ReadyMade: Instructions for everyday life

Issue 43
The Small Spaces Issue
Buy Your First Home
Southern BBQ, City Style
A-Frame House
Bikes of Portland
Check out the RM Photo Gallery

Think Outside the Bottle 1: Flower Vase

How to use cork to re-create your dining room

by Becky Eaton

Photos by Garry McLeod

Cut it, stack it, sculpt it, glue it, stitch it, paint it—with its endless opportunities for customization, it’s no surprise that cork is quickly becoming the go-to material for designers and crafters. Bonus: Since it’s derived from the outer bark of cork oak trees, the supple stuff is entirely natural and renewable.

    1. Thoroughly clean and dry your vase. (We used an empty Pom Tea glass.)

    2. Cut adhesive-backed cork into narrow strips and wrap around the vase, starting at the bottom and working up around the cylinder.

    3. Repeat until the glass is entirely covered. Multicolored adhesive cork circles are another great option for a more bubbly look.