How to Make an Upcycled Wine Cork Wreath

A wine cork wreath has to be one of the cutest ideas I’ve seen for upcycling!  When I saw one of these upcycled wine cork wreaths on Pinterest, it seemed the perfect project to make with my stash of wine corks.  Don’t tell me that I am the only freak who has collected these for years!

Wine Cork Wreath

This wreath took 105 corks.  Yes, I suffered through drinking multiple bottles of wine just to make this wreath for you guys.  You’re welcome.

Supplies Needed:

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• Wine corks 
• Tacky Glue, Glue gun, or *Quick Hold Glue
• Serrated knife
• 12-inch MDF Wreath ring
• Twine or Cord for hanger
• Acrylic Craft Paint
• Mod Podge or White Glue
• Clear Glitter

 

*If you are planning on displaying your wreath outside, you would be advised to use Quick Hold Glue.  This glue will hold in 2 - 3 minutes, cure in 2 - 6 hours, and then hold up in up to 150°F heat and cold 
as low as -40°F. 
I picked up the MDF wreath ring at Hobby Lobby for under $5.

Cutting the Corks for the Wine Cork Wreath

To make the cork wreath more visually attractive, you can cut some of the corks to different lengths.  It’s not always necessary to boil the corks but some corks don’t cut cleanly if you don’t.  

Before cutting the wine corks, boil them in water for 10 minutes.  Then, remove the corks one at a time with a slotted spoon.   The cork is really not hot, but the boiling water is!   I picked the cork right out of the spoon, one at a time, set each on a cutting board, and cut with a serrated knife.

Surprisingly, the big fancy serrated knife did not cut as cleanly as this simple little serrated knife.

One thing you’ll notice is that the corks that have been boiled do swell.  You would think the corks would shrink back to size overnight, but they did not.  You can take advantage of this size difference when you glue the cork flowers to the wreath ring.

Notice that I also cut down all of the corks for some of the cork flowers.

The Cork Flowers

The cork flowers each take 7 corks, one for the center and 6 to surround it.  I make some of the centers higher than the cork petals by gluing the outer corks a little lower to the center cork.  To lower the centers, just cut off the end of the center cork a little.  You can make these without cutting the corks but varying them a little just adds interest.

Gluing the Wine Cork Flowers

I chose not to use the glue gun.  Side note, did you know that if you store your glue sticks in the freezer, it cuts down on that stringing?   

Anyway, after burning the heck out of the tip of my forefinger with a hot glue gun a couple of months ago, using it for this project did not sound appealing…

Tacky Glue is usually my go-to glue for most craft projects.  I started out with the Tacky Glue.  For whatever reason, the glue didn’t seem to get as tacky and take hold as quickly as it normally does.  Working with it is a little more tedious, doable, but more tedious.  I used rubber bands to hold the corks in place at different stages.

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I picked up some Quick Hold Glue at the fabric store.  This glue sets up more quickly and it is easy to glue all the petal corks to the center at one time.  Then, just wrap rubber bands around the cork flower to hold it in place.  Readjust the corks, set the cork flower down, and allow it to set. 

The Wreath Ring

I’ve seen lots of crafters use 6-inch x 3/4-inch wooden craft sticks or tongue depressors for this project.  I personally think that looks kind of messy and thought there has to be a better option.

Then, I noticed some crafters use a thicker MDF wreath ring, but it shows around the corks.  

This wreath ring is made from MDF, measures 12 inches in diameter, and is a much narrower 1/2 – inch.  The cork flowers cover this ring much better.

To Paint or Not to Paint the Cork Wreath

Initially, the plan was to leave the corks in their natural state.  Then, I began to consider painting the corks and using the wreath as part of the Valentine’s Day mantel decor.

As I sat in the kitchen working on this wreath, I looked up at Valentine’s decorations on the fireplace.  It dawned on me that this wreath needs to be red and white.  Then, I noticed the wine cork heart I made a few years ago.  It is painted white and has clear glitter on it.  The painting plan is clear at this point.

Creating a Hanger and Gluing the Cork Flowers to the Ring

Before you start gluing the wine cork flowers to the wreath ring, you need to attach some kind of a hanger.  I’m using twine.  Use twine, cording, ribbon, or string if you like.   To attach the twine, fold a length in half, position the loop under the ring, and thread the ends through the loop.  This is called a lark’s head knot.  My years of doing macrame come in handy again…

You can tie a knot in the end for a hanger.  I’m leaving the ends loose for right now because the plan is to tie the wreath onto a decorative arch in the Valentine’s Day mantel display.

Just to be sure the cork flowers could be glued to the wreath ring and held securely, I glued two of the cork flowers on the ring and let them dry while I painted some of the flowers.  Yes, they seem very secure and the Quick Hold glue works perfectly!

Painting the Cork Flowers

I suggest that you paint your cork flowers before you glue them to the ring.  It’s just a little easier to paint them before gluing, not difficult, but easier to hold the individual little flowers in your hand.

For this project, just the tops are painted with acrylic craft paint.  In keeping with the red and white Valentine’s Day mantel display, I paint the shorter cork flowers with red centers and white petals.  Then, the taller cork flowers are painted with white centers and red petals.

Glitter Takes Wine Cork Wreath Up a Notch

Paint some Mod Podge on each of the corks that have been painted white.  Then, sprinkle the clear glitter over the Mod Podge.

Then, just tap and shake off the excess glitter.  A small dry paintbrush can be used to brush off any glitter that gets on the red centers and petals.

The glitter just adds a little extra, doesn’t it?

Gluing the Cork Flowers to the Wreath Ring

Lay the cork flowers out on the wreath ring and decide how you want to arrange them.  Remember to attach the hanger before you start gluing your flowers to the ring.

Place the cork flowers on the ring and decide on placement.

Place the cork flower where you want it.  Turn it around and adjust until it sits flat and fits nicely.  Apply the glue to the MDF wreath ring, then, set the cork flower on top of the glue in that position.  Be sure to remove any cork that protrudes from using the corkscrew so the flower sits flat.

Remember how I told you that boiling the corks expands them a little?  Well, I made a couple more of the squat flowers with white petals to take up more space so that the flowers completely covered the ring.  Seriously, using the Quick Hold glue makes creating these so much faster!

To finish the wreath, I made a bow from black and white wired ribbon and used florist wire to attach it to the wreath.

I can’t believe how sweet this little wreath looks!    Don’t you love this DIY wine cork wreath?

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