Some wine drinkers diligently toss wine corks in the trash immediately after finishing a bottle, but others take a different approach: They save the corks due to either compulsion ("I know I'll need this someday...") or sentiment ("It's our first toast in our new home!" or "It's Tuesday!"). If you're among the latter, you likely have a drawer or bowl full of wine corks just waiting to find their purpose. Well, that time has come.

With the holidays rapidly approaching, gifting season is in full-swing, and wine corks can play a central role this time of year. Melissa Averinos, the author of DIY Wine Corks , says there are some simple ways to turn your saved corks into awesome gifts -- and these are not your average junky craft projects. Behold three of her elegant, clever favorites.

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