How to Craft With Corks

If you're like me, after the bottle of wine has been opened--you don't want to just throw away the cork. But do that enough times and you'll soon have them rolling all over the place. Here are some ideas and simple craft projects to use up those celebratory mementos. And if you don't have enough from your own wine habits, stop by your local (or online) home brew store and pick up a bag to keep on crafting.

Things You'll Need

• Corks
• Glass bowl
• Plastic grapes
• Wine bottles
• Craft knife
• Glues
• Tacks or magnets
• Frame
• Thin plywood
• Wreath form
• Hot glue gun and sticks
• Eye hooks
• Ribbon
• Ink pads

Instructions

1. 

   Make an interesting centerpiece for a wine tasting or cocktail party by filling a glass bowl full of corks, bunches of plastic grapes and a wine bottle (empty or full). You can mix used and new corks in the bowl together.

2. 

   Slice a section from the long side of the cork to make it lay flat, and then cut into the cork on the other side to make a place card holder for use at your next dinner party. Or you can stack the cut cork on two whole corks to make a small tower to elevate the place card. These can also be used at buffets to indicate which dish is which.

3. 

   Glue tacks to the bases of corks for decorative push pins, using a strong glue or epoxy to ensure optimal hold. Magnets can be used instead of tacks. Champagne corks work well for this because of their shape.

4. 

   Fill a wooden frame with corks to make a trivet. Replace the glass with a matching piece of plywood to create a base. Add additional plywood, if necessary, to raise the level of the corks flush with the edge of the frame. If you fill the frame tightly, you shouldn't need additional glue to hold the corks in place, but to be sure you can apply hot glue between the plywood and corks as the trivet is constructed.

Tips & Warnings

• A wreath form covered in corks makes a lovely year-round decoration, or if laid flat, a candle base for your table or sideboard.

• Slices of cork attached with strong craft glue make excellent feet for tile coasters and other scuff-producing materials.

• Eye hooks screwed into the ends of corks and joined with ribbon or wire make a cute garland.

• Make new corks look a little more used by distressing them with brown or purple ink.

• Champagne corks make great heads for dolls or ornaments.