Talk about unique! Have you ever seen corks used this way? And, bonus!: This tray frame is not only a $3 thrift store find, but, also, we used recycled wine corks. That’s a win-win in the thrifty category if you ask me! We also have a FREEBIE DOWNLOAD ALERT for you! Because who doesn’t love free things, right? Because we are talking about wine corks today, we wanted to give you something fall festive for your wine bottles. Just print them, cut them out, and hang one over the neck of your wine bottle. You can download your set of three hang tags here!
So let’s get started on our tray. Here are the things that we used to create this cork frame tray. You can download the list here.
The first thing that you will want to do is boil your corks over medium heat for about 10 minutes.
Next comes peeling the corks. You will need a serrated knife and cutting board. Just cut down into the cork lengthwise, and then start cutting like you’re cutting the outside layer off. I show you exactly how I cut these corks in this Facebook Live. There is also a quick video tutorial inside the Live that shows close-ups. After you have cut your corks, just lay them flat on paper towels and lay something heavy (like a cast iron skillet) on top until they are dry.
Now comes the time to start laying out your corks on your frame. I wanted a little darker color on my wood frame, so I added some stain before starting the gluing process. Since I know that hot glue won’t stick to the glass on the frame, I just swapped the glass and the cardboard inside the frame. Now I have cardboard to use to glue the corks to and still have the glass that adds stiffness to the tray. I wanted the corks to be centered on the tray, so I found center and started gluing my corks from there.
Just continue gluing your corks until your frame is full. You may have to cut some of them to make them fit. You are basically done now and can enjoy your tray. Or, you can add some polyurethane for protection, jute around the edges, or some accent handles. Do whatever you want to make it fit into your decor.
I love, love, love this! Hope you are inspired to make your own tray or trivet.
Happy Crafting!
Krissy
