Cork offered in a roll begins as a plain sheet, however a leaf template modifications what it could possibly do on a fall desk. As an alternative of slicing the fabric into commonplace circles or squares, the cork follows broad leaf outlines that stay seen round serving dishes and bowls.
Homedit contributor Chelsea Mohrman created the venture with cork, cardstock templates, felt, spray adhesive, and some primary slicing instruments. The method retains the cork floor uncovered, so its brown coloration turns into a part of the autumn setting with out paint or one other end.
Cardstock Templates Set the Form Earlier than the Cork Is Lower
Mohrman begins with leaf shapes printed or drawn on cardstock, then cuts them out to create templates. The paper leaf is positioned over the cork roll and traced with a marker, giving the knife an outlined line to observe. Totally different templates can produce a number of leaf types fairly than a set of matching trivets.
Skinny rolled cork can curl as soon as it comes off the roll, so retaining it flat makes tracing and slicing simpler. Small weights can maintain the corners down whereas the template is traced. An X-Acto knife then follows the marker line, slicing across the stem, curved sides, and pointed finish. Cork from a roll should still maintain some curve after slicing, so the items may be pressed beneath books earlier than the subsequent step.
Felt Backs Every Leaf Earlier than the Two Layers Are Joined
The minimize cork leaf turns into the information for its backing. Mohrman traces the identical form onto felt, cuts the felt with scissors, and pairs it with the cork piece. This creates a two-layer trivet with out protecting the cork floor that offers the venture its fall coloration.
Spray adhesive joins the felt and cork. Making use of it over newspaper protects the work floor from overspray, and any felt left outdoors the cork define may be trimmed as soon as the layers are hooked up. The identical steps work with different leaf templates, permitting wider and narrower shapes to come back from one cork roll.
The Leaf Shapes Keep Seen Below Dishes, Bowls, and Fall Decor
As soon as the cork leaves attain the desk, their irregular outlines separate them from commonplace trivets. A broad leaf sits beneath the lined casserole, whereas one other helps a bowl and vase. The pointed edges and stems stay uncovered as a substitute of disappearing beneath what they maintain.
The final association spreads a number of cork leaves throughout the darkish wooden desk with pumpkins, flowers, serving dishes, and bowls. Their cork floor matches into the brown and orange fall palette, however each bit nonetheless has a job when meals involves the desk.
