New post

content/posts/Wine-Cork-Notice-Board-How-To.md

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+---
+layout: post-layout.njk
+title: 'How to make a Wine Cork Notice Board'
+navtitle: 'Wine Cork Notice Board'
+summary: 'Tidy up those bits of paper and feel good about wine consumption with this easy DIY craft project'
+metadesc: 'A step by step guide to making a wine cork notice board made from recycled wine corks.'
+date: 2023-10-28
+readingtime: '3 minutes'
+tags: ['post']
+---
+## How to make a Wine Cork Notice Board
+
+I'm not generally regarded as an arts and crafts type of person. Arts, perhaps, especially the musical kind; and crafty, sure, I can identify with that; but put the two words together and generally thats's enough to make me run for the hills.
+
+However I've been collecting wine corks for seemingly forever, and the last couple of years I've been assiduously putting off this project, until last weekend when I said to myself, you know what, get it done. And so I did. 
+
+I'm amazed it turned out so well, so the least I could do is share with you how easy it is to do for yourself.<!-- excerpt -->
+
+## What you will need
+
+Like any good online tutorial, we begin with the ingredients. You will need:
+
+ - A large, blank photo frame - mine was 3800 cm<sup>2</sup>
+ - A lot of glue - I used spray on but paste will work fine I guess
+ - A Stanley knife (AKA box cutter, or utility knife)
+ - A small person - but not so small they can't be trusted with a Stanley knife
+ - 380 wine corks, more or less - that's about 10 corks per cm<sup>2</sup> of frame
+
+<figure>
+{% image "content/posts/img/IMG_7118.jpg", "Components of the new wine cork notice board pre-assembly", "(min-width: 30em) 50vw, 100vw" %}
+<figcaption>Components of the new wine cork notice board pre-assembly</figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+## Method
+
+ - Sit your small person down with the Stanley knife and the corks
+ - Instruct small person to cut the corks length ways, preserving the most interesting details
+   - Cutting corks is easier if you cut multiple times
+     - cut the whole length each time but 
+     - only cut a little deeper each time
+     - three or four shallow full length cuts is easier that one full length, full depth cut
+   - Set to one side any offcuts
+ - Place your frame in front of you
+   - If the frame had glass, take that out so you just have the backing board and the frame
+ - Experiment with feature pieces, for example champagne corks in the corners, set those you like aside
+   - Check you have more than enough corks to cover the left over space in the frame
+   - You are aiming to fill horizontally edge to edge in the gaps between the feature pieces
+   - Remember to fill all the gaps, using offcuts cut to shape
+ - Glue in the feature pieces in the desired locations. 
+   - For example, mine were the champagne corks in the corners
+   - Spray an area about as big as your hand, then fill it. Be generous with your glue
+ - Starting top left, glue in the remaining corks length ways with interesting text facing outwards
+   - Aiming to fill the frame top to bottom left to right with straight corks when possible
+ - Glue offcuts in the small gaps that inevitable appear until there are no gaps left
+
+<figure>
+{% image "content/posts/img/IMG_7120.jpg", "The finished wine cork notice board", "(min-width: 30em) 50vw, 100vw" %}
+<figcaption>The finished wine cork notice board</figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+## Installation
+
+OK all that is left to do now is install it on your wall. You may also like to pay your small person.
+
+Use a stud finder to find a suitably strong part of the wall, then measure carefully to get the notice board square and level in your space.
+Hang it, and enjoy the tranquility of being able to pin random bits of paper on the wall!
+
+<figure>
+{% image "content/posts/img/IMG_7121.jpg", "Installed wine cork notice board above a bench, where random bits of paper tend to collect", "(min-width: 30em) 50vw, 100vw" %}
+<figcaption>Installed wine cork notice board above a bench, where random bits of paper tend to collect</figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+