Do you keep your used wine bottle corks? Did you know they can be recycled? But what if you keep them for sentimental value? Or you’ve been saving them for a good DIY project?
Good news: You can reuse your wine corks and get new life out of them. In this article, we look at four DIY projects that give new life to your old wine corks.
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1. Make a Trivet
Trivets protect your table from hot bowls or pots — a necessity for any cook. You can make a trivet from used wine corks for a unique look. We got instructions from Rachel at Lines Across, who uses an embroidery hoop frame for her wine cork trivets.
What you need:
- Corks
- Circular embroidery hoop
- Felt
- Glue
Basic steps:
- Arrange the corks inside the embroidery hoop so they fit snugly.
- Tighten the hoop.
- Glue a felt base on the bottom so it doesn’t slide.
- You could even paint or cover the hoop if you want to spice it up a bit.
2. Wine Charms
Wine glass charms come in handy at dinner and cocktail parties, helping guests keep track of their glasses. It’s the elegant alternative to taking a marker to a red Solo cup! We got the idea for these cork wine charms from Camilla Fabbri at Family Chic.
What you need:
- Corks
- Sharp knife
- Stamp pad
- Rubber stamps
- Small eye screws
- Twine, ribbon, yarn, or string
Basic steps:
- Steam the corks on the stove for about 10 minutes. This helps soften them so they don’t crack when you cut them.
- With a sharp knife, cut the cork in 1/2-inch discs.
- After the cork has dried, use rubber stamps to mark each charm. Be sure to use a different stamp on each charm. You could use letters of the alphabet. Or different animals. Get creative!
- Screw a small eye screw into the side of the charm.
- Put twine, ribbon, or other material through the hole to tie the charm to the glass.
3. Garden Markers
Use corks as a cute, and durable, way to mark your garden herbs, veggies, and fruits! Lisa provides the instructions for these easy garden markers at Shine Your Light.
What you need:
- Corks
- Skewers
- Permanent marker
Basic steps:
- Put a skewer through one end of the cork.
- Write the fruit or veggie name on the side of the cork with a permanent marker.
- Stick the skewer into the soil next to each plant you want to mark!
4. Tiny Planters
This unique project can turn your refrigerator into a mini vertical garden. You can create little cork planters and attach magnets to them for your fridge. Get the complete instructions for these cute miniature cork planters from Linda at It All Started With Paint.
What you need:
- Corks
- Glue gun
- Small magnets
- Sharp knife
- Succulent plants
- Potting soil
Basic steps:
- Carve out the center of the corks with a sharp knife. Stop carving about three-quarters of the way down.
- Hot glue the magnet to the cork. Note: Depending on the strength of the magnet, you may need more than one.
- Push soil into the hole you created. Put a stem of the succulent into the soil and pack with soil.
If you’re not interested in reusing your old corks, don’t throw them away! Use Earth911’s Recycling Search to find a recycling solution near you.
Do you have a favorite project for reusing wine corks?
Editor’s note: Originally published on August 13, 2015, this article was updated in February 2019.