Wreath Uncorked

I recently re-hung this wreath I made out of corks but not without some TLC first.  Why make a wreath out of corks?  Because they are pretty, unique, super easy to make and store bought ones will cost you $75 or more.  Making it your self will cost less than $15.  Enough money talk...back to the wreath.

Wine corks are a beautiful natural and free decorating and crafting resource.  This wreath needed some TLC because many of the corks had fallen off while being stored in my attic.  I love the way it looks but will wrap the wreath form in brown paper next time because the corks do not stick to the straw wreath form very well.  I like a cork wreath because you can use it for any season or holiday.  This wreath has been gussied up for Christmas with a big red bow and the 4th of July with red, white and blue ribbon circling it and a larger bow too.  Here is the how to if you want to make your own wreath:

Supplies needed:  1 wreath form - either straw or green sturdy styrofoam, brown paper shopping bags, glue gun and glue sticks, lots of corks and your bow or ribbon.  Depending on the size of your wreath, you will need 50-150 corks.  You will have to drink a lot of wine or recruit your friends and local bartenders to get some for you!

Instructions:  Cut brown bags in long thin strips about 2 inches wide and as long as you can make them.  Take your strips and wrap them around your wreath form (going in and out of the hole in the middle sort of like wrapping an ace bandage) and secure with the glue gun.  The corks will stick to the paper better than the straw or styrofoam.  Then take your corks and glue them to the wreath.  You can stick to a random pattern as I have done or something more symmetrical and glue them in a ring pattern.  I have done both and like them both.  Just know that the more symmetrical your pattern, the more corks you will need.  Add what ever color bow to the wreath that suits the time of year and hang!

Check out this link for more pictures and the how to from http://www.save-on-crafts.com/.  http://www.save-on-crafts.com/corkwreath.html