Cork Horse Ornament

I made use of recycled wine corks to make a horse ornament/decoration for Christmas and all horse celebrations, like the Derby, Breeders Cup, Keeneland!

5 corks

Sharp knife

Sharpie

glue gun

cotton cording, unwaxed or waxed

Optional: small square of felt, favorite team fabric

1 Cut the end off of 3 corks at an angle and save pieces. Cut 2 of the small pieces in half with thick part on one side cut and thin on the other. With the tip of the knife, drill a hole big enough for 3 strands of cording, about 1/4 inch deep. picture 1

2 using glue gun, glue 1 cork with the sliced piece to the cork with the hole drilled in the end as shown in photo 2. This will be the horse back and back leg. Then glue cut cork 2 to cut cork 3-flat cork end to sliced cork end. This will be the front leg and neck.

3.Using glue gun, glue the end of the horse back to the back of the horse neck as in picture 3

4 Pictures 4, 5 and 6 are the making of the tail. Wrap the cording around 3 fingers, 3 times. Fold one end into a point. Put glue into the tail hole and place the cording into the hole. Hold in place for 5-10 seconds.

5 To make the mane, wrap the cording around a sharpie. Not too tightly but nicely compact. Run a bead of glue from the top of the wrapped cording to the bottom. Hold in place for 10-15 seconds. picture 7

6 Glue cork 5 to the top of the neck. pictures 8-9

7 For the ears, Use the thick pieces that were saved from the cut cork ends. Put a bead of glue on the thinnest cut edge and place on the horse head as shown in the picture. pictures 8-9

8 For the mane, Remove the wrapped cording from the sharpie. Place a line of glue between the ears and down the back of the neck. Immediately place the wrapped cording to the glue line, glue side to new warm glue. Press firmly. I usually use a thin pencil or a toothpick down inside the loops to compress the glued areas. pictures 8-9

9 If you're using as an ornament, drizzle a small amount of glue inside the mane by separating the mane and adding glue. Tie a ribbon to 2 mane loops in the section where the glue has just been applied.

10 if you want to add a "blanket" cut a small piece of felt for the horses back. Add your favorite logo. Glue to the horse.