DIY Cork Wreaths
Creating an attractive wreath out of wine corks does not require any special crafting skills or expensive supplies. Wine connoisseurs often have an assortment of corks saved, and this project is an excellent way to recycle them. They form a decorative wreath for your front door or any wall in your home where you desire natural-looking decor. If you want to make these wreaths for gifts, you can buy wine corks in bulk from online auction houses or at hobby and craft stores.
Things You'll Need
- Permanent marker
- Wine corks
- Electric drill and drill bit
- Green florist wire
- Wire cutters or sturdy scissors
- Red jingle bells -- about 3/8-inch
- 1-inch-wide ribbon
- Straw wreath
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Pine cones, acorns, twigs or seashells
- Decorative bow with a nature theme
Instructions
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Holiday Wreath
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1
Mark each wine cork at the top and bottom with a permanent marker. Make the mark 1/4 inch from each end. Drill holes into the bottom and top sides of each cork through the mark. It is important to the look of the wreath that you have the holes lined up the same distance from each end.
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2
Push one end of the florist wire through each of the holes in the bottom of the corks. Keep doing this until the wire is through all the corks.
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3
Cut the wire with the wire cutters once it is all the way through the corks and leave a few inches on each end to tie it closed later.
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4
Lay the cork wreath down onto a tabletop or other work surface. Thread another piece of wire through all the tops of the corks, but this time alternate the corks and jingle bells.
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5
Cut the wire and leave enough to tie the wreath closed. Tie the bottom and top wires separately to complete the circle shape.
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6
Cut a 1-foot length of ribbon. Insert one end under the top wire in your cork wreath and tie a knot in the ends. This forms a loop to hang your wreath on the door or wall.
Nature Wreath
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7
Remove the plastic wrap from your straw wreath.
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8
Heat the hot glue gun and when it is hot enough to melt the glue sticks, place a strip of hot glue down one side of a cork.
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9
Place the cork immediately onto the straw wreath and hold it for about five seconds until it dries. You can place the corks on the wreath horizontally or vertically depending on the look you want. The goal is to completely cover the straw wreath so that all you see are the corks and other items from nature.
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10
Glue twigs, seashells, pine cones or acorns on top of every third or fourth cork to give it an outdoorsy, back-to-nature look. Once the wreath is completely covered you are ready to glue on a decorative bow and hang it on the wall.
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Tips & Warnings
You must work quickly with hot glue because it dries very fast.
Save your wine corks in a box or large jar to have on hand for crafts and other projects.
References
- Photo Credit wine cork image by javarman from Fotolia.com
