As I’ve mentioned in about 50 other posts, I’m not the craftiest of the bunch. In art class, I was the kid in the corner who was afraid to get dirty hands from the pottery clay. And finger painting? You can bet my parents didn’t get too many of those from me.
But the other day I thought to myself, “Wow, I’ve got a ton of wine corks lying around here. Maybe I should make use of them.” You might be wondering why I have so many wine corks in the first place, and to that I say, touché. What you should really be pondering though, is the infinite amount of crafty goodness you can make out of your own.
Got 10 minutes? You (yes, you!) can make these cool wine cork crafts. Check out these 5 DIY ideas for all skill levels:
SKILL LEVEL: Not to be trusted with a glue gun
What you’ll need:
- Large glass bowl, vase, or other flame-proof vessel of your choice
- Votive candle contained in its own glass or metal casing
- A few handfuls of wine corks
This is a pretty simple recipe, right? All you’ll need to do from here is place the votive candle in the middle of the large glass container, surrounding it with the corks. The amount of corks you’ll want to use will vary based on the size and shape of your glass container – we don’t want those corks going ablaze, now do we? Put this one in the middle of your coffee table next to a hipster lookbook of Instagrammed food photos, then pat yourself on the back: you’ve officially passed wine cork crafting level 1.
SKILL LEVEL: Crafter in training
What you’ll need:
- Glue gun
- 32 wine corks
When you’re done wielding your glue gun, you’ll have 4 beautifully designed coasters to impress your friends with at your next wine and cheese party. They’ll be so distracted by your artful (yet DIY) design, you won’t even have to shell out for the fancy-schmancy kind of brie! Now, before you go crossing items off your grocery list, check out how easy it is to put these coasters together: simply line up two rows of four corks, one row atop the other. With the glue gun, connect the corks so they form a square. Pretty simple, isn’t it? Once the coasters have dried, get the party started with a good, old glass of vino.
SKILL LEVEL: Frequent shopper at the craft store
What you’ll need:
- Glue gun
- Wooden letter of your choice
- Mounting hardware
- A few handfuls of wine corks
You’re right: this doesn’t appear to be much tougher than the “crafter in training” skill level project. But, let’s be honest: not all of us are so keen on coloring within the lines, and this craft requires a bit of adherence to that idea. Head over to your favorite craft haven, like Hobby Lobby (which is not open on Sundays, FYI), and pick out a wooden letter. Once you’ve gotten it home safely, it’s time to turn on your glue gun and get crafting! Glue the flat end of each cork so that it fits within the boundaries of your letter. After it’s dried, add the mounting hardware – it’s time to hang it up and gaze at your work of art!
SKILL LEVEL: Part-time DIYer
What you’ll need:
- Foam wreath
- Toothpicks
- At least 100 wine corks
- Hanging hardware
If you want everyone on the block to know you’re a certified wine-o, this is the craft for you. A wreath of wine corks is like a shining beacon of hope for any neighbor who’s in need of a bottle for unexpected guests, so be prepared to get a few knocks on the door. This craft doesn’t require that much skill, but it does require time and patience. You’ll need to place a toothpick halfway into each cork, and nestle the pointed end into the foam wreath. Repeat until you can’t see any more foam, and add your hanging hardware. Congratulations, you’re officially a Jedi wine master.
SKILL LEVEL: Black belt-level craft ninja
Canapé Knives with Wine Cork Handles
What you’ll need:
- Old canapé knives
- Mallet
- Pliers
- Four wine corks
If you’re wondering what canapé knives are, just think of the last time you encountered a cheese ball at a gathering… what kind of a knife did you use to spread it on a non-premium cocktail cracker? It’s short and stubby, rounded at the end like a butter knife, and typically has an oddly pointless handle. I think I’ll take to my canapé set that has golf-themed handles and can be conveniently stored in it’s own mini golf cart. Grab your mallet and pliers – you’ll want to get smashing on the old handles, and ridding the knife of the excess material. Once you’ve gotten down to raw knife, you’ll see a small metal tip. Place this end into the cork, which should perfectly enclose around it (without the need for glue). Repeat this for each of your four knives, and you’ll be well on your way to party hosting glory!
Crafting is cool, and if you’ve got old wine corks without a home, it’s a pretty nice way to reuse and recycle. Look at you, saving the environment and making your home look classier – one bottle of wine at a time!
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