Monday, January 23, 2012

Cork Crazy!

                                                      Corks, Corks and More Corks!!

My 2011 New Years Resolution was to finally start an online Arts & Crafts business and make and sell all the things that I have been making and giving as gifts to friends and family for years.  Everyone has been bugging me to do this and I finally got up the courage to give it a try.  Well, I have been in business for a little less than a year now and it's slowly beginning to become a profit making venture.  Either on my online Esty page, at local Arts and Crafts Bazaars and my sweet hubby has
even shared some of his man cave with me so that I am able to have a display of all of my goodies for customers to drop by and check it out.  What a guy, right!!

Among the many things that I make and sell are hand painted wine glasses, cut and engraved wine bottles and misc. products made out of corks.  On occasion, I have been asked, "Do you drink all of  that wine?"  I kinda' have to giggle at that one.  Don't get me wrong.  I do enjoy a good glass of wine or two, but The answer is no, well, not all, I do save all of my bottles, jars and corks, but I also have friends and family who bring me bottles and  my best friend works at a restaurant that serves wine so she collects all of their corks and gives them to me.  Since my cork collection has been growing in the last few months, I've been trying to come up with some new ideas for corks.  So, where else would I go, but to my faithful and never disappointing Pinterest!!

corksyeah wine corks!

These are both pinned to my board "DIY and Crafts"

The first picture is one that my daughter, Danielle has requested.  It's on my list Danielle, I promise!!

Since Valentines Day is right around the corner, I thought something to do with hearts would be a good idea and I had seen several cork/chalkboards that others had made on Etsy.com.  So using all of these ideas I came up with my own. WA-LA!!


Will soon have this for sale on my Etsy page, but if you wanted to make your own, it's pretty simple really. All you need is a simple wooden board, whatever size you like, then just paint the entire board with chalkboard paint.  I had some that I had bought at Walmart, but I have also seen on Pinterest, recipes to make your own chalkboard paint in any color you like.  I will definitely be trying that out one day soon.  Ok then just a few wine corks.  For the border, I cut the corks in half and glued them all the way around the edge.  Then for the heart I stood them up end to end and glued them into the shape of a heart.   I did get a little glue here and there on the chalkboard as I was gluing on the corks, no worries.  Just touch up with a little more paint!!

Here are a couple other ideas I have come up with.
Christmas Ornaments

Candle Holder

A friend was also telling me that she had strung corks for garland on her Christmas tree!!  I have seen lots of ideas and I still have lots more corks to work with, so be assured that I will be going to Pinterest for more inspiration.  Well, right after I get Danielle's jewelry board made.

Recycle those corks!!  Even if you don't want to use them, bring them over!!!! 
I will find a use for them!!

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