I have to admit, when a friend of mine asked me to create some custom drink stirrers for her upcoming wedding, I didn’t understand the appeal. I mean, they’re drink stirrers! What can they really bring to the ambiance of your decor, right?
Well, as I was making these drink stirrers, a lightbulb went off in my head, and I completely understood why my friend wanted them so badly.
You see, when I was planning my wedding I had spent a good amount of money on customized napkins, as well as those fun striped paper straws to spruce up the bar area. They were cute, but they were EXPENSIVE. And there was no way I could have made any of that myself (and as you know, if I can DIY, I DO!).
But these drink stirrers were accomplishing everything that I wanted my straws and napkins to, all in one. AND I could DIY. These little stirrers were AMAZING! It’s crazy how something so simple can pack such a punch. I mean, all they were were wooden drink stirrers, with a tiny flag and a custom saying attached.
Her color scheme was built around coral, and she wanted an simple “cheers” written on the flag. Easy enough. But then that got my mind racing. You could use these stirrers for ANY occasion, and personalize them for every one.
The Many Uses for the Customized Drink Stirrer
For weddings, instead of “Cheers” you can write “Mr. and Mrs.”, “Just Married,” “The (Insert Your New Last Name),” or the wedding date.
For birthday parties, you could write “Happy Birthday,” “Kaitlin’s 30th (or whatever name and age),” “Over the Hill,” or “Drink Up.”
The same goes for anniversary parties, retirement parties, housewarming parties, the options are endless! And you can mix and match different sayings for a fun party flair.
Not to mention, these are really cute. I mean, can’t even stand it adorable. You know those amazing pictures of drink and dessert tables in magazines, where they’re decorated perfectly in the color scheme for the day? Yea, these belong in almost every one of those pictures, if they’re not already there.
So if you’re looking to spruce up your next party or your wedding day, and you want some personalization without breaking the bank (you can make 400 of them for $15), these customized flag stirrers are right up your alley.
Below, I show you how to make these cute little stirrers yourself, and where to get your supplies so that you get the most bang for your buck!
Steps to Make Custom Your Flag Drink Stirrer
The Necessary Supplies:
- 7.5″ Wooden Drink Stirrers with Rounded Tips
- 8.5×11″ Cardstock (recommended weight 100# or above)
- White Gel Pen
- Or any color that will show up on the color cardstock you choose)
- Glue Gun and glue
- Scissors
- Silhouette Cameo (optional – but a HUGE time saver)
Step 1:
- Download the flag template here. Upload it into your Silhouette design studio, or a Word document
- Make sure in both it fills a 8.5×11″ portrait size paper.
Step 2:
- If using your Silhouette Cameo, load your cutting blade and cardstock on your cutting mat, and press “Send to Silhouette” for it to cut the flags out.
- Then, once cut, pull each cut flag off of the cutting mat.
- If using Word and a regular printer, print these flags out onto your cardstock (the cardstock may need a little push into the printer because of the thickness).
- Then, using scissors, cut out each flag.
Step 3:
- Once the flags have all been cut, fold them in half so that the ends and the edges are aligned perfectly.
Step 4:
- Once the flags have been folded, put a strip of hot glue in the center of one flag – starting at the fold and reaching about 1/2 way down the center.
Step 5:
- Take one wood drink stirrer, and place it in the center of the folded flag (with the hot glue) with only the tip of the stirrer showing at the top.
- Press down firmly on the center of the flag, making sure the sides and the tops of the flag are aligned perfectly.
Step 6:
- With your white pen, carefully write your saying in cursive (all capital letters work well too) onto the front of the flag.
- Quick time saving tip: If you’re using a Silhouette Cameo machine, you can use a pen holder in your machine and the Silhouette can do the calligraphy for you. Just make sure to position the calligraphy carefully onto your design template, and draw the saying BEFORE you cut out the flags (do this BEFORE Step 2).
Easy enough, right? Even if you don’t have a Silhouette machine, and you don’t have the best handwriting, don’t fret. The handwriting alone gives these stirrers a custom touch that oozes personality. I might suggest mixing up colors and different sayings if you’re handwriting is sub-par, to give the stirrers more of a quirky feel.
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Not feeling up to the task? You can always buy these from my shop. I can customize them however you would like. But hopefully you see the value in the DIY drink stirrer, and are ready to craft! In that case, here’s a recap of everything you’ll need to make these cute talking pieces at home:
- 7.5″ Wooden Drink Stirrers with Rounded Tips
- 8.5×11″ Cardstock (recommended weight 100# or above)
- White Gel Pen
- Or any color that will show up on the color cardstock you choose)
- Glue Gun and glue
- Scissors
- Silhouette Cameo (optional – but a HUGE time saver)
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