How to Create Wine Bottle Labels

Make a special wine label to celebrate an anniversary or birthday.

Wine often plays a key role in celebrations of all kinds. You can create fancy labels yourself using supplies found at stationary and craft stores. Despite making them at home, the results can be quite beautiful. More than this, the gift of bottles of wine with special labels lets people know you care about them. Taking the time to make a gift speaks volumes about how important these people and their special occasions are to you.

Things You'll Need

• Drawing supplies
• Computer
• Camera
• Flatbed scanner
• Graphics software
• Fancy paper
• Hot glue sticks
• Hot glue gun

Instructions

1. Take a trip to the store and look at the labels on wine bottles. This will fuel your creative juices. Notice what kinds of images the designers used. Look at what color schemes seem to be popular.

2. Brainstorm for label ideas. If you’re going to be making these special wine labels as a gift, include information about the occasion. For example, if it’s an anniversary, write down the anniversary date, the name of the couple and the name you’ve given to the wine.

3. Sketch out your ideas on paper. This allows you get a visual sense about the ideas you’re developing. It will also make layout simpler.

4. Create a work project folder on your computer for this project. Save all of your work in this folder.

5. Take any photos or make any illustrations you require for this project.

6. Upload your photos or illustrations to your computer. Use the accessories that came with your digital camera, or scan the illustrations into your computer. Follow the instructions for use that came with these pieces of equipment. Save your photos and illustrations in your project folder.

7. Start a file in the graphic design program in which you’ll layout this project. You can use any design software, such as Adobe Photoshop or InDesign, Quark, Corel Draw or Microsoft Publisher.

8. Import the graphics related to this project into the program. Add pictures or photos to the label according to the designs you worked out in your brainstorming session.

9. Add text to the label. Save your file.

10. Place your chosen paper into the printer and print the label out. Art papers or recycled papers can add elegance.

11. Cut the labels out and trim them so that they fit the bottle.

12. Remove the wine labels from the bottles. Soak bottles with paper labels in warm soapy water. Peel plastic labels off by hand. Use a razor blade to remove any stubborn bits of label or adhesive.

13. Glue the labels on with a hot glue gun and glue gun sticks.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful when handling razor blades.

References

• Designer Daily: 25 Brilliant Wine Label, Bottle & Package Designs

Resources

• Grape Nutz: Label Removal
• Wine Labels: Removing Labels