A hot afternoon just begs you to have friends over for a barbecue. Along with a big meat spread, frosty drinks are essential for keeping the party going. But just dumping a few bags of ice in a cooler isn't pretty, so elevate the idea with these spins that make reaching for a beverage refreshing and pretty. And all of these DIYs come together in minutes, which means you can focus on spending time with friends instead of worrying about drink refills.
1Unique Coolers
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Pick up galvanized buckets for cheap at your local home-goods stores along with terra-cotta planters to use as chic coolers for Summer drinks (like watermelon martinis, cucumber-mint gin cocktails, and even margaritas). And you can pour premixed drinks into mason jars (leaving 1-inch of space) and then place them in the freezer overnight, creating sippers that stay cold all afternoon.
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2Muffin Serving Tray
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Give an old muffin tray new purpose by filling it with Summer drinks, like a cold beer alongside snacks in muffin liners, making it so easy to grab and go. And you can personalize the mix to fit the theme of your party, like mini martini glasses with a variety of olives, or margaritas with chips and salsa.
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3Strawberry Shot Glasses
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Create cute edible shot glasses using strawberries that taste so refreshing when filled with frozen margarita. Use a melon baller to scoop out the inside of the strawberry, and then cut off the base so it stands on its own. Roll the strawberries in sugar dusted with lime zest, and then fill with the frozen beverage.
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4Watermelon Punch Bowl
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A colorful way to serve your Summer drinks, scoop the insides out of a watermelon and then fill with punch or watermelon lemonade. You can even use the fresh watermelon as garnish for the drinks — or for blending with the punch ingredients. To keep things really cold, place the watermelon in the freezer overnight before your party.
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5Frozen Fruit Cubes
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Create frozen fruit cubes that can be finished with a mixer. Go with equal parts juice or water mixed with sliced fruit, and then freeze in ice cube trays overnight. Place in glasses and top with a cocktail or sangria. Guests don't have to worry about a watered down beverage as the ice cubes melt, because the fruit juices add more flavor!