Over the course of the holiday season, you are apt to end up with a few used wine corks lying around your house. Whatever you do, don’t throw them away. There are plenty of great uses for old wine corks. Here’s a quick look at five of them:
Fishing Applications
When I was a child, my grandfather would save used wine corks and use them as fishing bobbers. He would also use them to organize his tackle box. He’d stick the ends of the loose fish hooks into the corks to help keep the exposed hooks from sticking into his fingers. He’d also use the corks to create a tool that he used to untangle fishing lines. The tool consisted of nothing more than a piece of cork and a fishing hook. He’d straighten out the fishing hook and file the barb. Then he’d stick the fishing hook into the cork and glue it into place. That was all there was to it.
Stage Make-Up
During my college years, I learned about another use for old wine corks. At the time I was taking a stage make-up and special effects class. The professor taught us that used wine corks, if slightly burnt and rubbed across a person’s face, may be used to create faux razor stubble and beards. It can also be used by hunters as an inexpensive face camouflage.
Replacement Checkers
Later on in life, because my children had a talent for loosing game pieces, I learned that used wine corks also make excellent replacement checkers. In order to convert used wine corks into replacement checkers, you’ll need a sheetrock knife, paint and a paint brush. Simply use the sheetrock knife to slice the wine cork into checker size pieces. Once that is done, paint the wine cork slices to match the color of your missing checkers. Afterward, let the wine cork slices dry thoroughly before attempting to use them.
Homemade Stamps
Used wine corks may also be converted into stamps using an X-Acto Knife. In order to convert a used wine cork into a stamp, use the X-Acto Knife to cut a design into one end of the cork. Afterward, press that end of the cork down into an ink pad. Then use the ink covered end of the wine cork to decorate a blank note card or piece of paper.
Wine Cork Crafts
Last but not least, there are numerous crafts that may be made from used wine corks. Among them are wine cork door pulls, wine cork wreaths, wine cork drink coasters and wine cork lampshades. For those that are interested, instructions for many wine cork crafts are readily available online.
Source: Personal Experience
Killeen Gonzalez has a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. She is a former special events planner.
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