Accessories are a great way to update a kitchen on a budget. One popular option that adds color and interest is decorative vinegar bottles filled with fruits and vegetables. Some cost as much as $60 to $150 in department stores and gourmet shops. DIY Decorating & Design host Nancy Golden shows how to make your own version of these impressive accessories on a budget. Materials: Bottle with cork
Vegetables or fruit
Poking tool (chopstick or knife)
Funnel
Measuring cup with spout
Vinegar
Raffia for decoration around neck of bottle
- Clean a new or used bottle to fill with fruits or vegetables. If the bottle doesn't come with a cork, purchase one from a craft shop.
- Chop up vegetables or fruit, and arrange in the bottle as desired. Nancy layered peppercorns, chopped red pepper and small green peppers in her bottle. Use a funnel to add peppercorns (figure A), then layer red peppers and small hot peppers. If necessary, poke the vegetables in place with a knife or chopstick (figure B ).
- To fill a bottle with a stack of fruit slices, fold each slice and drop it in the bottle. Poke each piece in place with a knife or chopstick to make it lie flat.
- When the vegetables are in place, fill the bottle with vinegar (figure C), and plug it with a cork.
- Add a decorative touch with a raffia bow tied around the neck of the bottle.
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