How to Reuse Wine Corks

Give wine corks new life with a variety of practical household uses.

Finding a practical use for materials left over from relaxing or celebratory times, which are often accompanied by wine, could be considered an ideal craft. You get to enjoy the wine, then save the corks for future projects. Buying wine with corks, not plastic or metal caps, is a good thing; cork is renewable and, in its natural state, encourages vegetation. Regardless of your post-wine project plans, start with clean, dry corks that are in good condition.

Things You'll Need

• Serrated knife
• Acrylic paints and brushes
• Embellishments such as beads, gems and feathers
• Adhesive for porous surfaces
• Wooden photo frame
• Cardboard, wood or felt

Instructions

1. Make place card holders for your next dinner party. Cut a wine cork in half widthwise to make two holders. With the cut side down, cut a slit across the top to slide a name card inside. You can paint or embellish your card holders with beads or gems. Or add beads or googly eyes, felt feet and feather tails to create animals for a children's party.

2. Make a trivet. Heat- and slip-resistant cork is ideal for protecting countertops and tabletops from hot dishes. Remove the glass and backing from a wooden frame and glue cardboard onto the back. Or add a piece of wood to the back and cover with felt to protect surfaces. Then simply glue your wine corks onto the front in a pattern you like.

3. Create a floating votive candle holder. Keeping your corks vertical, glue them side-by-side in a circle, leaving just enough space in the center to tuck in a votive candle. Use your floating candle holders in water-filled bowls or to add a festive atmosphere to your next poolside party.

4. Use cork to protect surfaces. Cut wine corks into slices, then glue to the bottoms of furniture or pottery to prevent scratches on floors and tabletops. Glue to the bottoms of potted plants to avoid moisture damage.

Tips & Warnings

• If you find yourself with more corks than you know what to do with, or simply don't consider yourself crafty, consider donating or recycling them.

References

• Planet Green: 10 Reuses for Cork

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• ReCork: Reusing a Renewable Resource