How to Decorate Trees With Glass Bottles & Insulators

A bottle tree is a form of folk art that has grown in popularity as a landscape accessory. The practice of making bottle trees is rooted in superstitious beliefs about the ability of glass bottles to capture or repel bad spirits. But today even people who are not familiar with these traditions enjoy displaying colorful glass bottles, especially blue ones, as sun catchers on a tree. Because it is a work of art, there are several ways to make a bottle tree. Consider the basic guidelines, and then use your own judgment as you create an eye-catching piece for your yard or garden.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears or small saw
• Colored glass bottles
• Glass insulators

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Cut all the leaves off an existing small tree with the pruning sheers or small saw. Cut off most of the thin branches, the ones too small to hold a glass bottle.

   • 2

     Select the smallest branches and cover them with glass insulators. Simply cap branches with the insulators by sticking the insulator holes onto the branch ends. Space the insulators evenly around the tree for a balanced look.

   • 3

     Place bottles on the tree by turning them over and sliding the bottle openings onto tree branches pointed upward. Select branches that are strong enough to hold the bottles. Cover as many branch ends as possible with bottles. You can always add more bottles as you get them.