DIY wine cork trivet

Trivet made out of wine corks, photo

My sister Christy came up with this super easy idea, and I love it. Even better: I had all the supplies on hand. No, I don’t drink wine, but I have plenty of friends who do. They saved their corks for a big project I have planned. I could spare a few for this trivet. You can make these any size or shape you want. They’d also be great as coasters. You can also make a wine-cork trivet by sewing together the corks with string.

Supplies to make a wine cork trivet, photo

How to make a wine cork trivet

SUPPLIES & TOOLS
  • 31 wine corks — all the same height, and made out of real cork, not plastic

  • 1½ yards of ⅞-inch-wide ribbon

  • hot glue gun & glue

  • fabric scissors

  • fine sandpaper

  • sharp serrated kitchen knife

  • cutting board

INSTRUCTIONS
Cut each cork in half, photo

1. Cut each wine cork in half with the kitchen knife. Try to cut as close to the middle as possible, so each will be the same height.

UPDATE: Several Pinterest pins have informed me that there’s an easier way to cut wine corks. Curb Alert swears that steaming wine corks on the stove for a few minutes makes them as easy to slice as butter. Check out their tutorial here. I have to try it!

Sand the corks smooth, photo

2. Sand the rough edges smooth and even out the height, if necessary.

Arrange the corks, photo

3. Arrange the wine corks in your desired pattern.

Glue the center line together, photo

4. Flip all the corks over, then start by gluing the center line together. A thin line of glue along the side is sufficient.

Continue gluing the corks from inside out, photo

5. Then glue more corks, one by one, onto that center line until they are all glued together.

Start gluing the ribbon on, photo

6. Start gluing the ribbon to the outside edge of the trivet. Squeeze a thin line of glue between each cork (one at a time), and then press the ribbon into the crevice. Let the last line of glue cool a bit before gluing the next (so you can pull the ribbon tight).

Trim the ribbon at the end, photo

7. When you reach the end, trim the ribbon, apply the final line of glue, and press the end into the crevice.

Trivet made out of wine corks, photo

8. Pick off the inevitable hot glue strands, let it cool, and you’re done.

Crafty Nest wine cork trivet Pinterest photo

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Made this project? Email your photo(s) to monica (at) craftynest (dot) com, and I’ll share your version here!

Christy's wine cork trivet, photo

My sister Christy sent me this picture of her friend’s wine cork trivet.