" A Cause for Celebration" Wine Rack

As a twenty one year old senior in college trying to balance a seemingly endless amount of school work along with a full-time job and internship, it is not uncommon that I find myself wanting to pull out my hair. Therefore it's no surprise either that I rely on the things I enjoy most to get me through the days that make me want to scream at the top of my lungs into a pillow. Fortunately I have been lucky enough to recognize a newfound passion that allows me to find solace in simplicity, turning trash into treasure. As my eco-consciousness grows in an environmentally unstable world, I find myself wondering what I can do to evoke change. For me that change has come in the form of repurposing and reclaiming the potential of forgotten goods.This first design piece came to me as I salvaged through the remains of my neighbor's dilapidated barn. Each find provoked the need to produce something purposeful and creative. With the anticipation of my parent's 30th anniversary, I saw the perfect chance to capitalize on my salvages. After all it ultimately meant a cheap gift and as a student my financial situation was about as unstable as the old barn's rickety foundation. No convenient gift card or last minute attempt to find a gift would suffice this year, I had to set the bar for my siblings. Even more importantly was the need to celebrate my mom's hard fought battle with breast cancer and her relentless effort to successfully rid herself of the disease. It was hard to imagine going through such a challenge, but I knew that if I had done so a celebratory glass for wine would be both timely and well-deserved. That's when I decided to build my mother and father a recycled wine rack to celebrate their commitment to one another, each other's health and life in general as we have all learned to not take what we have for granted. Unfortunately their anniversary celebration was cut short when my father was unexpectedly diagnosed with a rare form of cancer days later and was left with a poor prognosis. Within a week his life was left in the steady hands of the surgical team working vigorously for over thirteen hours to reclaim his life. After a three week coma, intensive care round the clock, and a host of complications he found the strength to overcome. In the last few days he has gratefully returned home where our family is working to rebuild with the knowledge that we can revive times that seem lost into times we can treasure. This wine rack serves as a testament to the resilient bond our family has and our ability to see value in moments we wish we could throw away. As the old adage goes “life is too short to drink bad wine” and although our wine may not be the sweetest or most sought it will always be toasted with positive thoughts.

DIY Reuseable Rapid Wine Chiller

Step 1: Make the form

The form could be made from anything large enough and sturdy enough to stand up to reuse. I used a 2 liter Dew bottle. 

1. Cut the bottle in half to give yourself working room (this first cut can be rough) 

2. Trim the edges of the soda bottle bottom so that you have a 4 inch tall container. 

3. Buff the edges with a nail file. 

4. Fill the container with water. 

5. Select a glass or a beaker that is the same size as your wine bottle (if your freezer is big enough you can use a wine bottle). 

6. Fill the glass, or beaker, with something for weight (you could use water, or dried beans; dried beans are better because once the mold is frozen you can dump the beans out, and fill the beaker with hot water so it will release easier).

Step 2: Remove the form

1. Remove the form (you may need to fill the beaker with hot water). 

2. Lightly coat the interior of the mold with salt*.

3. Insert your to-be-chilled wine bottle.

4. Add just enough water* to fill the space between the ice and the bottle.

5. Spin bottle for two to three minutes.

• The addition of salt and water enhances the cooling ability of the ice. Seriously, within three minutes you'll have nicely chilled wine.

P.S. You should never chill Scotch--never!

Wine Glass Collars

Step 1: What you will need

You will need:

a rotary cutter

cutting mat

scissors

assorted paper (e.g. wallpaper, comics, maps, magazines)

Step 2: Cutting the paper

              Use the rotary cutter to make a circle the size of the base of your wine glass

Step 3: Nearly done

            In the same circle you have just cut out, make a small circle (the size of the stem of the wine glass).

Now make a straight cut from the outer edge of the circle to the inner circle

Step 4: Collartastic!

               Add your collar to your wine glass - you're done!

Informational Wine Tags

Step 1: Print and trim

Print from pdf on card stock, trim and punch hole

Hang these on your wine bottles, red ribbon for red wine, silver or white ribbon for white. Print extras for all the wine you’ll receive as gifts.

Now, if a guest doesn’t quite know what they might like, all they have to do is read the tag and try it...and then try another, and another...

If the jpgs aren't clear enough, email me and I'll send you a hi-res pdf.
lindafacci@yahoo.com

Write-On Wine Glass Tags

Step 1: Supplies

Cardstock in your favorite color or design*

Large circle cutter or punch -- 2" to 2.5" (you can also trace your circle and cut these out by hand)

Small circle cutter or punch -- 3/4"

Scissors

Optional: stamps, stickers, shaped hole punches, etc.

*You can also use computer art and place an array of different designs on your paper before you cut your circles.

Step 2: Method

              Use your large circle cutter to cut as many disks as you'll need.

With your small circle cutter, cut a hole about 1/4" from one edge, centered, as shown.

Use your scissors to cut a slit  through the middle of the narrowest part of the paper.

If desired, decorate your tags with stamps, stickers, etc., leaving an open spot for guests to write down their names.  If your tags are heavily patterned or made from dark or black paper, consider providing a paint pen for writing names.

Wine Cork Necklace

Step 1:

          Take your cork and poke a hole into it. I used a pumpkin carving tool for this. Insert your wire into the hole.

Step 2:

           Take your eye screw and screw it into one end, put your finishing nail in the other end.

Step 3:

          Start wrapping the wire around in a criss cross pattern. I was lucky as my cork came with a criss cross pattern already inked on it! When you get to the nail wrap the wire around once, when you get the eye screw do the same thing and wrap it around once. Then hang on a chain when done.

Don't forget to check out my blog! http://bonafideboho.blogspot.com/

DIY Decorative Wine Glasses

          A cheap set of wine glasses can be dressed up with some craft-store glass paint! Simply paint swirls around the bottom and the best part of this project, imperfection is encouraged! It looks so personalized.

Our article includes several other great ways to do up your wine glasses! Check it out here: http://wp.me/p2eORA-vl