Patriotic Summer DIY Ice Buckets

Porch Daydreamer
by Porch Daydreamer
6 Materials
$5
30 Minutes
Medium
Have you wondered how-to make a DIY ice bucket? 4th of July and Summer parties are perfect for these patriotic wine and alcohol ice chillers!
A beautiful fun way to keep your bottles cold on a hot summer day!
Supplies
  • 1 ea. 2 Liter Bottle (1 per ice bucket)
  • 1 ea. 1 Liter Bottle (1 per ice bucket)
  • Double Sided Tape
  • American Flags
  • Faux Daisies
  • Blueberries
  • Cranberries
  1. Peel off the label and clean the label glue residue.  I didn't worry about removing it on the 2 liter, since it will be discarded.
  2. Cut about 3 to 4 inched off the top of each bottle.
Cut and extra inch off of the 1 liter bottle to make it shorter than the 2 liter bottle.
Use a FULL bottle of alcohol that won't freeze (like vodka) to weight down the 1 liter bottle. Fill with water to just below the 1 liter bottle inside the 2 liter bottle.
For the fruit and flower version:
  • Cut the stems of the daisies so you only have flower heads.
  • Push the fruit and flowers down between the walls of the liter bottles.
  • Make sure to keep the 1 liter bottle centered by pushing the fruit down on all sides.
  • Place a full bottle of alcohol to weight down the 1 liter bottle.


Fill with water to just below the 1 liter bottle inside the 2 liter bottle.
Freeze OVERNIGHT!


This part is EXTREMELY important. Do this the day or hours BEFORE your event or party.
  1. Remove the ice buckets from the freezer.
  2. Let them sit at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes.
  3. You want the outer layer of the ice bucket to go back to a liquid.
  4. Gently, pull the 2 liter bottle away from the ice and inner 1 liter bottle. This is a little messy :)
  5. Leave the 1 liter bottle inside to hold the structure and obviously the flag version is decorative, so you need it!
  6. Put BACK in the FREEZER immediately.


Let refreeze and pull out right before you are ready to use the ice bucket.


I did find that the fruit version expanded so much that I couldn't get the vodka bottle removed. SO make sure you freeze the alcohol you want to use for your party! I didn't have this issue with the flag version.
Patriotic red, white, and blue using cranberries, daisies, and blueberries.
Straight up proud to be an American! Happy 4th of July!
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Porch Daydreamer
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
  1 question
  • Maureen Maureen on Jun 11, 2018

    What did you use to cut the plastic bottle?

Comments
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3 of 8 comments
  • Porch Daydreamer Porch Daydreamer on Jun 11, 2018

    You absolutely could for both! The flower one loses some of the dimension with the outer bottle intact. I’d like to find a prettier outer for the next one I do.

  • Phyllis Phyllis on Jun 30, 2018

    These look great! Maybe instead of the fruit because it expanded, try hypericum berries.

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