I love this idea from ALL YOU. You can match your cocktail’s adornment with the rest of your party. Find the how-tos for crafting your own cocktail umbrellas HERE.
There’s something wonderfully cheeky about popping a tiny umbrella into a drink. Even the most ordinary lemonade suddenly feels like it’s on holiday. Over the years, I’ve learned that if you add a drink umbrella — even if the drink is just sparkling water and ice — people smile. And honestly, that’s half the joy of hosting.
So instead of grabbing a pack of flimsy store-bought paper umbrellas, let’s make our own. DIY drink umbrellas are the kind of quick craft you can whip up in an afternoon, and they make your parties feel instantly more personal and special. Plus, you can match them to your theme — tropical, retro, floral, neon, or a classy metallic moment if you’re feeling extra.
This is one of those crafts that works for crafty mums, teens, kids (supervised), and anyone who loves a pretty drink on a warm day. If you love adding handmade touches to your gatherings, you’re going to adore this.
Why Make Your Own Drink Umbrellas?
Homemade drink umbrellas don’t just look cute — they save you money and let you customise every detail. And when you’re hosting a birthday, baby shower, girls’ night, or backyard BBQ, those details matter.
DIY umbrellas let you:
- Match your colours to your party theme
• Use up scrap paper (all those offcuts we keep “just in case”)
• Create a higher-quality umbrella that won’t wilt when it touches condensation
• Add personality — think glitter edges, scalloped borders, stickers, patterned scrapbook paper
• Keep the kids happily entertained while you prep snacks
• Elevate even the simplest drink into something festive
It’s also a great eco-friendly hack when you don’t want to keep buying throwaway decorations.
Supplies You’ll Need
Nothing fancy here — you probably have most of this already.
- Pretty paper — scrapbook paper, wrapping paper scraps, origami paper, even old books or music sheets for a vintage look
• Wooden toothpicks or bamboo skewers trimmed shorter
• Small beads (optional, for the top “finial”)
• Scissors
• Glue stick or craft glue
• Hole punch (round or decorative, depending on your style)
• Pen or small circle template
• Optional extras: edge punch, glitter, washi tape, metallic markers
How to Make DIY Drink Umbrellas
This is the kind of craft where once you make one, you’ll be making twenty. And they come together fast.
- Cut your circles
Use a coin, jar lid, or circle template to trace small circles onto your decorative paper. Cut them out cleanly. Around 3–4 inches across seems to be the perfect size for drinks. - Add a little “pie slice” cut
Cut a triangle-shaped slice out of your circle — like you took one little piece of pizza. This helps you curve the paper into an umbrella shape. - Form the dome
Overlap the cut edges slightly to create a gentle dome and glue the edges in place. Hold for a few seconds to let the glue set. - Prepare your umbrella pole
Use a toothpick or cut a skewer down to size. If you want the extra cute factor, thread a small bead onto the top to mimic the classic umbrella finial. A dab of glue keeps it in place. - Attach the pole
Flip your paper dome over. Add a dot of glue inside the centre and press the toothpick upward so it catches securely. Hold until it feels set. - Decorate if you like
Add glitter edges, tiny stickers, hand-drawn stars, washi tape stripes — whatever suits your theme. This is the step where the umbrellas suddenly look boutique. - Let everything dry
Set them upright in a jar or cup so they keep their shape.
Theme Ideas for Your Handmade Drink Umbrellas
This is where the fun begins. Match your umbrellas to the mood of your party:
- Tropical Luau: bright florals, palm leaves, hibiscus patterns
• Retro Summer: polka dots, stripes, vintage wallpaper prints
• Coastal Hamptons Vibe: soft blues, white, watercolour stripes
• Girls’ Night: gold foil paper, glitter edges, blush tones
• Kids’ Parties: cartoon prints, rainbow colours, character stickers
• Christmas in July: red-and-white spirals, metallic greens, tiny bells
• Cocktail Hour: sophisticated monochrome or metallic sunset shades
Make a dozen or make fifty — they look gorgeous grouped together in a jar on your drinks table.
How to Use Your DIY Drink Umbrellas
Once they’re ready, use them anywhere you’d use store-bought umbrellas:
- Garnish cocktails and mocktails
• Add fun to iced tea, lemonade, or sparkling water
• Stick them into cupcakes or fruit platters
• Use them as cupcake toppers
• Decorate charcuterie boards
• Add to kids’ milkshakes as a surprise
• Tuck into picnic baskets for instant charm
They also photograph beautifully if you’re sharing your setup on Instagram or Pinterest.
A Note From My Own Craft Table
Every time I host a summer get-together, I set up a little umbrella-making station for the teens. They go absolutely wild making custom umbrellas for each other’s drinks — initials, doodles, glitter, the whole lot. It’s messy, it’s funny, and it keeps them busy long enough for me to finish prepping the food without hearing “Muuum, is it ready yet?”
Homemade drink umbrellas are one of those tiny touches that feel big. And they remind guests that you put a bit of love into the gathering — even if the cocktails themselves are store-bought mixers. No judgement here.
