Hey, friends! Today I’m sharing a wine cork candle… thing. I don’t really know what to call it because I won’t necessarily be using it as a centerpiece… wine corks as candle filler? wine corks and a candle in a glass cylinder? I-drink-a-lot-of-wine candle decor? So I’ll just go with wine cork candleholder.
I didn’t have to look very far for wine corks. I’ve been saving them for a few years and displaying them in a large glass cylinder in our kitchen.
I was curious about how many corks I’ve collected, so I counted. The grand total? 292. No, I don’t have a drinking problem. Other people helped me drink some most of those 292 bottles of wine…
If you’re not a lush wine enthusiast like me, you could ask a local restaurant, banquet hall, or winery to save corks for you. You can also buy them (here) if you don’t want to mess with asking around.
I used the large glass cylinder that I was originally storing the corks in. For the actual candle holder, I grabbed one of the leftover glass cylinders from our wedding (bought at Dollar Tree). I simply put the smaller glass cylinder in the middle of the large glass cylinder.
Then, I put the wine corks around the smaller cylinder and a candle in the smaller cylinder. Nothing fancy here, I merely dumped the corks into the large container.
Sidebar: I used my favorite candle for this project– Caribbean Coconut by Aroma-Mix (found at Kohls). I absolutely LOVE this scent. Seriously, so they don’t go to waste when the wick burns out, I cut them up and put them in my candle warmer. Unfortunately, they stopped making this scent. So if anyone finds these candles please let me know.
And, here’s the final project! What do you think?
When I finished with the large cylinder, I thought that maybe not enough light was getting through the corks, so I made another with a smaller cylinder.
I think they turned out well! And, I spent a whopping $0 to make them. These would make gorgeous (and inexpensive) centerpieces for a wedding or wine and cheese party.
With all this talk about wine, what’s your favorite? I’m a Moscato and sweet red kind of girl.

Stalk away!
Jamie says
This is so cute! I used all of our wine corks for our wedding. I did find that wineries were very nice about giving up their used corks.
Heather says
love this idea…will definitely have to do a version of this in the near future. Love Moscato myself but Reisling is my #1 favorite 🙂
Emily says
Super cute idea! Oh how I miss wine… 🙂
Aileen says
Love this idea! I collect them too but might need a few more to try this idea.
Meggan from Lila Grace Accessories says
Great idea!! I had been collecting wine corks for an apothecary jar, and ran out of room, but I will have to start collecting all over again! xo
{cuppakim} says
that looks awesome! i have been saving my corks too…all four of them. hahaha.
i don’t drink much wine.
one day i’d love to do that. 🙂
and for now, i’m swapping out my multi-colored beans for coffee beans on my copy cat candle holders i made (like yours with the green peas)
donatella says
…this is what I will do with all the corks that i’ve been saving for a good use! thanks for sharing, looks so pretty 🙂 found your link at tip junkie
Kathleen says
I love this idea. I made cork trivets and a cork chess set (you can see them here http://alwayssewlove.blogspot.com/2010/12/wine-cork-chess-set.html. I bought my corks on ebay and still have some left over. I am going to make one of your candles. Thanks so much for sharing!
Blessings,
AlwaysSewLove
DecorandtheDog says
Cute idea! I have seen the corks in just a glass container but I like the candle idea better!
Jennifer @ Delightfully Noted says
So pretty! Don’t you just love all the new inspiration Pininterst gives us DIY peeps?! It makes you think what we ever did with out it. I have so many vases sitting around and this is such a easy way to utilize them around the house. Thanks for sharing!
Leeann @ Join the Gossip says
I.Love.It. I am saving wine corks so I can do something creative like this 🙂
MomLaur83 says
Great idea! nice! (visiting from funky giraffe)
Melissa says
This is so perfect for my friend. I’ll be sharing it with her. Her hubby insists on keeping the corks. My hubby keeps bottle/beer caps. sigh- Men!
Rachel says
Beautiful! I too have a huge collection of wine corks that need to be put to good use. I would love it if you would stop by and share at the link party going on right now at Lines Across My Face.
:)Rachel
http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com/2011/08/cure-for-common-monday-3-craft-link.html
Dana from Our Life's Legacy says
Very cute! I think that since you’re a wine enthusiast you should definitely stop by my blog (ourlifeslegacy.blogspot.com) because I have a fun Willow House giveaway- three really pretty wine stoppers. Would love for you to visit 🙂
Luke & Darcie says
I saw these on Pinterest yesterday! I also noticed the Oliver Winery corks…I’m from Indiana! (southwest of Indy) I’ve been collecting wine corks for awhile now and wanted to create a centerpiece for my dining room table. Thanks for the great idea!
:)Darcie (fellow Hoosier)
Debi (MeMa) says
This is such a great idea! My husband and I drink wine too, but we just throw the wine corks in a drawer. Why? We dont know. We just do, I quess thinking we might do something with them one day. Although I have found that some of the less expensive wines use some kind of plastic for corks. I wonder, is there some other projects out there for wine cork?
