Yesterday I decided I wanted to make some simple DIY wooden tags for wine glasses, also known as wine glass charms. My goal was to use what I had on hand. For this project, I needed the following:
Supplies
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- Inkjet printer
- wax paper, computer paper, scissors & spray glue or double-sided tape
- clear protective spray
- twine or string
- chop saw & drill with 1/8″ drill bit
- paint sticks &/or lath*
*Lath is my go-to wood for the base of my trays, so I always have scraps on hand. It’s similar to a 1×2, but only 3/8″ thick instead of 3/4″. Alternatively, you can make your lath out of a 2×4, ripping 3/8″ strips x 1 1/2″.
Hello! I’m Lisa from The Old Tree Cottage. When I’m not dreaming up ideas to share with you, I’m working on My DIY Cottage.
Let’s start this party with some DIY wooden tags for wine glasses!
Now I’m not saying you should or shouldn’t have a glass of wine while you work on these wine glass tags (once you’re done with the chop saw, of course). But if you are, wine is best had with friends! Can you say craft party?
1. Cutting the wood for the tags
This tutorial has two sizes of tags because there are two sizes of wood to choose from. Of course, you can always do both sizes!
Option 1: Paint sticks
- Cut paint stick 1 1/8″ long. This will give you a piece 1 1/8″ x 1 1/8″.
Option 2: Lath
- When using lath, sand the front of the wood until it’s smooth before you cut. It’s much easier to do it this way than to sand little pieces after cutting them.
- Cut the lath 1 1/2″ long. This will give you a piece 1 1/2″ x 1 1/2″.
2. Sand the wood
Once you’ve cut the wood, sand the edges on both sides of the wooden tags.
3. Download the mirror image graphics for the wooden wine glass tags
- If you’re using paint sticks, download these mirror image graphics.
- Download these mirror image graphics if you use the lath for the wine glass tags.
4. Get the wax paper ready for printing
I prefer to use a light coat of spray glue to attach the wax paper to the computer paper because I can reuse the computer paper. If you prefer, you can use two-sided tape. If you have neither, make the wax paper smaller than the computer paper and use scotch tape.
- Attach the wax paper to the computer paper and trim it to the same size as the computer paper.
- Print out your graphic in black and white.
- Carefully remove the printed graphic from the computer. If you touch the ink, it will smudge.
5. Transfer the wax paper to the wooden wine glass tags
The ink will smear if you touch it or move the transfer once you’ve placed it on the wood. In the free download, you’ll see that I’ve included a frame around each graphic. It’s intended as a guide in order to place the transfer onto the wood. I recommend you cut one graphic and then transfer it instead of cutting out all of them at the start.
- Trim the graphic similar to the above photo in order to have room for your hands to hold it without touching the wet ink.
- With the ink side facing down, line black border just past the edges. Before it touches the wood, hover it over the wood tag to ensure it will be placed correctly.
- Gently place it on the wood making sure to hold it in place, then lightly rub the side of your finger to transfer the ink onto the wood.
- Repeat for each tag.
6. Apply a clear spray to protect the image
- Apply two coats of a clear protective spray, letting it dry between coats. I used a matte finish.
7. Drill a 1/8″ hole in the top of the tag
- Using a 1/8″ drill bit, drill a hole in the top, making sure not to press too hard, or it could make the wood splinter a bit because it is so close to the edge.
- In order to smooth out the edges of the hole, use a pencil stuck into it, twirling it around to smooth the edges.
8. Add a 14″ long piece of twine
- Fold the 14″ piece of twine in half and thread it through the hole, as shown in the above left photo.
- I attached mine at the back using a bow, but do whatever works for you!
Cheers! You’re done!
See you at the next project. Because there is always a next project!
