How To Reuse Champagne Corks
(AKA: A Celebration Decoration)
At my desk, I’m boxed in by clear plastic tubs filled with keepsakes awaiting a scrapbook. An archeologists dig with a timeline of exhibition visits, concerts, outings, birthdays and holidays. Ticket stubs, used gift wrap with tags, pressed autumn leaves, polaroids, weather report cards left on the pristine-white striped bedding in Times Square, NYC. My only rule – no food residue? Keep it.
In 2010, Glen and I had been together for a couple of years when he got down on one knee (he actually did). We’ve celebrated big family birthdays, anniversaries, achievements, and drinking in many new years with a nice bottle of champers ever since.
Of course I kept the corks. But they weren’t partying buried in a ziplock bag, and certainly couldn’t be squished into a scrapbook.
Fast forward to 2020 – the same ziplock bag popping its contents, couldn’t take our 10th Wedding Anniversary contribution. Defo plenty of corks for an eye catching display.
We decided on a Roman numeral design.
‘X’. Ten. A Kiss.
Want to make your own Celebration Decoration? Here’s 10 simple steps for you to follow:
What you'll need...
- MDF (we used 18mm thick, at size 50cm x 50cm)
- Champagne Corks (bought or saved. We used 82 corks)
- A Jigsaw (for cutting out tight angles and curves)
- Strong glue (we used Gorilla Glue)
- Double sided self adhesive dots
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Eraser
- Sandpaper – medium and fine
- Paint – we’re using ‘Biscuit Crumbs’ by Valspar to blend in with the wall it’ll be mounted on, keeping focus on the corks.
- Woodfiller (for any little mistakes)
- Mini Roller and paint brush
- Drill bit, drill, screws (if wall mounting)
How to make your Celebration Decoration
Step 1
Decide on a shape you want to create. Print out the image/design you like (doesn’t have to be the final size) or keep on your phone screen as a reference.
Tip out the corks onto the MDF and roughly arrange using your reference image. This makes sure you have enough corks and determines the size of your final display.
We wanted the cork (with the 50p wedged in) from our Wedding Day in the centre – read about the tradition here.
Step 2
Take a photo with your phone and check the layout, sometimes you’ll notice corks slightly out of place when it’s in a photo rather than in front of you.
Using a pencil, draw lightly around your shape. If it’s straight edges, use a ruler. Curved/symmetrical (like a heart) you can check the symmetry when removing the corks. Take a final layout photo.
Once drawn around, remove the corks. You’ll have your phone snap to be able to put them back (phew)
Step 3
With straight lines, start to check the sizing works by measuring each section. and adjust your lines if needed. With curves, use the tracing paper and trace one side of the shape. Flip over and trace the other side onto the MDF.
Put the corks back in place like your reference photo to check one last time before cutting out
Step 4
Use a jigsaw and cut your shape out (no pics of this, the husband was using the saw while I held the wood steady)
It’s ok if you make a mistake. Woodfiller is your friend.
Step 5
Sand the edges to neaten. Wrapping sandpaper around a block of wood for straight edges helps keep them neat. Use medium sandpaper to rub down any marks left by the saw. And fine sandpaper to give edges a smooth defined finish.
Step 6
Paint with the colour of your choice. We went for Valspar ‘Biscuit Crumbs’ – the colour of the wall it’ll be hung on. We wanted a more subtle ‘X’ shape – the thickness of the wood will cast some nice shadows at different parts of the day and the corks remain the focus.
Go for whatever colour you like. Even neon pink with a accent colours on the side for an urban cool look?!
Step 7
Step 8
Using your reference photo, position the corks back in place on the painted shape. A ruler helps to get them back into neat lines
Step 9
Take one last photo to make sure it looks good. Then lift and glue each cork, leaving the corks off where you’ll be drilling to mount to the wall.
If wall mounting, use a narrow drill bit to make holes in between the corks. For the X, there are 4 holes. Walls aren’t always straight so we don’t want parts of the X hanging slightly away from the wall.
Step 10 (If your decoration will be fixed for a while)
Use strong glue to fix the final corks on top of yourr screws to hide them.
Step 10 (If you want to move your decoration)
Use double sided self adhesive dots on the final corks (instead of strong glue) to hide the screws. Then when you want to move your Decoration, the corks won’t get damaged on removal.
Arrange with other frames and art pieces for a memory style arrangement, or just have your Celebration Decoration as a stand alone feature.
Video 'How To'
