"CorkTrays" news and stories

After posting my homemade cork tray last month, I got some requests to see the tray in its entirety, so ask and ye shall receive!

Below you can check out a gallery that contains a bunch of pictures of my two trays. I first made the small one to test out my theory and have fun with alternating red wine and white wine corks. It was a really simple and easy project that now houses odds and ends near my front door. From there, I got the itch for grandeur and went much bigger with the second tray, seen in my other post.

Next up, I hope to make a larger and stronger tray for my large teapot, and maybe a non-resined tray that can double as a fancy trivet. And to answer the resin question: I'm not sure which brand I used for these -- I just pick up what's handy at the art supply stores.

Corks are one of the classiest pieces of garbage that can be made into something nice. Rather than throw them away, people fill ornate jars with them, make walls and bulletin boards with them, and even make trivets. But you can also make trays with them.

See, a friend of mine used to work in a restaurant, so he scored bag upon bag filled with corks for me, which were further compounded with the corks I was collecting myself. It bothered me to think of how many went in the trash, so I wanted to get crafty. My bright idea: Make cork trays. They're pretty, they've unique, and they provide a foodie double-service -- making the most of your waste while also making something new to present your food on.

What could be more appropriate for a wine and cheese gathering than cork trays?