Just Chilling and Making a Beer Caddy
Hey there, how was your weekend? Did you do anything special? We had a quiet one. My Mom came around for a visit and the kids made us a batch of scrumptuolicious crumpets on Sunday morning. While they were cooking up a storm in the kitchen, we made this handy little beer caddy using an old belt and other bits and pieces we had lying around.
I love the fact that we could repurpose that old belt for a handle and the license plates add that extra bit of quirkiness.
We’ve used them in quite a few projects. Like this boring old office storage that got a complete makeover and the coolest license plate light ever. But this isn’t just any old beer caddy. No Siree. Not only is it stylish, it also keeps those beers chilled at the same time. Kinda like our beer-y cool infusible ink cozies, but on steroids. So, in this tutorial, I’ll show you how to make your own chilled beer caddy. But, before we get there, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!
What You Need
Here’s what you need if you want to make your own.
- 2 License Plates
- A Piece of Wood (50 cm x 50 cm or 19 6/8″ x 19 6/8″)
- Old Belt
You’ll also need:
- A Drill
- Wood Glue
- Polystyrene
- Water Based Wood Sealer
- A Sharp Craft or Hobby Knife
- Mold Resistant Clear Silicon
- 12 Wood Screws
- 2 Leather Rivets
How to Make a Chilled Beer Caddy
Start by drawing the template for the sides and bottom of the beer caddy onto your piece of wood. The License plates I used are 15 cm x 30.5 cm (5 7/8″ x 12″) so I cut two side pieces as shown below.
You’ll also need to cut a piece of wood for the base or bottom of the caddy. Since I didn’t have enough wood for a solid base I just cut two 27 cm x 6 cm pieces. That’s about 10 7/8″ x 2 3/4″. Depending on how thick the sides are you may need to adjust the base measurement a little. Sand all the pieces to remove any splinters and mark where the belt handle should go.
Use a drill to make a whole bunch of holes all along the mark.
Carefully remove all the extra bits between the holes to create one big slit and then sand away any rough spots. Stain and seal the wood. We had some American Walnut stain left over from our chest of drawers makeover so I just used that sealed the wood with a matt outdoor varnish.
All righty then. When all the pieces are ready and looking pretty, it’s time to assemble the beer caddy.
Putting The Chilled Beer Caddy Together
I found it easiest to screw the license plates onto the side pieces first. Once that was done, I added the base of the beer caddy using wood glue and a few screws.
To add the belt handle, slide the belt through the slits, fold it over, add some glue, and fasten it together with a leather rivet.
Adding The Chill Factor
We’re almost done. All we need to do is to add that chill factor 😉 Use a sharp craft knife to cut 5 pieces of polystyrene to fit snugly inside the beer caddy. Seal the joins between the pieces with silicon.
Once the silicon dries, pop in a few ice cubes and add your favorite beer beverage, hot or cold.
Polystyrene is a great, inexpensive insulator. It’s also a brilliant medium to make a casting.
Anyone for a cold one?
I’d love to know what you think of the chilled beer caddy. Is it something you’d try making?
If you like the idea of making a license plate beer caddy, don’t forget to pin it for later.
Oh, and you may have noticed that there are only 5 beers inside…. …. …. ….. It seems the hubby worked up such a thirst watching me make the caddy, that he just couldn’t resist having a cold one to celebrate when it was all done.
Isn’t that T-shirt just so appropriate? It’s one of his favorites together with this one I made for him using our free periodic table printables. Love my hubby to bits, scraggly beard and all 😉 BTW, and if you don’t want to all that trouble and find some of the materials we used, we’ve got you covered Disclosure: If you click on the links below, we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us come up with more unique DIY and craft tutorials to share with you 😉
And if you prefer to buy rather than DIY, then maybe these beauties will appeal.
Anyways, wishing you a wonderful, crafty week filled with lots of love. Thank you for popping in for a visit.
This is still my favorite wood caddy and Father’s Day gift idea! Repinned because it’s just too awesome not to share 🙂
Thanks so much my friend. Pins and shares are always appreciated
I ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ Your beer cooler! Have you thought about making more and selling them? They would sell like hotcakes for gifts! If I was handier with a saw and Wood I would definitely make one of my own …LOL! keep creating! ☺️
Thanks so much Diane ? Maybe you can get a friend to cut the two sides for you? Not sure where you stay but if it’s in South Africa, I’ll make them and post them to you ?
What a cool idea! I love using license plates in a project and repurposing an old belt for the handle is awesome. Thanks for sharing your ingenuity!
It’s a pleasure Barbara. So glad you liked the belt idea and isn’t it amazing what one can do with license plates.
