DIY Decor: You'll drink to this new use for an old six pack

By Betsy DiJulio
Guest Columnist

SUMMER SIGNALS al fresco dining in Hampton Roads. This month's DIY Decor project will allow you to schlep in style, Transporting condiments from kitchen to patio or deck is just a re-purposed six pack away.

One of these caddies caught my eye in a magazine, only it had been covered with contact paper. It looked terrific, but I'm just obsessive-compulsive enough that curling edges or air bubbles would cause me to chunk the whole business. So I decided to adapt the concept to a simple and ultra-fast paint application.

Start by gently scuffing the surface of the six pack with a medium-grit sand paper for better paint adhesion. Next, spray on an oil-based primer to provide a barrier between the cardboard and the water-based paint.

Outdoors, with the six-pack sitting on newspaper, apply the primer in nearly continuous light coats, turning the newspaper as you go to prevent drips, until the graphic design on the cardboard is no longer visible. After an hour of drying, spray the whole six-pack, inside and out, with any color of acrylic paint that matches your decor or suits your mood.

Once it dries, the fun begins with stamping, free-hand painting or, my choice, stenciling with acrylics. Fold the 6-pack down for easier application. At this point, you are just one coat of clear acrylic sealer away from a finished product.

Spray it on, let it dry completely and then tuck condiments into each compartment. Small disposable cups in the bottom of the compartments containing utensils and straws will prevent them from falling through the openings. Now, call everyone to dinner. You're set to go.

Betsy DiJulio, jdijulio@cox.net