Wine Cork Key Chain Tutorial

Making Wine Cork Key Chains

What you’ll need to make one key chain:

1 wine cork

1  key chain ring

1 screw eye

jeweler’s pliers

glue (optional)

This is a simple and quick craft, making it easy to do with friends or while matching a movie, etc.

First, select the wine corks you would like to use. Synthetic or oak wine corks can be used for this project.  I prefer to use synthetic corks for key chains. They are easy to clean and seem to withstand use better.   We had a variety of unusual synthetic corks that we have saved over the years, so I made them into key chains for some of my best friends for Valentines Day this year.  They would make great party or wedding favors as well.

Next, I got out some screw eyes and some key rings I purchased at the craft store.  We used an actual key chain assembly but standard split rings also work.  Screw the screw eye into one side of the cork.  If you are using oak wine corks, I would recommend using a little craft glue on your screw eye thread.  Both types of corks allow you to simply use your hand to screw it in.

Then use small pliers, or jeweler pliers, to open up the ring on the screw eye and attached the split ring or key chain pieces. Then use the pliers to close the screw eye.  I like to use two pairs of pliers to do this step, one to hold the metal and one to open and close it.

I like the key chain assembly since you don’t have to thread your keys through the ring, it just unlocks and opens. Split rings are much cheaper though. I purchased a pack of 28 split rings for $2.50 , and a pack of key chains was $2.50 for 12 pieces.   The solid wine corks are also fun to use since you can customized them with permanent markers or decoupage.

Please note: wine cork key chains will float…but probably not with your keys on them.