How to make a cute quick and easy wine cork poodle

In this tutorial we will show you how to make a cute quick and easy wine cork poodle.  You can make this adorable poodle with recycled wine corks and just a few simple craft supplies that you may already have on hand.  This wine cork poodle makes a great gift for a dog lover on your list or even a sweet Mother’s day gift. I’ve made my poodle pink but you can make one in blue, white, or any color you choose.

Be sure and check out the whole series of wine cork creations by Make it easy crafts!

So let’s get started.

You will need:

Wine corks

Pink or white bump chenille stems

Pink or white chenille stems

Scrap of trim or ribbon

Small corks

Tiny pompoms

Xacto or craft knife

Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Self-healing mat tor work on

Ruler

Fine 220 sandpaper

Black dimensional fabric paint

Instructions:

1.     To make the legs measure and cut a wine cork in half.  Then stand it up the cork half and slice in half vertically.  Rub the cut sides on the fine sandpaper to smooth.  Make a vertical slice on one side (this will be the side of the leg that sits on the table) and smooth on the sandpaper.  Repeat for other cork half.

2.     Now cut a piece of chenille stem that just fits around the front of the leg and attach with some hot glue.  Attach the leg with some hot glue to another whole cork. (Body)

3.     You may optionally add tiny pom poms around the leg as well if desired.

4.     Cut a ¾” piece from another cork. Save the rest for the head.

5.     Stand the ¾” cork on end and slice it in half vertically.  Lay this piece flat and slice again horizontally.  You will have two quarters (arms) Discard the other side or save for another poodle.

6.     Slice a little at the ends of each arm quarter.  This will make it glue onto the body at an angle.  Add a piece of chenille around each end of the arms like you did with the legs and attach with some hot glue.  Now glue the arms onto the body.

7.     Now attach the piece of cork you saved for the head with some hot glue onto the top of the body.

8.     Glue a tiny cork on to the front of the face (nose)

9.     To make the ears, cut a piece of matching bump chenille stem leaving the thicker part in the center and thinner parts about ½” on each end (ears) 

10. Glue a matching colored pompom on each of the ends.  Attach to the center top of head and bend ears upwards.

11. Glue on some ribbon or other trim around neck for collar.

12. Cut a one-inch piece of chenille stem and glue to the center back for tail.  Attach a pompom on the end. To finish add a brown tiny pom pom for the nose.  Use the black dimensional fabric paint to add two dots for the eyes and let dry. 

How to make a quick and easy themed wreath

In just a few minutes you can create this fun and easy themed wreath!

There are tons of 7/8” grosgrain ribbon prints.  And you can find one that fits you perfectly!  I created this wreath with an airplane print ribbon since my hubby is so into airplanes.  It would like equally awesome if you used one that has musical notes, ballerina slippers, or any one of hundreds of prints. 

The fabric I used reminded me of blue sky, which fit the theme for my wreath.  For whichever print ribbon you use simply match a scrap of fabric with the ribbon.

The flat Masonite type wreath form I used had the monogram attached, but you can substitute one without the monogram and just add your monogram to the center with some wire. This wreath is so quick to make you can easily create one in less than an hour!

Materials:

Flat wreath form with monogram or flat wreath from and separate monogram

7/8” wide grosgrain printed ribbon

Scrap of coordinating fabric

Tacky craft glue

Paintbrush

Paper plate for palette

Scissors

Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Ruler

Acrylic paint to match the ribbon print

Disappearing marker or chalk pencil

Hand drill and wire (optional for adding the monogram letter if necessary)

Instructions:

1.     Place the monogram face down on the fabric.  Use a disappearing marker or chalk pencil to trace around.  Next, cut all around the marks you made making sure you are a little over the line. (The excess can be cut off later but better to have too much than too little)

2.     Thin some tacky glue with water and using the paintbrush apply to the monogram.  Add the fabric letter to the base working in small sections.  Let dry.  When try you can cut off any excess fabric. If you are working with a separate monogram letter, drill a hole in the center and attach to the wreath from with some wire.

3.     Now use the paintbrush with some matching acrylic paint to cover the back of the wreath from and the back of the letter.

4.     Next, apply the ribbon.  Cut six-inch lengths of the 7/8” ribbon.  Fold into a loop (like a awareness ribbon, see photo) and using the hot glue gun, add to the wreath form. Work in the same direction one on top of the other all around, adding dabs of hot glue as you go.

5.     When you reach the end add one last pointed ribbon to complete the circle.  Add some wire to the top for hanging.

How to make an adorable leprechaun wine cork bear

Basic bear instructions:

You will need:

3 wine corks

1 champagne cork

1/8” thick cork sheet available at craft stores

Small awl or pointed nail

Xacto or craft knife

Shamrock felt shape

Scrap of white felt

Tiny brown or black pom pom

Black dimensional fabric paint or small black beads

20-gauge wire

Wire cutters

Ruler 

Fine line marker

220 fine sandpaper

Piece of heavy corrugated cardboard to cut on

Glue gun and glue sticks

Scrap of 22-gauge green wire

Small cork stopper

Black acrylic paint

Black card stock

Gold acrylic paint

Tiny paintbrush

1.     Protect your work surface with one or two pieces of heavy corrugated cardboard. Using two matching wine corks and the Xacto knife, slice thinly down each cork.  Rub on the fine sandpaper to smooth.  This will allow the corks to be stable. Run a bead of hot glue down the side of one cork and attach them together.  These are the legs and base of your bear. 

2.     Add a generous amount of hot glue on the bottom of the champagne cork (Body) focusing on the areas where it attaches to the legs. Center the body on the legs and attach. (See photo)

3.     Measure and mark a line halfway across the third wine cork.  Use the Xacto knife to cut the cork in half.  Rub the cut end of one half on the sandpaper to smooth.  Turn the half cork on its end and mark in half diagonally and cut.  You will have two arm pieces.  (Save the other half for another bear or discard)

  

4.     Cut a ½” piece of 20-gauge wire.  Use the awl to make a pilot hole in an arm piece and insert the wire piece.  Make another hole in the body with the awl or nail, add some glue on the arm end with wire and insert into the body hole.  Repeat for other arm on opposite side.

5.     Trace and cut two ears (half moon shapes) on the flat 1/8” thick cork and use the Xacto to cut out.  Cork cuts easily but at that thickness it is simpler to cut them out using short strokes with the pointed end of the Xacto.  If there are any rough areas lightly rub against the sandpaper.  Trim to fit the head if necessary. Add some glue to the edges of the ears and attach to each side of the head. (The first steps are for the basic bear.  If you are making the leprechaun, don't attach the ears until you have added the hat)

Finishing your Leprechaun wine cork bear

Paint the cork stopper black and let dry.  Cut a ¾” circle from black cardstock and attach to the     painted cork stopper with some glue.  Add to the top of the bear’s head.

Using the tiny paintbrush and gold paint, add a gold line around the base of the hat.  (See photo) Add some glue to the top of the bear’s head and attach the hat in between the ears.

Now make the pot of gold.  Cut a tiny bit off the leftover cork from making his arms.  Using the craft knife carefully carve out the center.  You don’t have to go that deep and leave a ample rim.  Cut about 6 inches of wire and insert for a handle. 

Paint, the center of the pot with gold paint.  You can also use a paper hold punch to punch out some gold cardstock and glue to the top of the pot. 

To finish your bear, glue a shamrock on the belly.  Cut a circle of white felt for the face and add with some glue.  Add the pompom in the center with some more glue.  Use the dimensional fabric paint toe make two eyes, or alternately glue on some seed beads.