With the help of Wine-o-land’s owner Sarath Reddy, we’ve pulled together a dizzying array of easy DIY upcycling projects for your collection of corks. Give as presents or keep for yourself!
WORKING TRUCK
Easy this isn’t, AND there aren’t any instructions. We promise the other ideas are much easier, but just couldn’t resist this remarkable use of corks – all 10,000 of them. According to the website, an added plus to the design: it increases buoyancy while in a river. http://www.corktruck.com/artcars.html
EMBROIDERED NECKLACE
With embroidery thread, a needle and some creativity, craft one-of-a-kind jewelry. Use your imagination to take the concept to new applications like wine glass markers, pillow cases and wall art.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Cork-Embroidery-Tutorial/#step1
TABLETOP PLACEHOLDERS
Share seating arrangements with these placeholders. Carefully cut a thin sliver off one side of a real or plastic cork for the base. Then cut a sliver along the opposite side so that a place card can be slipped in.
MOUSTACHE STAMPER
Once you get the hang of this, it’ll be hard just to stop at just one image. Reuse year after year – something you can’t do with those potato stampers.
http://bespangledjewelry.blogspot.com/2012/11/diy-wine-cork-stamps-mustaches-for.html
REFRIGERATOR MAGNET MINI-PLANTERS
Every time we try to grow baby sprouts into grownup succulents, our cat recognizes them as long lost kitty toys and acts accordingly before they have time to take root. This project solves our dilemma and is guaranteed to beautify your fridge. Or try framing a small sheet of metal, hang it and adorn with these cuties.
http://www.everafterblueprint.com/easy-cork-succulent-planters/
OPEN-AIR TRIVETS AND COASTERS
There are lots of trivet designs, but we like this the best because of the openness of cork and the mobility of stitched cork disks rather than glue.
http://www.designsponge.com/2008/04/diy-project-abigails-cork-trivet-and-coaster-set.html
VASES
If you’re like us, you have leftover glass vases gathering dust from past floral deliveries – or make a visit to your local thrift or dollar store. In either case, these sure do make a purty house gift.
http://www.designimprovised.com/2014/11/thrifty-diy-wine-cork-vases.html
NAPKIN RINGS
Every cloth napkin needs a special napkin ring. Bonus benefit: if you drop yours while picnicking in your kayak, it’ll bob right back up to the surface.
http://socksandmittens.blogspot.com/2014/11/napkin-rings-with-wine-cork-stoppers.html
DRAWER PULLS
Tired of same old drawer pulls or found a bureau without knobs at a garage sale? Champagne corks – au natural or painted to fit your décor will do the trick. to add some character to your home decor.
All the steps can be found here:
http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2011/03/make-recycled-champagne-cork-drawer-knobs/
REINDEER CRITTERS AND ORNAMENTS
Whether it’s for your tree or as tabletop twig decoration, the variations of deer and other critters are virtually endless on the Internet. Some, like the standing deer, don’t come with instructions, but with some clever observation, we bet you can figure how to make your own!
http://diply.com/creativeideas/diy-rudolph-red-nosed-reindeer-cork-ornaments/19485
SILLY BIG NOSE BALLOON FIGURES
The perfect project for a rainy day or when a party runs into the wee hours. All you need are corks, small balloons, a permanent marker and a sense of whimsy.
http://mollymoocrafts.com/cork-balloon-characters/
WINDING SNAKE
Remember those wooden snakes from your childhood? Make your own and let it share your bath or drape it somewhere unexpected to surprise your roomies / family / houseguests.
http://goodluckwiththat1.blogspot.com/2012/04/earth-day-diy.html
Need more corks? Buy more wine!
Visit Wine-o-Land at Howell Plaza Shopping Center
