How to Make Drink Parasols

We often think of drink parasols being served with mixed drinks, beachside. Weve all seen many movies and commercials where adults were enjoying drinks that had umbrellas. But, you know, those little paper parasols can be served with any drink. The umbrella itself rests upon a skewer and that can be used to stir any drink. You can order all sorts of them online, and theyre not all that expensive, but youll have more fun if you make them yourself. On top of that, when you make them, you get to choose what theme theyll have! A wedding reception, birthday party, backyard luau or even a holiday is always a perfect time to serve drinks with the small parasols - for kids as well as adults. If you can cut a circle you can make one in seconds.

Have you browsed the vast selection of scrapbook papers online or in a local store? Wow, do they have some beautiful papers! Youll find them with birthday themes, neon colors, wedding themes, pastels, and even foil varieties. Choose any scrapbook paper - or other thick paper - to make the drink parasols.

Draw circles on the paper depending upon the sizes you want for the drinks. A good size is 4", but after making one umbrella, you can adjust the size according to the types of glasses youre using. Use something you have around the house as the circle pattern, like a spice jar lid, small coffee jar lid, prescription bottle cap or even a juice glass. Make the parasols all the same, like with a birthday theme, or make many different ones for another celebration. Cut enough circles for the estimated drinks youll serve and then the hardest part is over. Cut from one edge of a circle into the approximate center. (You can find the exact center with a ruler if you want). Now take one side of the slit and lay it over the opposite side of the slit. Scoot the top one over until you have the umbrella shape you want. Tape the paper together on the underside of the parasol. Cut the tips off of wooden skewers, measure them to be just a bit taller than the glasses youre using, then cut them to that size. Use a tiny dot of glue on the end of each skewer and press the inside point of the parasol onto the glue. Allow the glue to set or dry completely before serving. The tiny umbrellas dress up any drink and are appropriate for nearly any occasion. You can make many parasols from one piece of scrapbook paper so that makes this craft thrifty and fun! See homemade paper parasols here.