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.

Inspiration

Where do you draw inspiration? How do you capture it?

For years I've kept a notebook full of things I found inspiring, but often forgot I had it or only pulled it out to add something new. I want to be inspired unexpectedly, to look at those things everyday, to pull from it something different each time.

I wasn't aware of it, but I noticed I have "inspiration" boards all around my home now. I tack up anything I find beautiful, thought provoking, memory making. I come upon them at different times of the day and see something new or feel something new many times each day; and, man, is that INSPIRING!

To make my boards I use cork trivets with fabric hot glued on top Or for my favorite, I used wine corks I've collected, and deep picture frames. Sometimes they are called shadowbox frames or maybe just deep enough to accommodate an extra thick matte.



Remove the glass and insert the back into the frame. Use this as the base to glue your corks.


Hot Glue works fine for this, but you could use any kind of adhesive. Turn the corks so the label shows, it will add inspiration and interest, and change the direction from vertical to horizontal in a pattern for texture. The last corks can be easily trimmed to fit with scissors or a blade.


Rehang your cork board and tack anything you love, magazine pictures, photos, seed packets, recipes, event tickets and be inspired!