DIY Wire Champagne Topper Card Holder

Champagne cage card holders are whimsical, yet practical. The wire cork holders are usually discarded, but this craft recycles cages into miniature representations of chairs. These card holders let your guests know exactly where they are to be seated, while giving them something to smile about with the unique touch. Use the holders as is, or dress them up with bits of fabric and ribbon to match your theme colors.

The Basics

Champagne or wine "cages" are pieces of metal that fit over the cork. Four twisted pieces of metal fit down over the sides of the bottle, and another piece of metal extends from the side. When you pull on the extended piece of metal, you remove the cage from the bottle. These cages can be used to make miniature stools or chairs for dollhouses or displays. They can also be used to hold cards such as event or wedding seating place cards.

Making Card Holders

After you remove the cage from the wine bottle, use wire cutters to snip through the piece of wire that extends from the side. The cage now resembles a four-legged stool. Straighten this piece of wire and form it into a semicircle. If it's long enough, make a curlicue or a smaller circle inside the semicircle. This will make a back for the stool.

Use a pair of pliers to bend the ends of the wire over two of the stool's "legs" near the seat. If you formed an inner curlicue or circle, place the card between the inner and outer circles on the chair back. If you made just a plain semicircle, rest the card against it or use a dab of hot glue to hold it in place.

Embellishments

Spray paint the miniature chair to match your theme colors. Sprinkle glitter sparingly on the wet paint and let it dry. Or make a tulle skirt for the chair using a piece of tulle that's long enough to gather into a skirt. Use a needle and thread to make long basting stitches near one raw edge and pull on the thread to gather the tulle. Glue the skirt to the bottom edge of the seat and remove the stitching.

Make a group or family arrangement rather than individual card holders. Make the appropriate number of cage "chairs" for the group or family. Make a table by simply removing the extended piece of wire from another cage. Paint or decorate the grouping as you like. Place the chairs around the table and glue one card with the group or family name on it to the outside back of one chair.