Rustic Glass Bottle Chandelier

I made this chandelier because I have been collecting glass bottles and I needed some kind of lighting for the loft in my barn.

Read ALL instructions before getting supplies and starting project.

Step 1: Gather Materials and Tools

To start this project you need the right materials, I found most of these at home but you might need to buy a few of them.

Materials:

• 10-15 empty glass beer bottles
• Thick twine
• Corks
• Long branch or piece of wood
• Fairy lights (optional)

Tools:

• Bucket or large plastic container
• Baking soda
• Wool steel or sponge
• Large and deep pan or stove-proof bowl
• Large bowl
• Glass cutter (generation g is a good brand)
• Boiling water
• Icy cold water
• Sand paper
• Hot glue
• Miter saw
• Screw driver
• Thick drill bit

Step 2: Prepare and Cut Bottles.

1. To start off we need to remove the labels and the residue off of the bottles. Fill your large plastic container with warm water and add a lot of baking soda.
2. Let it soak for at least 20 minutes.
3. Try to peel the labels and use your steel wool to scrub off the residue.
4. Use your glass cutter to score your bottle near the bottom.*
5. Dip your bottle into nearly boiling water and then into icy cold water (this will weaken the bottle to actually break it).
6. If the hot and cold water does not completely break the bottle use something to tap the inside of the bottle and finish the breaking process.
7. Use your sand paper to smooth the edges of the bottle so that the bottles don't break as easily or hurt people.

*Note: There are other ways of breaking glass bottles nicely, and there are clearer more precise instructions on other websites as well if you do not have a glass cutter.

Step 3: String Bottles With Corks.

1. Tie the thick twine around a cork and cut a lot of excess twine (enough to be able to tie to the branch).
2. Hot glue the knots. Also hot glue the sides of the knots so that they don't slip.
3. String the twine with the cork tie on, into the cut bottles so that the cork holds the bottle.
4. Tie the string to a horizontal bar, the back of a bench, or something like that, to test and see if the cork will hold the bottle.

Step 4: Prepare and Drill Through Branch.

1. Get your branch.
2. Cut off the ends with the Miter saw if you want to.
3. Measure your branch and mark it at a constant interval, depending on how many bottles you want hanging from it.
4. Test some drill bits and test to see which one works better with your twine.
5. Using the best fit drill bit drill holes through the entire branch at the marks you made.
6. Blow away any debris.

Step 5: String Bottles Through Branch.

1. Tie the ends of the branch to two different chairs.
2. String the bottles through the holes and tie big knots.
3. Do this to all of the bottles, you can vary the length or keep them the same, it's really all up to you.
4. Get a piece of twine that is longer than your branch and tie a knot under the knot of one of the bottles on the end.
5. To make sure that the bottles can't fall wrap the long piece of twin under every knot and tie is at the last one.

Step 6: Decorate!

1. Use hot glue and twine to wrap around the bottles for a unique decorative touch.
2. Do this to all of the bottles if you want to.
3. Wrap your lights around the entire thing.
4. Hang it where you want to use it.