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Don’t toss your empties! Repurpose them for a drinks-themed party!

I’m a big fan of recycling. And, I’m not gonna lie, I’m also a fan of a nice boozy drink. (How’s that for a segue?) Vodka is my go-to — no surprise for those who read my blogs regularly. But I’m also an equal opportunity imbiber of most spirits, especially if mixed in a tasty cocktail. (In moderation, of course. Most of the time.) And what exactly does this have to do with recycling? Give me a minute, I’m getting there! I love the look of most spirits bottles: solid glass, great label designs, cool shapes. So when they’re empty, I hate throwing them away. In fact, there’s seldom a bottle I don’t want to keep. But what to do with them? How about turning them into decorative bottles so they can make a reappearance at your next party? It’s the perfect way to recycle and upcycle.

Decorative bottles how-to: Mix craft cocktails with a little arts & crafts!

So how do you get a recycled, upcycled, Pinterest-perfect tablescape? You’ll have to roll up your sleeves and get a little messy. But other than that, it’s pretty easy. Once you have the bottles you want, pick your color and get painting. In the photos we’re sharing this week, we chose black, then went with other neutral tones to complement the bottles’ contents. We added driftwood, wild-looking rosemary, hammered silver, a few candles. The look was very masculine and earthy, just like the rye being served… and the party guests who attended! Sorry we don’t have photos of them also (trust me, they were very photogenic), but hope you like the pictures of the decorative bottles instead!

Where to find The Party Goddess! ideas galore?

If you’ve been one of my loyal blog followers, you know that we publish these image roundups weekly. We feature a particular event for a particular client so you can go deep on the particular theme. If you know what’s up, skip this part. New visitors, take a look below…

In case you missed it, here’s what we’re doing, mentioned in the first blog. (And if you already know what’s going on, skip to the first photo!) Every day we’re posting event photos & inspiration to my Instagram page to give you ideas for your own events. And, of course, to encourage you to hire yours truly, one of the top event planners in Los Angeles, for your next soirée! In terms of format, we’re trying to capitalize on the whole hashtag calendar world and take advantage of #WeddingWednesday (#WW) and #ThrowbackThursday (#TBT) by posting wedding photos and cool stuff we’ve done on Wednesdays and on Thursdays, harkening back to a past client’s event, be it a celebrity, or just one of us tastemakers.

Favorite Event Photos and Inspiration – Monday:

If you’re having a party with rye cocktails on the menu (great idea btw!), don’t hide the bottles! Put them on full display. Then mix in some recycled — or should I say upcycled? — spirits bottles for added color. A couple coats of spray paint is all you need and you’re done!

Upcyle This! Decorative Bottles For Happy Hour! | The Party Goddess! — Love this? Pin it to your Pinterest Events Board.

Favorite Event Photos and Inspiration – Tuesday:

Want to create a monochrome collection of bud vases on the cheap? Start by saving some bottles. Doesn’t matter what was in them — olive oil, vinegar, sparkling water, booze — if you like the shape, keep it! Soak off the label, pour yourself a drink (optional), then go to town with some spray paint. Paint and booze… what’s not to love about that combo?

Favorite Event Photos and Inspiration – Wednesday:

Not every bud requires a vase. For a casual summer dinner party, I love putting flowers in jars and bottles for a straight-outta-the-kitchen look. Mason jars, jam jars, pickle jars, vinegar bottles… they all work. And as long as I don’t look like I came straight outta the kitchen by the time dinner’s served, I’m good! Happy #WeddingWednesday!

Favorite Event Photos and Inspiration – Thursday:

Give your booze bottles a second life as decorative objects. These ones painted charcoal gray work really well when you want a look that complements the spirits you’re serving: bold, smooth, earthy, spicy. Wait… that sounds like a profile I just read on a dating site! #TBT

Favorite Event Photos and Inspiration – Friday:

Poker party… scotch tasting… girls night without all the ‘tinis… anytime you’re pouring just the hard stuff… take inspiration from the bottles themselves for your décor. For this rye tasting, we stuck to earth tones and black, then threw in some driftwood and metallic for dramatic effect. Cheers! #TGIF

Favorite Event Photos and Inspiration – Saturday:

A cool-shaped bottle, some spray paint and… actually yeah, that’s all you need to create some insta fab décor. Use them for flowers or as standalone decorative pieces. So easy!

Event Photos and Inspiration – Plus, tell me what else you want to see on the blog!

So, what do you think of our decorative bottles and boozy drinks combo? Which photo is your fave? Let me know in the comments below!

And because we love that you love parties, we’re giving this away for FREE! It’s our Super Secret Party Tips Guide that has tons of useful tips for fetes of every shape and size. Check it out!

xoxo M

P.S. Okay, I guess I’m actually obsessed with recycling, upcycling, and double-duty. Here are a few blogs that I love: Fun Double-Duty Party Décor, Earth Day! Eco-Friendly Party Tips & Tricks and 5 Fun Floral Decor Ideas. You can find more interesting blogs and images on our website, or just contact us to book your next event! And if you like this blog, would you be so kind as to share it with a friend?