If you're a wine drinker, you know just how many bottle corks can accumulate if you don't either throw them away or find a use for them immediately. If you're a coaster household, listen up!
Lizzie Joe Designs found a use for left over corks and it's actually pretty simple. If you're a DIYer, this is such a simple project that you could actually do in under an hour.
Round up all of the corks into a desired size for the coaster. Using a hot glue gun, glue each cork to the other in a circular shape — then glue the ribbon of your choice to hold them all together and to serve as the finishing touch. So easy!
What do you do with leftover corks?
Images: Lizzie Joe Designs
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But all these corks are cut, at least in half. How would you proposed cutting the corks down to make these? Uncut corks would be way too tall for a coaster.
Cute. But I've always thought placing coasters beneath stemmed glassware was a bit redundant.... that's what the stem is for - it's not like the stem sweats.
Real corks (not the plastic kind) are easy to cut in half with a sharp knife or steak knife. Or with caution any fun power tool :)
The look is a little clunky for stemware....
@eBloch - yes, I figured they would be easy to cut, but will they be straight and pretty and smooth and even? I wouldn't imagine that you can sand cork.
oooo, I like this idea. I was looking for some cork coasters the other day to rest our wine bottles on. We set them right on the counter or table and always get a purple ring. These would be cute.
@rosekraft I agree. I'm thinking it would be good for a hot pad instead.
If you live near a whole foods, you can recycle your corks there.
I made a hot pad with some of mine. I did not cut them in half so it is taller than most. I used an aluminum band with a screw to keep it together. Got it at the auto parts store. I did not glue them either. They have stayed put.
I guess you could cut them with an electric knife, has anyone tried?
Cool! Reminds me of my Cork art project for the wall:
http://projectrowhouse.blogspot.com/2010/04/cork.html
I have been looking for wine glasses just like this one... anyone know where I can find some? Love the coasters!
Who says this has to be for wine glasses? Seems like these would be good for any beverages.
I just made a bulletin board earlier today with wine corks, with one big champagne cork sticking out to hang things on.
Another idea
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pafgadget/6144112403/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pafgadget/6150520833/
screw tops are better
I started this project last night and made a couple of coasters. I used a sharp kitchen knife to cut the cork. You can indeed sand cork, it works pretty well (I just used regular sandpaper). I also hot glued the bottom of the coaster to cork shelf paper, to hold it together better and give it a smooth surface on the bottom. Then I cut around the edges of the cork shelf paper with an exacto knife so that it does not stick out.
at first glance I loved this, but as soon as I thought about it I realized the fatal flaw--the gaps between the corks! :) I live in a tropical climate where coasters are a daily must with ALL drinks, due to insane amounts of condensation from our glasses, the liquid would trickle right through the gaps onto the surface below :( the last comment (by katester) about hot glueing some cork shelf paper to the bottom of each coaster would maybe solve this problem..not sure though?
It could be nice to keep the wine bottle on, however. I always manage to get a drip when I pour, and have stained a tablecloth or two....