How to Use Flat Cork on Greeting Cards

Learn how to embellish your greeting cards with cork.

Evidence of cork usage dates back thousands of years to the ancient Egyptian empire where cork stoppers were found in Pharaohs' tombs. The Greeks and Romans used cork in creative ways. Cork sheets and rolls can be used for bulletin board backing, place mats and hot pads, coasters and as a creative craft addition to a homemade greeting card. Cork comes from the outer bark of an evergreen oak tree. Once trees reach 15-20 years of age, cork is stripped from their bark in sheets every 10 years. Create a unique greeting card that looks like a message on a cork bulletin board and tailor it for a birthday message to a teacher, a congratulatory or thank you note to a co-worker or a happy birthday card to a boss.

Things You'll Need

• Composite cork sheet measuring 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch thick
• Card stock paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Ink pens or stamps

Instructions

1. Fold a piece of 8.5 by 11-inch thick card stock paper in half so that it measures 4.25 inches wide by 11 inches tall. Cut a piece of composite cork sheet so that it measures 4 inches wide by 8 inches tall.

2. Cut a 3 by 3-inch square out of a piece of canary yellow card stock paper and glue it to the cork in an off-center fashion so it appears like a sticky note on a bulletin board. Glue a raised silver or other color dot 1/4 inch in diameter to the top edge of the yellow card stock, giving it the appearance of a pushpin pushed through the paper and into the cork.

3. Use a stamp or ink pen to write the recipient's name on the yellow card stock sticky note. Glue the cork to the top center of the front of the folded card stock so that the fold is on the left and the cork is positioned 3 inches above the bottom edge of the card. Use a pen or stamps to write a message in the white space beneath the cork that says something like "I thought the whole office should know..." or "I think the whole school should know..."

4. Open the card and complete your message on the inside right section by using stamps or a pen to write a message like "that it's your birthday." or "that you're a great teacher." Skip a few lines and write "Happy Birthday!" or "Happy Teacher's Day" or "Happy Anniversary" or whatever message is appropriate to the occasion for which you are giving the card to the recipient. Allow the ink to dry, sign the card, place it in an envelope and give it to the recipient.

References

• Manton Cork: History of Cork
• Manton Cork: Composition Cork Sheets and Rolls