Whether you want something cute to keep on your desk and to customize your desktop or you’re looking for a nice gift idea for someone you care about, a framed cork board can be the perfect answer. It’s easy to make and it’s the perfect blend of looks and functionality. There’s also lots of interesting and original ways in which this project can be customized so keep an open mind and use your creativity.

Materials needed to make a framed cork board:

wood picture frameknifecreme, grey and pastel pink acrylic paintspaint brushhot glue gunwine corks

How to craft this cork board:

Step 1: Remove the backing

First things first, prep the picture frame. Take out the backing and set it aside. Be careful not to damage it because you’ll need to put it back on later.

Step 2: Paint the frame

As mentioned in the beginning, you’ll need some acrylic paints in a few different colors for this project. One of them is used to paint the frame. We chose the creme-colored acrylic paint for this because it’s simple and allows the focus to be on the corks rather than on the frame that surrounds them.

Step 3: Paint the backing

There’s no need to paint it on both sides. Only the side which is going to be visible from the front once the backing is put back into the frame needs to be painted. Use the same paint color that you used for the frame for a simple and cohesive look.

Step 4: Cut the corks in half

Now that the frame is prepped and ready to go, it’s time to shift your focus on the wine corks. Use a knife to cut each one in half lengthwise. Use a cutting board or a cork mat to ensure that you don’t damage your worktable as you do this. Try to be as precise as possible and to make clean cuts.

Step 5: Paint the half corks

After you’ve cut each cork in half, take those pieces and paint them. There’s no need to paint the flat side since that won’t be visible but make sure you cover all the other sides thoroughly.

We used three different colors for this. We painted some of the half corks light pink and some light grey. This way we were able to arrange them in rows and to alternate the colors to create a nice pattern. Feel free to use any combination of colors you prefer or to stick to a monochrome design if you want something simple and subtle.

Step 6: Put the backing on the frame

Make sure the paint is all dry before you do this. Take the backing and put it back on the frame the way it was in the beginning. It should all look just like before except for a change of color.

Step 7: Glue the half corks onto the frame

Flip the frame right side up and arrange the half corks in a pattern. Don’t put the glue on just yet. Make sure you’re happy with how the corks are organized and spaced out. Then prep your hot glue gun and start securing the corks onto the backing one by one. Put frame was just big enough to fit three rows of corks in. When this is done your framed cork board is complete!