Phleurdillee says
Golly! I wish I drank wine! I love your “Wine Cork Candle Thingy”! It’s gorgeous! I also enjoyed your sense of humor, etc. When I happened upon your blog( via Technique Junkie), I read “about you” first and thought, btwn your likes and dislikes that you’d make a good school teacher! Anywho, love your very chic inspiration and enjoyed your witty, funny dialog! Keep ’em coming!
Heather says
Love this idea. It really came out great and for so cheap {free!} : )
ReFresh ReStyle says
I love this, and repinned it recently! I am your newest follower!
Debbie
Audra @ The Kurtz Corner says
This is so neat!! Ive been saving corks for a cork board but I like this idea better! I’d love for you to link up at my Tuesday Tutorials Link Party! 🙂
http://www.thekurtzcorner.com/2011/08/tuesday-tutorials-link-party-1.html
Mel the Crafty Scientist says
I love this – so pretty! I’m also loving your blog and now I’m your newest follower! : )
maggie says
I’m a moscato girl too! I also love Pinot grigio. Corks are awsome to make stuff with. I collect them along with lots of others I guess 🙂
Megan Brooke says
Cute use of wine corks! 🙂
Mary-Sweetwater Style says
What a great excuse to drink more wine! Seriously, this is so simple and lovely. When my son was a bartender, I made him bring me wine corks from the bar…if you know a bartender…you can ask them to do the same for you! Or if you go to a bar where “everyone knows your name” that would work too!
Thanks for sharing.
julieacraw says
Love it!! Thanks for posting; I’ve been hoarding some corks for awhile now. Now I have a creative, shabby way to display them!
Mindie Hilton says
Oh my love these and love corks. I tured some into necklace pendants once. Your decor is stunning.
I have a fun any linky goes party that I would love for you to join too! This week linkers could even win a pair of silver earrings just by linking. Hope you will come.
http://bacontimewiththehungryhypo.blogspot.com/2011/08/party-mindie-style-any-linky-goes-10.html
Micha says
Lovely. I would have never thought of anything like that and I love how the it looks like the corks are glowing.
Anna says
I love this idea! I FB/Tweeted, and pinned it! I’d love it if you’d link to my party on Monday, here is the link: http://www.askannamoseley.com/search/label/Weekend%20Warrior%20Link%20Party
Anna
http://www.askannamoseley.com
Martha J. M. Orlando says
Super idea! I have been saving corks for awhile thinking there must be some craft I could do with them. Thanks for this, Anna!
[email protected] says
I love this, always looking for ideas to use my wine corks !
Sawdust and Paperscraps says
I love it. I steal wine corks from my in-laws when I visit but don’t have enough saved to do any of the huge wine cork projects I had in mind (and it’ll probably take another 10 years before I do). This is a great use for them while I continue to save up. LOL
To The Moon and Back says
Aakk! I have two glass vases full of corks on top of our piano…I’m off to “alter” them with candles. Thanks for the inspiration!
Erin of HomeSavvyAtoZ.com says
This wine cork candle is BEAUTIFUL! I have pinned it to use at my next wine tasting party! Thanks so much.
I just discovered your site through Simply Designing’s blog party and love it! I am a new follower and would love for you to link up at my Savvy HomeMade blog party at http://www.homesavvyatoz.com/2011/08/14/blog-party-3/
Bethany @ A Fish Who Likes Flowers says
Such a great idea! It’s so visually interesting and unique. Thanks for sharing!
June Scott says
Beautiful, Chelsea! Yours came out great! I used rice in mine. Yeah, I’m a rice lush… LOL!
Donna T. says
I love the idea for the candleholder…I pinned it to my board on Pinterest…no shortage of corks at my house…been collecting them and storing them away in an old crock waiting to use them…
Thanx for sharing…
Donna
Tinglelaneprimitives.blogspot.com
Karen @ Goodbyecityhellosuburb says
Perfect for the right ambiance! Would you come and share this with WorkShop Wednesday. It would be a nice addition to the party!
Tanya Anurag says
That looks so beautiful and it is such a fresh idea.
We have a link-up party going on – Tea Time Thursdays @ Kreative Korner. I would really appreciate if you’d link up some of your awesome posts there. Hope to see you at the party.
http://tanyaanurag.blogspot.com/2011/08/tea-time-thursdays-2-and-features.html
Walking by Faith says
This comment has been removed by the author.
Walking by Faith says
I absolutely LOVE this idea!! I have a TON of wine corks sitting in my kitchen, waiting to be used. This is the perfect, fuss-free project. Thanks so much for the tip! I only hope mine look as great as yours. 😉
Kristi says
Visiting from SaS at Just a Girl. Love this idea. I can’t wait to try it with our wine corks! Thanks so much for sharing it!
