DiY Cork Trivet
A cork trivet is a stylish solution to protect your table from hot dishes or cold, condensating glassware. This do-it-yourself version is easy to make with a few basic supplies and a little creativity.
Hello! It’s Keri from One Mama’s Daily Drama and today I’m going to share with you an easy craft that you can do in less than an hour. I’ve had several pieces of cork board sitting in my craft stash for a while that have been begging to be used.
If you don’t have any cork, check your local office supply store. With back-to-schools sales popping up, there will probably be some great deals on small cork boards for dorms.
You can make this cork trivet in any size or shape, so use whatever you like. The cork I used was thin, so if you find something that is pretty thick, you might be able to use just one layer.
Supplies
- a sheet of cork (mine was 12-inches square and about a quarter-inch thick)
- ruler
- pencil
- scissors
- permanent markers (any colors)
- spray glue
- spray clear polyurethane*
*This is a protective layer that will coat the finished trivet so that the colors don’t smudge or fade. I had some that I got at the hardware store for other projects, but you should be able to find it at craft stores too.
Directions
1. Before getting started, it’s important to find a good work space. I went outside so that I didn’t have to worry about fumes from the glue or polyurethane. I also spread out newspaper to protect my table.
2. Start by deciding how big you want your trivet. Since my cork was a 12-inch square, I thought 12-by-6 was good. Measure and draw a line where you want to cut. Cut the cork with a sharp pair of scissors and trim the edges as needed to remove any uneven bits. You need two pieces of cork that are the same size.
3. Lay one piece of cork on the work surface and spray a generous amount of glue. Immediately place the second piece of cork on top and line them up. The spray glue won’t set instantly, so you have a few seconds to adjust the cork pieces if necessary. Let the glue dry for two or three minutes.
4. On one side of the cork, use the ruler and sharpies to draw your design. I love the colors of my patio cushions, so I used red, orange, turquoise, and black to match. I just drew straight lines using the ruler and filled them in randomly.
5. When you have finished decorating the cork, use the polyurethane to coat the top. I sprayed two layers, letting it dry about twenty minutes in between. Let the final coat of polyurethane dry for an hour or longer, until it is not tacky at all.
You can use any colors or designs you want to decorate your trivet. Freehand a design or use a stencil. You could also make some smaller square coasters to match.
This was so easy to do and I love how my cork trivet can be pretty and functional. For more matching table décor, make a few mason jar candle holders using the same color scheme.
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