Turn Old Wine Corks Into A Cute Photo Display With Thrifted Door Knobs

Do you celebrate every special occasion with a glass of wine or bottle of bubbly? There are plenty of genius ideas for reusing corks that will stop you from ever tossing them out again, like turning them into seasonal wreaths or place card holders. Although natural cork is biodegradable, cork containing plastic is not. So, incorporating them into simple upcycling projects saves them from the landfill — and it's also an inexpensive way to create home decor. TikToker Kayla.Creates turns her old wine corks into cute spiral photo holders by combining them with thrifted door knobs and thick craft wire.

While there's nothing wrong with framing your favorite photos, it may seem like overkill when you just want to display a quick snapshot or pretty postcard. This spiral photo holder DIY is also more affordable if you want to show off vintage family photos that don't fit neatly inside off-the-shelf frames. That's because it relies on just a few supplies. In addition to an old wine cork for each photo display, you'll need a thrifted door knob, a piece of bendable craft wire, and some E6000 glue. A pair of needle-nose pliers will also come in handy. 

The first step in transforming thrifted door knobs into decor that's cute enough to leave out all year is picking out an old wine cork. If your door knob is on the larger size, the bulbous proportions of a champagne cork will work better. Meanwhile, smaller door knobs (or oversized cabinet pulls, which are an excellent substitution) will look best with standard wine corks. You'll need to use your needle-nose pliers or utility blade to cut a small opening directly in the center of your cork, so avoid composite or synthetic ones which are more likely to crack.

This unexpected way to display photos starts with sticking the spindle of your thrifted door knob into the hole you've just made in your cork. The exact size and dimension of the opening will depend on the length and width of the spindle. Aim for a snug fit. Smaller door knobs work best because the spindles are shorter. Thrift an inexpensive vintage one rather than buying a modern version for this project. Once you've neatly fit them together, add a little E6000 glue inside the cork hole and press it firmly onto the spindle until it hardens.

@kayla.creates

I'm finding multiple ways to use those vintage crystal door knobs I lucked up and found over a year ago while out thrifting. I love repurposing items into new creations. These would make excellent placecard holders at a wedding! #vintage #crystaldoorknobs #thrifted #thriftflip #diy #repurposed

♬ Evangelina – Colter Wall

The next step starts with cutting some bendable craft wire into a length between six to 12 inches. Use a longer piece of thicker gauge wire if you want a tall display or you plan to show off larger photos. To ensure the end of your wire spiral doesn't scratch your pictures, dot a small amount of E6000 on the end. Allow it to thoroughly cure before wrapping it into a spiral that starts tightly in the center and loosens as it becomes bigger. Once you're satisfied with the size of your spiral, make a 90-degree bend, leaving the remaining wire straight. Then, use it to puncture a small hole into the top of your cork, fill it with more E6000, and push the spiral wire into place. 

Ribbon, small imitation flowers, or craft paint are optional embellishments you can use to customize your photo displays. You can also subtly alter the look by bending the craft wire into square, heart, flower, or star shapes, as long as you create enough spiraling loops to hold your photo in place.