,

  15. I’ve done this with those huge, kinda but not really homely, thick green & clear glass vases. I didn’t drill a hole though, I threaded it out the top and down the back. At night that was our “night light” I used the blinky colored lights too. I got so many compliments on my vases with lights in them.
    I want to try Millie’s idea with the cork. I dont have a drill, but I am sure i can get one of my pals with tools to drill a few cool larger bottles for me :)

  16. Im so surprised you got through the bottle with that kind of a bit, Have you tried it on wine bottles? I was doing them for awhile and they were very hard to get through and the bit I had was a special glass one and I had a drill press also. Very nice job.

  17. My ex mother in law and I did this ten years or so ago but we added some strong fresh potpourri. When the lights heated up out came the smell and everyone loved them. The opening needs to be larger but a mason jar works well and cover with a doily or fabric lid You can change the potpourri frequently to keep it fresh but it looks so pretty when the potpourri has larger flowers and such and the lights accent it all. I still have mine and change out the potpourri and light it up!!

  18. HI – WOW WHAT AN AWESOME IDEA – I REALLY LOVE THE WAY YOU EXPLAIN EACH STEP/INSTRUCTIONS/ITEMS USED TO CREATE THE LIGHTED BOTTLE – THANKS SO MUCH I AM GOING TO LOOK @YOUR OTHER PROJECTS AS WELL. I AM KINDA CRAFTY – BUT I HAVE TO LOOK @OTHER THINGS TO GET IDEAS – THANKS AGAIN –

  19. You live in the French countryside? I live in France and none of those stores/products are available where I live. The project was interesting and simple. It’s fun to learn about fabulous and inexpensive ways to be festive.

  20. We used a diamond tip drill bit and secured the bottle using a drill press, also, we took putty and created a small ‘well’ around the area we were going to drill and poured coolant into it, and drilled THROUGH the coolant and by doing that we did over 20 bottles and didn’t have a single one break on us. Definitely use safety goggles and wash the bottles AS SOON as you are done to get the coolant off.

  21. My parents adn I have been making “lamps” like these for years! They are beutiful. Some other good tips are adding a small amount of tinsel (the kind on a string you wrap around a tree), it looks really cool as it reflects the christmas lights inside, adn is a good way to add some color. Also, a small amount of glitter on the inside looks really neat too. Just some fun ideas. Also, certain plastic wrapping papers that are colored but translucent as well as ones that are mettalic and reflective look really neat in these as well.

  22. Also, using the round globes from ceiling lights and simply turning them upside down with the lights inside look great too!! Clear or colored ones work best, but white ones look neat too. It’s simple and quick while still visually pleasing and creative! Vases can also be used this way, once you’ve got the idea, the posibilities are endless. I

  23. I have made a bunch and the easier way to avoid over heating and the glass shards is to make a ring out of plumbers putty and full with water. Make it about 1 inch high on all sides. This keeps the glass from flying and also cools the blade and glass. Lastly when it drains into the bottle stop every minute or so and add a little water to the glass and blade to cool. Try and enjoy

  24. My boyfriend builds glass buildings & they use antifreeze instead of the cool water. He says it works much better.

  25. Love these!! Great idea!!

    Suggest putting a piece of tape (Sellotape or whatever sticks best to the bottle) where you are going to drill to stop the bit “skating”.

    And definitely wear goggles, long sleeves and a dust mask…silicosis is deadly.

    Bless
    B :) x

  26. Hi, am I the only one whose thought it would be a whole (pun intended) lot easier to thread the wire bit you attach to the plug through the top and then out the bottom AND then shove all the bulbs down the top? …….

  27. PLEASE, PLEASE use the diamond bits instead of the “arrowhead” type! They work much faster, create less heat, give you a cleaner hole, and rarely break the glass. They cost more but are well worth it. You just have to start them at a 45 degree angle then slowly tip them to a 90 degree angle from the glass. As with the arrowhead it is VERY important to keep both the glass and the bit wet and cool. When there is too much heat it is a sure bet the glass will break. Spritz the area with water as you are drilling and stop now and then to dip the bit in water to cool it. Go SLOW and let the bit do its work. I have worked in a tool dept.for years and have helped many, many people with these projects. If you want to use your Dremel they now make a 1/8 and 1/4 inch diamond bit for drilling glass. Not big enough for lights but useful for other projects.

  28. I have been selling lighted wine and whiskey bottles on eBAy for several years. My husband does the drilling but I do know how to do it. He started out the way discribed here but broke a lot of bottles and wasn’t satisfied with the results. We now use a drill press and he made a wooden cradle form to hold the bottles. We use diamond core drill bits and a solution that cools the glass as we drill. The core drill bits come in different sizes and we use a 5/8″ one for the Christmas lights. We make a circular dam out of modeling clay, pressing it down onto the bottle, to keep the solution in place where we are going to drill. Steady pressure for a few seconds and then release, repeat until it cuts through. Usually only takes a couple minutes. It would be good to wear protective eye and hand gear.

  29. If you use a battery drill you can put it under water to drill about the only bottle I could not drill was beer bottles they are too thin

  30. If the only lights you find are with plugs on both ends, do you think you could start with the middle of the strand, and put them in that way so that the two plugs are sticking out the hole? If so, this would allow a few bottles to be connected.

  31. Interesting, I’ve never seen the actual lights threaded in through the drilled hole before!

    When I did mine I threaded a string through the bottle and pulled the cable into the bottle and OUT of the drilled hole, then all the lights simply went into the much larger regular hole at the top!

    I was re-wiring mine as I had just moved country and so the plug etc was coming off anyways.

    I have another lovely blue sherry bottle waiting until I pick up a set of lights to have another go, thanks for reminding me!
    Stay well

  32. When drilling through glass it’s best to have running water running over the spot that you’re drilling through. Also use eye protection and a mouth and nose shield if you have one. It’s not good to enhale. The project is very cute though!

  33. Just an extra thought…
    For those that want this effect but are not too sure about all the drilling and hazards/dangers that might accompany this project might want to read on.

    I have also done this using larger mouth jars and there is no need to drill through the glass at all if you buy Battery Operated Lights.

    The battery packs are not that big and can even fit through some smaller mouthed jars or jugs

    They have the lights in clear, single colors or multi~colored strands.
    Some have 25 or 50 lights per strand.

    A simple hook shape on the end of something like a metal coat hanger can be used to fish out the packs at the end of the night so they may be switched off.

    Both ways (drilling or the above choice) look fantastic and my goal here is to open the opportunity to those that might not want to try drilling…Not to discredit the original authors wonderful idea in any way.

  34. Check at a local bar if you want some really pretty bottles most of them tend the throw them away… The liquor companies spend a lot of time and money on these bottles. All different shapes colors and sizes.

  35. It was suggested to me by a women who has been working with stain glass for years, to put ice cubes in the bottle to keep it cool while you are drilling. (I haven’t tried it yet)

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