Do-it-yourself wine cork mat

After drinking tasty wine, do not rush to throw a cork from it. Such material can be used with benefit - to make a variety of crafts for home, for example, you can make a rug of wine corks with your own hands. The cork cortex does not tend to absorb moisture; moreover, such material is not susceptible to the harmful growth of bacteria. Thanks to these properties, it is suitable for rooms in which the level of humidity is increased. In addition, natural materials in home decoration are gaining in popularity. Let's consider some interesting ideas for creativity from this material.

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How to make traffic jams?

Wine cork seems to be quite familiar and ordinary thing, but for its manufacture, however, natural wood is used. For production, they use the thick bark of cork oak, the height of which is up to 10 m, and the life expectancy is up to two hundred years. Before the tree is used for industrial purposes, it has to grow at least a quarter century. And high-quality corks are made from wood, which is at least forty-five years old.

Important! The main territory on which cork oak grows is the Mediterranean. The main supplier of material is Portugal, the area of ​​oak plantations which reaches 2 million hectares. The annual harvesting volume is about 350,000 tons, but this is not enough, so corks are made not only from oak, but also from the bark of other trees. Their quality is lower, but they can also be used as material for crafts.

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The use of traffic jams in creativity

This material is a unique natural polymer. Among the main qualities can be identified:

• Water resistant;
• Strength;
• Elasticity;
• Elasticity.

Important! If you press hard on the material, over time it will easily restore its original shape.

Due to the numerous advantages and unusual appearance, cork jams are very popular with those who like to make crafts with their own hands. What can be made from corks from wine bottles? Let's consider in more detail.

Mat

In order to make a thing so necessary in the household, we collect 100-150 corks, they will be enough for a small product. In the event that you can’t collect it yourself, you can buy them in a specialized online store. Next, follow the instructions:

• We wash the cork in warm water with soap. To remove wine stains, soak the material overnight in water with a small amount of bleach.
• We rinse the material and dry it.
• We cut each stopper along - two identical parts should turn out. For convenience, you can use a cutting board.

Important! Wear special gloves to protect your fingers.

• Uneven surfaces that form after cutting are processed with sandpaper.
• Before you make a rug from wine corks, we prepare the basis. As such, you can use a rubberized cloth, an old shower mat or soft plastic. A soft cloth will be required in the middle of the product.
• We determine the size of the rug, cut out the base and middle of the fabric.
• Spread the cork. The future mat will be filled around the perimeter, from the edge to the center.
• We glue the base and dense fabric.
• Using hot glue we attach to the base of the cork. The glue is applied evenly on the flat part of the cork, then it is firmly pressed to the base.

Important! Excess glue should be removed immediately using a soft cloth. Bonding blanks between each other is not required.

• We apply PVA glue or matte varnish on top.
• Dry the product thoroughly.
• To achieve water resistance, a sealant is used to treat the edges and bottom.

Important! If the mat will be used in the bathroom, it must be dried in the sun at least once a month. In this way, mold formation can be avoided.

Do-it-yourself rug made of champagne corks using the same principle.

Tray

A beautiful tray is not only a practical thing, but also a stylish accessory for decor. And if you make it with your own hands, then it may well turn into an invaluable heirloom.

Learn how to make a tray of champagne corks with your own hands:

1. You can use the old deep tray as a base.
2. We wash the plugs and cut along.
3. We spread them on the basis - you can lay out some kind of drawing.
4. Glue the blanks to the base.
5. Dry the craft.
6. We put glass on top to make the surface more stable.

Hot Stands

We know how to make a rug from champagne corks or a tray, and it’s even easier to make a hot stand. For this:

1. Cut the cork into circles of the same thickness.
2. We fasten them. To do this, you can use the base and glue, stapler or fishing line. In the first case, the product will turn out to be rigid, and in the rest - flexible.

Important! If desired, it is possible to change the thickness of the stand.

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Stock footage

With the help of ordinary corks, you can make a lot of useful little things - handles for cabinets, holders for keys and jewelry, figures, paintings and much more. Just a little imagination and skill is enough!