Uses of Bottle Corks

• Cork is harvested from cork oak trees. Maria Toutoudaki/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Opening a bottle of wine by removing a cork is often seen as traditional and romantic and part of the wine-drinking experience. For wine enthusiasts, corks can litter the kitchen but seem like a waste to throw away. Reusing bottle corks is environmentally friendly and provides projects for wine-drinking craft enthusiasts.

Padding

• Chairs can easily scratch hardwood floors. empty cafe table black and white image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com

  Sliding furniture across the floor can scratch the floor. Cork acts as a natural padding to protect the floor. Cut enough flat pieces of cork to cover the bottom of a decorative item or the feet of a chair. Using glue or double-sided tape, stick the cork to the bottom and slide with ease.

Stop Sliding

• Constantly having to readjust a slanting picture can be fixed with a cork backing. picture frame corner image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com

  Reader's Digest suggests cutting up small pieces of cork and gluing them to the back of frames that are hung on the wall. The friction of the cork helps to hold the frame in place and avoid having to constantly readjust the picture.

Cork Board

• Bulletin boards keep important messages and memories at eye level. bulletin board image by Chad McDermott from Fotolia.com

  Bulletin boards are often made of cork, and a bottle cork board gives an option for a different look. Hot glue or super glue leftover corks vertically to a flat surface. Wood is ideal. Thumb tack important notes or pictures just like a store bought bulletin board.

Mulch

• Shred cork to make an all-natural, environmentally friendly mulch. garden image by memorialphoto from Fotolia.com

  Separate out artificial corks and use the natural corks from the cork oak to make a mulch. Using a high-powered blender, finely shred leftover corks and throw them in your garden. The cork helps soil hold water.

Bath Mat

• Natural cork is anti-fungal and absorbs water. Using waterproof adhesive, glue the corks together horizontally. For a normal-sized bathmat you will need approximately 200 (10 by 20) corks.

Stamps

• Although small, bottle corks can be used as stamps such as stationery monogram stamps. Although cork is easy to carve, be careful cutting into such a small surface. Give cork stamps to kids for art projects.