Put your wine cork collection to good use with these crafts
5 things to do with leftover wine corks
Opening a bottle of wine on Saturday night, you may think the best thing about it is the glass of vino in your hand. But that humble cork should not be overlooked. It holds the key to myriad craft projects. And whether you’ve amassed one cork or several bags full, you've got options. Here are five clever ways to reuse leftover corks.
1. Construct a wreath
Nothing says welcome (and “I love wine!”) more than this festive wreath. If you have a box full of corks and tons of patience, this project is for you (though it looks amazing so it’s definitely time well spent).
You'll need one 18-inch hay wreath, a glue gun, glue sticks and corks.
Start by gluing corks row by row around the wreath (it will look like a giant race track) to cover up any hay that may peek through. Once everything is cooled, glue a second layer of corks in a random pattern. Save corks that have wine stains on them for this step. The wine stains peeking out add a nice touch.
A creative friend made this wreath. She adds different bows for every season, tying them on using large twist-ties or zip ties.
2. Mark your garden
This project not only uses leftover corks, but gives new life to castaway flatware, too. Together they create a shabby-chic garden marker perfect for homegrown herbs.
You'll need a fork, cork, twine and marker.
Write the name of the plant on a cork. Pierce the cork with the fork and tie a cute bow on the handle. Stick the fork handle right in the pot or garden plot come spring.
3. Make classy place card holders
These cork place card holders are perfect for the DIY bride or anyone looking to host a swanky dinner party. They prop your card up perfectly and add a rustic element to your décor.
You'll just need corks and a utility knife.
Start by shaving a few millimeters off the bottom of the cork so it can sit flat. Then use the knife to make a slit a few millimeters deep on the top. Use this slit to hold a place card.
4. Create a trivet
If you want to create something fab and functional, look no further than this trivet. The cork base makes it perfect for cradling hot pans. Even better? You don’t have to cut anything. Using a hot glue gun makes everything stable and sturdy.
I used 32 corks to make a 7-by-7-inch trivet (ideal for an 8-by-8-inch baking pan). You'll need 64 corks to double the size and create a 7-by-14-inch trivet.
Besides corks and a glue gun, you’ll also need a piece of beige felt and a ruler.
Cut felt into a 7-by-7-inch square. Using a basketweave pattern, hot glue the corks onto the felt. Once the glue has cooled, dot more glue between the corks to give the trivet more stability.
5. Decorate your kitchen
Bring charm to your kitchen with a homemade sign like this one. You could also make just one letter for a monogram.
Start with large wooden letters, which are available at craft stores. Arrange corks to create a pattern you like before using a hot glue gun to adhere them to the wooden letter. In addition to gluing corks sideways, you can also use a utility knife to cut tops off corks to create circles and fill in the gaps with slices of cork.
The result is not only a custom piece of art, it’s also a trip down memory lane showcasing all the wines you've enjoyed.