Recycled Sunflower Champagne cork earrings tutorial

As I’m getting ready to post this tutorial it is snowing. Even so it is closer and closer to spring so why not make something bright and cheery in honor of the upcoming season?  These recycled sunflower champagne cork earrings are so easy to create when you follow the step-by-step instructions.  They are sure to start a conversation wherever you go so why not make a pair or two today?

You will need:

Champagne corks

X-acto or craft knife

Glass from an old picture frame for cutting the corks on

Heavy corrugated cardboard and waxed paper to cover your work surface

Small paintbrush 

Acrylic paint- (I used Martha Stuart Satin) Chamomile, Pollen, Jonquil, Chestnut brown, and black

Gloss acrylic finish

Ultra Fine point sharpie marker

Fine sandpaper

Drill with small bit

Awl or nail

Green E-sized seed beads

Tacky glue

2 inch head pins

Fish hook ear wires

Round nosed pliers

1.     Working on a protected surface (glass from old picture frame) and using a craft knife, carefully cut the top portion  (at the neck area) off the cork.  Cork is very easy to cut if you use a rocking motion with the craft knife while pushing downward.  Repeat with a second cork.  You will have two discs.

2.     Rub both sides of the corks on a piece of fine sandpaper to smooth. Use the sandpaper to sand off any writing on the top of the cork since you will be painting on it.

3.     Place the disc on its side on heavy cardboard and drill a hole all the way through it.  Use an awl or nail to widen the hole if necessary.

4.     Working on the front of the disc use a sharpie marker to make a largish circle in the center.  Make leaves around the circle shape with pointed tips.  This will be your painting guide.  (See photo) Don't worry about being perfect, flowers aren't perfect either  :-)

5.     Fill in the petals with the Chamomile color.  While the paint is still wet, add some strokes of the pollen color.  Continue until you have painted all the petals.  Let dry.

6.     Fill in the center of the flower with chestnut brown.  While it is still wet make small dots with black paint all around the edges of the center.  Make the edges jagged and even overlap on the petals slightly. (See photo)  Continue adding black in a smaller circle in the center of the brown circle.  Let dry. 

7.     Add teeny dots of jonquil to the center circle of the flower.  Let dry.

8.     Use some black paint thinned with water and a tiny brush to outline the petals and add a few lines to the base of the petals.  (See photo) When all the paint has dried, brush on some gloss acrylic finish to protect the flower. You may want to turn it over and paint a sunflower on the other side as well.  

9.     Thread a green E bead on a 2-inch head pin and insert in the bottom of the hole you made in the cork till it comes out the opposite end.  Dab a tiny dot of glue at the base where the head pin exits and thread another E bead on the protruding head pin. (The glue will help to hold the bead stationary) Add a fishhook ear wire making sure it is facing the correct direction, and then use the round nosed pliers along to bend the wire to the left and then curl around to the base to close the loop.  (See photo)

Easy St. Patrick’s Day hanging coins display

I decorate my foyer for each and every holiday, and since my husband is Irish St. Patrick’s Day is a big holiday in our family.  This little display can be set up on a dining table, mantle, foyer table and more.  I use a little twig tree but you can easily substitute any sort of tree or an attractive branch from the craft store in a weighted pot.  You can even hang these little coins from hooks along the mantle!  The sky is the limit. 

You will need:

Coins available from the craft store

Green rattail ribbon or regular ribbon or fine cord

Ruler

Scissors

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Screwdriver, or other tool (to press the coins together while gluing)

For the pot of gold you will need:

Small terra cotta flowerpot

Aquarian gravel or pebbles

Coins for the pot

1.     Measure and cut a piece of ribbon 6 inches in length.  Fold in half.  Add a dab of hot glue to the side of one coin and press the ends of the folded ribbon into the glue.  Use the screwdriver to press it down so you don’t burn your fingers.

2.     Add some more hot glue and press another coin on top of the first one sandwiching the two coins together.  Use the screwdriver to press them tightly.  Hang the coins on a twig tree or hang them from hooks on the mantle or other places. 

To make the pot of gold

1.     Place a coin or piece of cardboard in the bottom of the flowerpot of stop up the hole in the bottom.  Fill with aquarium gravel or pebbles to weight it almost to the brim.

2.     Fill the open area with coins and display.

Recycled champagne cork St. Patrick’s Day earrings tutorial

I’ve done lots of crafts with regular wine corks and even included some Champagne corks in my designs.  Recently I thought why not create some really green earrings from these mushroom shaped corks?  There was a cross design on the corks I had but you can easily make these with any champagne corks if you follow this easy tutorial.  Great for parties and definitely a conversation starter!

You will need:

Champagne corks

Craft knife or X-acto knife

Drill with small bit

Small awl or nail

Small paintbrush

Green acrylic paint

2 inch head pins

Fish hook ear wires

Jump rings

Green E size seed beads

Needle nosed, and round nosed pliers

Fine sand paper

Heavy corrugated cardboard to protect your work surface

Optional green sequins and sequin pins

1.     Working on a protected surface and using a craft knife, carefully cut the top portion  (at the neck area) off the cork.  Cork is very easy to cut if you use a rocking motion with the craft knife while pushing downward.  Repeat with a second cork.  You will have two slightly rounded discs.

2.     Rub the cut area of the corks on a piece of fine sandpaper to smooth.  This is the back of your earring.

3.     Place the disc on its side on heavy cardboard, and with the front facing out carefully drill a hole through the earring.  Use an awl or nail to widen the hole all the way through.  (See photo)

4.     Thread a green E bead on a 2-inch head pin and insert in the bottom of the hole you made in the cork till it comes out the opposite end.  Thread another E bead on the protruding head pin.  Use the round nosed pliers to bend the wire to the left and then curl around to the base to close the loop.  (See photo)

5.     Working on the front of the earring center and using a small paintbrush and green acrylic paint, make a tiny heart shape.  Make three more heart shapes meeting at the points around. (Shamrock)  Let dry.  Repeat with second earring.  Let dry and apply a second coat if needed. 

6.     Turn over and repeat another shamrock on the opposite side and let dry.  Repeat this step on second earring.

7.     Using the needle nosed pliers, open a jump ring by twisting rather than pulling open.  Attach it to the loop on the top of the earring and add a fishhook ear wire, making sure it is facing in the right direction. Twist to close.  Repeat for second earring.

8.     Optional—For extra flair, attach a green sequin with a sequin pin in the center of your shamrock.  You may do this on both sides.  It is easiest to push the pin in using a hard surface. 

Note:  Come back to visit Make it easy crafts for more easy Champagne cork earring tutorials with other seasonal designs soon.