Cork Stamps: DIY

While sitting around and catching up with some good friends last night, I picked up a wine cork and started carving into one end. My cutting skills certainly weren't perfect, especially with the blunt knife I was using. Therefore, if you give this a try, I recommend using a sharper edge.

As we continued to chat, others joined in to carve corks, and our kids had fun making random pictures with their new stamps.

Here's a quick tutorial on how we made our cork stamps:

Materials Needed:
Corks, preferably with smooth, flat ends
Knife, razor, or X-Acto knife (freshly sharpened)
Ink Pad (or you could make some fun red ink with beet juice!)
Paper

Directions:

1. If you choose to draw your design on the cork first, just remember that any designs or letters with a ‘right’ direction need to be created in reverse. 
2. Proceed to cut out your design. Watch out for fingers! 
3. Press your new stamp into the ink pad. Don't pound. Transfer the stamp to paper and press firmly. 

Have fun! XOXO to you this holiday season!