This is a great idea! Love those plates
?? Me too Maria
That is one clever project. I know quite a few people who would love one of these, including me!
? So happy you like it Debra, thank you
This is DIYtastic, haha. I have never even remotely considered making my own beer caddy. That tee shirt is awesome #beardgang
? Thanks Samuel. That T-shirt is the best. I think it’s one of my hubby’s favorites
Love it! you’re so creative.
Thanks so much Mel ?
I’ve seen a lot of DIY Caddies and I’ve made a few but this has got to be my favorite so far! You took that caddy to a whole new level with the license plate sides and leather strap but then turning it into a mini beer cooler – brilliant! Such a perfect Father’s Day gift too 🙂
? Thank you Marie, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that. I’ve always loved all the things you make
what a fantastic project Michelle! I love the whole vintage look with the route 66 plates! I am not a beer drinker, but those look like they’ll be kept fresh for a while. You always have such fantastic ideas 🙂
Thank you Nati ?
This is such a cool idea! I really like the belt strap for a handle! The Route 66 license plates is perfect for this beer caddy. I love your hubby’s shirt; it’s too perfect! I’m glad after all your hard work, he got to relax with a beer. ?
And they say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach ? Thanks so much Sam, I’m so glad I found that old belt hanging around, it does make the perfect handle
What a cool project, I just love how it turned out.
Thank you Sarah
Loved your husband t-shirt! And that chilling beer caddy looks super cute! Can’t believe that you have made it at home! Also, thanks for sharing a step-by-step tutorial!
It’s a pleasure Ana, glad you liked it and the T-shirt ?
It must be hard work watching others make such awesome DIY projects! Shaun deserves the beer and the t-shirt. Love the cool look of the caddy Michelle, the idea for the license plate is clever.
? Shaun says it is, and I believe you work up quite a thirst too ?
This is so awesome and manly looking! Everything about it looks so good together, you have a real knack of taking different things and making them work together, I love the strap! I bet your hubby feels really cool and manly having such a brilliant beer caddy!
Thanks so much Ithi ? My hubby is the bestest, coolest, manliest man out there.
What an awesome idea, this is so very creative and would make a lovely gift for someone special.
Thanks so much Elizabeth, I’m thinking of making another one for my Dad for Father’s Day. We have some license plates with the Beatles on them and they were his favorite band
This would be perfect gift for a guy, too? Plus I have been on Route 66 – It has quite a cult status in American culture. While I am not a beer drinker, I sure love this project!
❥ tanvii.com
I’m a little jealous right now Tanvi. I would love to see Route 66 for real. I can just picture the hubby and I on a Harley cruising, his beard blowing back softly in my face, our knees wrapped around our ears, trying hard to look the part ?
That’s an awesome project, Michelle! The caddy is not only beautiful but with the cooling function just perfect for summer. I like your choice of beer as well. Do you serve it with some tortilla chips and salsa? 🙂
Yup and lots of lemon ?
WOW! You’re a DIY queen! I’m obsessed with this, definitely going to have to try something like this on my own.
? Thanks Izzy, no-ones ever called me queen before, but I kinda like it ?
This is so cool Michelle! I’m not a beer drinker, but I know plenty of them, lol. That I’m sure would love one of these beer caddies. Love the license plates, and that t-shirt is so fitting!
? It’s the only thing we drink beside coffee and water. The little caddy will work with most normal sized bottles or even the tinned cool drinks too. My daughter put her bottled water in it after the hubby had a few more ?
Love this beer caddy. What a creative hand you have, I would love to try this.
Thank you Preet, hope you do get to give it a try
What a cool and a great idea. This would be the best beer caddy I’ve seen. I would love making this.
Thanks so much Dana, it was a really fun one to make too. Using the license plates as the sides made it so much easier to put together
What a creative piece of artwork again. I like how you use the “route 66” plates on the side. I actually saw some gas station shops on the highway in Arizona selling this plate “Route 66” and did a little search then only realized this is one of the earliest highway route in the States. Anyway, I really like the whole outome of this chilled beer caddy, looks pretty cool and unique!
Thanks so much and wouldn’t it be just amazing to take a road trip along the real Route 66. I’ve always wanted to do that
This has got to be the COOLEST beer caddy EVER!!! Love it!!
? Thank you Sam
Such a cool caddy!! Love it! The cooling feature makes it even better. You think iced coffee would work too??
I think ice coffee would most definitely work ?
lol love the tee-shirt! That caddy is too cute for words! What a great way to upcycle that license plate too. Like everything you make, I’m flippin in love with this!
That T-shirt is probably one of my hubbies favorites ? It’s so apt. Thanks so much for all your support Carolann, I appreciate it so much