Handmade Heart Stamp

I have to admit that I am not a DIY-er or crafter but I do indulge occasionally in simple crafts that have the potential to result in a fun, special, one-of-a-kind gifting idea.  Quite sometime ago I came across an idea for repurposing wine corks by turning them into mini stamps.  If you have extra wine corks that you aren’t sure what to do with, then this could be the craft for you!  

To make your handmade mini cork stamp, all you need are a few items that you may already have lying around - a wine cork, a pencil or Sharpie pen (your preference), a box cutter or craft knife, and an ink pad.  Using your pencil or Sharpie pen draw your design on one end of the cork.  The design choices for your handmade stamp are full of endless possibilities - a flower bloom, star, or perhaps an initial - whatever inspires you.  For me a hand drawn heart was a simple design choice and perfect for the Valentine’s Day project I was working on.  After you draw your design on the end of the cork, use the box cutter or craft knife to cut away the cork surrounding your design.  Dip your new stamp into your ink pad and apply to your tag, paper, card, or whatever you’re wanting to stamp.  

I used my handmade heart stamp to create gift tags for Valentines Day goodie bags and I love how each tag offered a bit of imperfection which made these gift tags a touch sweeter.  Years later I still use that little stamp on occasion and find it quite handy around this time of year.  So if you’re looking for a craft to try for Valentine’s Day or any day, I encourage you to give this one a try - it’s super simple and the possibilities are endless.  

Happy crafting friends!  And, happy Valentine’s Day too!
Michele