Shelley says
Simple and gorgeous. I LOVE it!!! Now I know what to do with my collection, thanks 😀
Shelley
http://www.westermanfam.blogspot.com
Maureen says
Oh my gosh! FABULOUS!!! ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!!!!
Found you on Whipperberry!
http://www.releasemecreations.com
Jill @ Craft in a Northern Town says
Love it! I pinned it. (Came from Whipperberry.)
Krista says
GENIUS!!! I’ll have to borrow this one. My boyfriend has a collection of corks he won’t let me get rid of.
Mel the Crafty Scientist says
I love this so much that I featured it in my roundup of wine cork projects (http://www.thecraftyscientist.com/2011/09/fun-with-corks-supply-related-roundup.html). Feel free to grab a featured button if you want! : )
-Mel the Crafty Scientist
Betsy Pool says
Wow!! So love this! I’m going to have to make this!!! We have so many corks!
Inspire Me Heather says
Such a great idea for a candleholder! I’ve got this linked to my blog today, I posted about candles. Have a great day!
Leslie says
Found you on YHL:) I also did this after seeing it on Pinterest. My vase isn’t full yet though – better get to drinking! We always try to write on our corks what we were celebrating/ who we drank it with and the date. I’m a light weight, so I go for Riesling, but I like any wine that isn’t too dry and/or too many tannins.
stephaniemounts says
I found this pin on Pinterest and had to pin to my Craft board, what a clever, easy-to-do project,I just love it. I am a wine lover myself and only need one more excuse to rink more wine so I can collect more cork 😉
nAnna says
Wonderful Idea! I copied by making a small change for Christmas. I used cinnamon instead of corks! On pinterest can see what I did, unfortunately, my photos are not as beautiful as yours, my creation was a gift so I could not light the candle!
http://pinterest.com/pin/82964818105156524/
tanks for everything!
I Want To Make This says
I wanted to let you know that I linked this post on my blog entry on wine cork uses. Such a simple idea and what beautiful results!
http://iwanttomakethis.com/
Jessie Cole Consulting says
I knew there was a reason why I’ve been keeping all of our wine corks.
JGF_AUG says
Target now sells corks in a container!
Sher says
Perfection! You are such a talent. I featured you here: http://momcaster.com/2012/01/13/10-triple-awesome-wine-cork-crafts/
Love it!
Cap Creations says
I was finally able to get our class project posted! Come see how we took your idea and added a personal touch. Thanks so much for the idea!
Here’s the link http://blog.capscreations.com/2012/04/class-project-for-auction.html
Inspire Me Heather says
Hi Chelsea – your candles are lovely and I have this linked to my corks post too today, well done!
authorship says
Clever & thanks for share/pin. I’d use a candle w/battery & timer! My favorite wines; Pinot Noir (Oregon) & Gwertztraminer. Cheers!
Jessica says
Hi. What a lovely idea. I posted it on my german blog: http://schoenstricken.de/2012/11/diy-kerzenhalter-mit-korken/
Please check if you like it.
Best from Berlin, Jessica
Shauna @Satori Design for Living says
Hey Chelsea, Love this and shared it in my cylinder vase round up post this week!
Lokie says
If you don’t drink much wine, you can always ask a local bar or restaurant to save them for you. Offering to trade a 6 pack of beer to the waiter or bartender should work (part time bartender myself)
Pat Nelson says
Melscandles.com has Caribbean Coconut candles with free shipping. Love the wine cork centerpiece.
Jen says
LOVED the idea, but wasn’t crazy about using a real candle, as I was giving it to my MIL & not sure she’d remember to blow the candle out after consuming more wine to add to the cork collection! Ha! So….I found a container that was big enough to hold a tall pillar flameless candle, placed the corks around it, and then had to turn it on! Let’s just say that the corks didn’t stay! 🙁 So, then I thought I’ll just put the candle on the timer (it had a 5 hr timer). Ok, not a bad idea, but what happens when the battery dies???? Can anyone give me any ideas as to how to keep the corks together so that they all don’t come tumbling down when I change the candles out, or change the battery????
Chris says
I’m going to try to hot glue them in place around cylinder
Ashley says
Love this I am going to make it!!!!!!! :):):)
Ashley says
Love this I am going to make it!
Orlando says
Hi! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with us so I came to
give it a look. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this
to my followers! Superb blog and amazing design and style.
Neke says
My question and hopefully it doesn’t sound silly but once the candle burns how would you go about changing the inside holder ?
Anna Garrison says
I absolutely love these candles and I want to use them for center pieces for my upcoming wedding. Do you know what the measurements were for the glass cylinders? Any ideas on were to find cheap ones?
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
Thanks! The measurements are included in the blog post. Congrats!
barbara says
Should I have any concerns about the interior glass cylinder overheating from the burning candle?
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Amy says
Elegant wine cork idea. When I tried similar ideas, I asked in cork bars that it would be cool to decorate things. We even have a bar in the city with a cork office.
lisa says
Hey Friend, I really love this and shared it in my cylinder vase round up post this week
unique decanters