Wine Cork Ornaments

Wine cork beaded ornaments make fabulous hostess gifts! All you need is a used wine cork (easier if it was pulled from the bottle with a cork screw leaving a hole down the center), large paper clip, beads, ribbon of your choice, and small-nosed pliers.

Directions: Straighten out a large paperclip and thread one end through the cork screw hole (or you can puncture or drill a hole a little larger than the paperclip with a drill bit). You can use pliers to hold on to it, if you like. Push it through so that half of the paperclip is showing at one end and the other half at the other end of the wine cork.

Next, thread beads of your choice onto one end of the paperclip. Push the beads up against the cork, as shown in the picture. You can add a bell, a larger bead or a tassle at the end of the row of beads you just put on. The space will probably hold 5-10 bead depending on the size of the beads Then using pliers, twist the paperclip on the end to form a circle so the beads won't slip off. This will be the botom of your ornament. Now slide beads onto the top portion of the paperclip. Again, using pliers, form a small circle with the paperclip at the top. This circle can be used for hanging the ornament, or you can add a ribbon, cord, or store-bought hook so that you the ornament can be hung on a tree or greenery.

This ornament has a ribbon tied at the top for hanging, but you can get creative and use jute, colored ribbons, or hooks. A set of four beaded wine cork ornaments will make a very special holiday hostess gift - especially if the corks used were from bottles of wine you shared with the person you are giving the gift! Have fun!

The wine cork reindeer is so cute, you'll want to create a herd! The only supplies you need are a wine cork, two wiggle eyes, a red pom-pom nose, a brown chenille pipe cleaner for the antlers, craft glue or hot glue gun, and a piece of jute or ribbon to make the hanger.

Using craft glue or a hot glue gun, glue two wiggles eyes on one side of the cork as shown. The size of eyes used in the picture are 7 mm and can be purchased at craft stores. Also, glue a red pom-pom nose to the end. This reindeer has a 5 mm size pom-pom the nose, and these can be purchased in the same section of a craft store that you found the eyes. Let the glue dry for 2-3 minutes before going to the next step.

Next, take one brown, chenille pipe cleaner and wrap it around the cork, behind the eyes, crossing them close to the cork to form an "X" as show in the picture.

One at a time, weave each end of the pipe clearer through your fingers to form curves in the brown antlers. You can make them as curvy as you like.

Create a loop out of jute or ribbon. This will be the hanger. Glue it to the back of the cork (which will be the opposite end of the nose). Let the glue dry, and your reindeer is ready to prance!

The wine cork snowman is easy and quick to make. It would be cute to put on the top of a package or hang on the tree! All you need is a wine cork, small wooden bead (I used 25.4 mm), a wooden bead for the hat (this one is a 5/8" wooden candle cup purchased in the craft section), permanent markers or acrylic paint for the face and hat, a small piece of fabric (about 8" x 1/2") for the scarf, a piece of jute or ribbon for the hanger,and craft glue or a hot glue gun.

This wine cork snowman's face was made with permanent markers. You can add character to your snowmen by changing the expressions on their faces. Draw or paint two eyes, an orange carrot-looking nose, and a smile on one side of the bead. Let the marker dry. Next, using craft glue or a hot glue gun, glue the bead face to the top of a wine cork as shown. Let the glue dry.

Next, using the permanent markers (or acrylic paint, if you prefer) color the bead that will be the hat the color you want. I chose black to make it look like a top hat. Let it completely dry, and then using the craft glue or hot glue gun, attach the hat to the top of the head. Let it dry completely before going to the next step.

He's almost finished, but he needs something to wear to go out in the cold!

Finally, take a piece of scrap fabric about 8" x 1/2" (no need to finish off the edges). Wrap it around the snowman's neck like you would a scarf for yourself, and tie in in the front. You can glue the scarf down with a dot of glue if it stands our or the fabric is slippery. There is no right or wrong look for the scarf; you just have to like like the look. He is finally ready to go out!

If you like earthy-looking ornaments, try this wine cork Christmas tree. It takes a little patience waiting for the glue to dry, but it's worth the wait. Here's what you need: 13 wine corks, craft glue or hot glue gun, a piece of ribbon about 16" long and another piece of ribbon or piece of jute for the hanger. Let's get started!

Directions: Starting with three corks for the base of the tree, use craft glue or hot glue to put these corks together, side-by-side. Having corks of similar size helps. Let the glue dry.

This is a top view to show you will need to put glues on all areas of the corks that will touch the corks you are adding to be sure they stay together. The next row after the first three corks, is four corks. Follow the same procedure, being sure to let it dry. You may need to hold the corks together for a couple of minutes to let the glue dry if you use craft glue. Hot glue will dry much faster. Then follow that with a row of three corks, then a row of two corks, and the top or last row is one cork.

After the glue has dried, take a ribbon about 16 " long, and wrap it around the tree (as shown in the photo), with both sides meeting at the top. You can tie a knot or a bow at the top (for a bow, you need a longer piece of ribbon). Then make a loop for hanging the ornament out of the same ribbon or a piece of jute and glue it to the back of the top wine cork. Let it dry and then it's ready to hang. For added interest, you can paint the end of the corks with different colors of acrylic paint or permanent marker. You could also write a message on the ends of the corks like "I LOVE YOU" or "HAPPY HOLIDAYS". Get creative and have fun with this project!