Tutorial Tuesday: How to Make Wine Cork Place Card Holders

I just love my bloggy friends! Brightfish sent along this project for me and I loved it as soon as I saw it. I'm so excited to throw a party...and the more I think about it, I think it should be a wine tasting.

Let's get started,

Supplies:

Used wine corks, drink up! (you can always ask a local restaurant to save them for you, but what fun is that? I like the stained look of a used cork, and you are recycling something that would be tossed out.)
Card stock
Palm sander or sandpaper and a block of wood
Fine-toothed Hand saw or razor blade



The Big Guy has a handy clamp attached to his tool bench, so I used that to stabilize the cork. It isn't necessary, but it made things easier.


I chose which side would be the bottom of the cork and sanded a flat spot so it wouldn't roll on the table. If you don't have a palm sander, just wrap your sand paper around a blog of wood and sand away.


Next, using your saw or razor blade, cut a groove in the side opposite the flattened side. You will slide your place card into this groove, so experiment until it will fit.

See how the corks don't roll and have a groove? You can buy blank place cards at your local craft store or make your own with a sheet of card stock. I like paper that is aged looking with the used corks.

Set your table with your place cards. Voila!
Hmmmm.... remember my wine tasting party idea? Label the wines or the food. Love it!


I really need to plan a party now, I already have place cards for the perfect guests. Maybe I will post some great hors d'ouevre recipes soon.

Party Cracker Place Cards

I've made party "crackers" to use as place cards for this Christmas' dinner. I filled them with candy and toys for the kids and will mark every one's seat. Though they don't actually "crack", I'm sure my kids won't notice. They look festive for any party and I might pull this idea out again for New Years.

This time of year we all have empty wrapping paper tubes, so lets reuse...

I gathered my supplies, tubes cut into 6 inch lengths, wrapping paper, curling ribbon, scraps of paper, blank labels, candy and trinkets, and confetti.


Use the scrap paper to write little messages, jokes, fortunes...


Place the note into the tube first then, wrap your tube with a piece of paper about 6inches longer than the tube. Tie one end with the ribbon.


Drop your items into the tube then tie the other end closed.


Curl your ribbons and stamp names onto the labels then affix them to the outside of the cracker.

I should mention that I originally bought crackers at Costco last month for this purpose but realized last week that they were actually filled with adult items, like, wine openers, money clips, compasses...Maybe I should have stuck with those, the looks on the kids' faces would have been hilarious! But, like a responsible parent, I returned them and tried to figure out how to make a kid-friendly version.

Now, this seems like a good idea right now - but I'm guessing that this could end with kids beaning each other on the head with tubes, spilling confetti all over the place, and getting all hopped up on sugar before dinner. Fun, huh?

Oh, just for the fun of it click here for a good laugh. I'm telling you, you cannot watch this without a smile plastered on your face the whole time! (Turn up your volume to listen)