Summer’s here and it’s time for pool parties, lazy days and back yard barbecues. Just in time for our country’s Independence Day celebration, you can make this sweet little caddy to hold your picnic condiments. It’s made with recycled coffee drink bottles, and Kool Tak™ products make it go together quickly.
The best part is that the label is attached with magnets and coated with a sealant, so you can wash it if needed, plus you can re-personalize it for any occasion.
Here’s how to make it:
Supplies
Kool Tak™ Products
Kool Tak™ Ultra Clear Adhesive, 1/2″
Kool Tak™ Artist Tape
Kool Tak™ Punch Adhesive Sheets
Kool Tak™ Sparkly Foils Sheets, Mardi Gras and Aquarium
Additional Supplies
KellyCraft Get-It-Straight Laser Square and Multi-Mat
Tin rectangular box
Coffee drink bottles, 3
Diamond Glaze (Judikins)
Sticky residue remover (Goof Off)
Die cut alphabet and die cutter or adhesive letters
Printed patriotic card stock, 10” x 6”
Card stock, navy blue, 8 1/2″ x 11″
Card stock, white, 8 1/2″ x 11″
Card stock, red, 8 1/2″ x 11″
Dye Ink Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz, Ranger, Inc.)
Double 1/16″ hole punch
Jute cording, small, about 36″
Star punch
Colored Pencils, Dark Blue and White (Prismacolor)
Additional patriotic embellishments as desired
Tools: Scissors, brush, sponge, pencil, ruler
Directions
Wash the coffee bottles and remove the labels. Clean any adhesive residue with Goof Off, then wash the bottles again with hot soapy water and allow them to dry.
Steep three tea bags in 2 cups of water. Place the flags in the tea to stain them, then lay them aside to dry.
Measure the box front and cut a piece of red card stock to fit. Cut a piece of white card stock ¼” smaller than the red and a piece of printed card stock ¼” smaller than the white. Sponge the edges with Vintage Photo Dye Ink. Layer all three sheets together with Kool Tak™ Premium Extreme, using the KellyCraft Get-It-Straight Laser Square and Multi-Mat to make sure they are properly aligned .
Apply Kool Tak™ Punch Adhesive to red, white and blue card stock scraps. Punch God Bless from white card stock and America from red, white and blue card stock, alternating the colors. Remove the release paper and apply the letters to the card stock rectangle.
Tip: To align your letters, first lay them out on your work surface in approximately the final position. Measure and mark the center of the word with a pencil – all letters are not created equal, so you can’t just start with the center letter of the word. Measure and mark the center of the label, then place the center letter on this mark. Place the remaining letters, working from the center to ensure proper alignment.
Brush on two coats of Diamond Glaze, brushing the edges as well as the front and back. This will help protect the paper from accidental condiment drips and spills so your label will be reusable.
Apply magnets to the back of the label and attach it to the box.
Fill the coffee drink bottles with your favorite condiments.
Apply scraps of Kool Tak™ Punch Adhesive to two pieces each of red, white and blue card stock and punch stars. Remove the release paper and apply foils to one each red, white and blue star.
Trim the remaining stars 1/16″ all around, remove the release tape, sponge the edges with Vintage Photo Dye Ink and apply the plain stars to the foiled stars.
Punch each tag with the double 1/16″ punch and tie the jute through the holes, then around the bottle necks. Write the condiment names on the tags and tie the tags around the bottle neck.
Line up the three flags so that they are spaced about 1″ apart vertically. Wrap the flag sticks with Kool Tak™ Artist Tape to secure them together.
Cover the tape with jute cording, add a magnet to the back of the sticks and place the flags in the condiment box.
Place your caddy on the food table at your next party, sit back and enjoy the compliments on your condiments!