Take a drink bucket from eyesore to eye-catching with just napkins and Mod Podge

Skip spending extra money on decorations for your next barbecue or party. Give a bucket a face-lift so it serves double duty as both decor and a place to chill drinks. The extra pop of color will liven up the room and draw guests’ eyes to the food and beverage table. The best part about this project is that it uses napkins and materials found in most craft closets, helping keep costs down.
When it comes time to buy napkins for an upcoming event, choose a decorative set that you'd also like to use for this DIY bucket upgrade. Mod Podge adheres the napkins to the surface of a bucket and provides a protective finish to help the bucket stay beautiful and durable for years to come. A bit of ribbon and some hot glue ties the look together and can cover up any imperfections. Guests will not only be delighted by the look of this serving station but will also be impressed by its ingenuity.
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Materials
- Printed napkins
- Drink bucket
- Mod Podge
- Foam brush
- Scissors
- Ribbon, 1/4-inch wide
- High-temperature hot glue gun
- Hot glue sticks
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Instructions
1. Peel the plain white layer away from a printed napkin. Discard the white layer, and set aside the printed layer.
2. Place a drink bucket on its side. Use a foam brush to paint Mod Podge on a small area of the bucket. Place the printed napkin on the Mod Podge. It's not a problem if the edge of the napkin doesn't perfectly align with the top edge of the bucket. You'll cover it up later with ribbon.
3. Once you've glued the entire napkin to the bucket, cut off any excess napkin, and use Mod Podge to glue the loose edge to the underside of the bucket.
4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 until the entire bucket is covered with napkins.
5. Paint a thin layer of Mod Podge over the last napkin edge to prevent peeling.
6. Hot glue the ribbon around the top edge of the button. Trim it with scissors, and glue down the edge.
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7. Fill the bucket with ice and drinks, then enjoy!
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