Looking for easy cork crafts? These DIY wine cork keychains are quick to make, budget-friendly, and perfect as handmade gifts or small craft fair items! Creative wine cork projects are some of my favorites and once you’ve made these, you’ll be looking for even more wine cork craft ideas! They don’t get much easier (and cool!) than these!
I have always believed that a good craft doesn’t need to cost a fortune or take hours to make. Some of the best projects I’ve done have started with things most people would toss in the trash. Wine corks are one of those underrated supplies, but they perfect for frugal crafters like me. This cork craft idea turns them into something useful: wine cork keychains. They can be used for so many things; these cork craft keychains, Christmas tree decor, paint them white and you can make snowmen ornaments, to make a wine cork Christmas tree or other Christmas decorations, wedding favors and so much more!
These wine cork crafts are lightweight, practical, and come together fast with just a few basic supplies. I’ve made these for Christmas gifts, small thank-you gestures, craft fair inventory. You name it and it will usually fit the situation. They’re also a fun way to reuse something that would otherwise get tossed.
All you really need is a wine cork, an eye hook and screw, a key ring, and something decorative like a charm or a bead. If you want to get fancy, you can add ribbon or burn initials into the cork. But even the simplest version of these looks great.
The best part is that they are super simple to make and fast! From start to finish, each one takes less than 10-minutes to put together! These cork keychains are the exact kind of craft I love; simple, cheap and super easy to customize and you don’t need a lot of corks lying around to do them!
How to prepare wine corks for crafts
If you’re using the cork from left over wine bottles, you might notice that it has dried out or become brittle; especially if it’s been sitting around for a while. To prep them, all I usually do is make sure they’re clean and dry. A quick wipe with a damp cloth is enough to remove any wine residue. You don’t need to soak them or do anything fancy. If the cork is too dry and you’re worried about splitting, a little spritz of water and letting them sit overnight in a bag helps soften them just enough to be easier to work with.
If you, like me, don’t have wine or champagne cork lying around, you can buy them HERE. These usually don’t need any prep at all. They’re softer and more flexible from the start, which makes them a bit easier to pierce or screw into and honestly, they’re what I prefer to use over the real thing anyhow.
Do you need to boil wine corks for crafts?
For this craft, no. You do not need to boil the cork. Boiling wine corks is sometimes recommended for certain types of cork crafts, especially when you’re cutting them into pieces or making something that needs the cork to be extra flexible. But for these keychains, there’s no reason to go that far. In fact, boiling them could actually make them too soft and risk the hardware pulling out later.
As long as they’re clean and not crumbling, you’re good to go. Save yourself the extra step.
Where can I find wine corks for craft projects?
If you drink wine, you’ve probably already got a few tucked away or you can ask friends or family to save theirs too. People are usually happy to help if they know you’re putting them to good use.
But if you need a bunch or want consistency in size and material, the easiest place to grab a set is HERE on Amazon. They’ve got packs of real or synthetic corks specifically sold for crafting, and that’s what I usually reach for when I’m prepping for a big batch of gifts or items to sell. You’ll get a variety of textures and patterns, which actually makes the final product feel a bit more personal.
These wine cork keychains check every box for a good cork craft project in my book. They’re a great DIY project, they’re cheap, and they look like something you’d actually want to use or give since they make great gift ideas. You don’t need special tools or a big supply stash. Just a little time and creativity.
And if you’re like me and enjoy having a stash of small, thoughtful gifts ready to go, easy wine cork crafts like this one are a great thing to keep in your back pocket!
DIY Wine Cork Key Chains
Instructions
- Twist a screw eye into one of each wine cork then attach a split ring to the loop of the screw eye to create the key chain itself.
- Cut an eye pin in half using wire cutters or sharp scissors.
- Using the side of the eye pin that still has the loop, push a bead onto the pin. Then, push the beaded eye pin into the other end of the cork.
- Add the charm of your choice by twisting open the attached jump ring on the charm. Slide it through the loop in the eye pin and twist closed.
