Use quick-setting resin and silicone molds or novelty ice cube trays to make custom swizzle sticks for all your parties and special occasions. These pineapple drink stirrers make wonderful gifts and feature the Southern symbol of welcome and hospitality.
Whenever I see fun ice cube trays or silicone molds at the craft store, Dollar Tree or Target Dollar Spot, I snatch them up. They’re usually inexpensive, and they are great for all kinds of crafts — from homemade soaps and bath bombs to DIY resin-cast swizzle sticks.
I used a pineapple ice cube tray to make these chic gilded pineapple swizzle sticks.
Just what you need for your spiked frozen tropical lemonade or to add some pizzazz to your favorite mocktail or glass of homemade Hawaiian POG juice..
You can make custom drink stirrers in a multitude of shapes using silicone molds. In addition to the pineapple mold that I used, I’m including shopping links to other ice cube trays and molds that would cute custom swizzle sticks.
I have plans to make some spooky cocktail stirrers with the same molds I used to make these Halloween treat jars.
The same steps and instructions apply, no matter which mold you use.
I do like the pineapple drink stirrers because they’re timeless. Sure, they’re great for summer cocktails and tropical drinks. Because the pineapples symbolize hospitality, these also can be used yearround when you’re entertaining.
I made a bunch for our bar cart in gold and rose gold. They’d pair nicely with these DIY etched pineapple goblets.
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Supplies to Make Cocktail Stirrers
- Amazing Casting resin kit
- Rubber gloves
- Paper or plastic cup (not styrofoam) for mixing the resin
- wooden stick
- silicone mold or ice cube tray (here’s the pineapple ice mold I used)
- Scissors (optional)
- Sand paper (optional)
- plastic drink stirrers
- E6000 glue
- gold spray paint (I used Montana Cans Goldchrome, but Rust-Oleum Metallic Gold is another good option)
- drill (optional)
How to Make Swizzle Sticks
Protect your work surface with plastic or wax paper. Make sure to wear the plastic gloves included in the casting kit.
The Amazing Casting resin kit comes with two different bottles of liquid solution that when mixed together go through a chemical reaction and harden. The kit also includes a set of measuring cups and stir sticks.
To create your resin molds, measure equal parts of Solution A and Solution B into the separate plastic measuring cups.
Pour Part A and Part B into a plastic cup and stir with a wooden stick until blended. As the solutions combine, the mixture will become slightly milky. The resin begins curing in just a few minutes, so you need to work quickly to pour the resin into the mold.
Fill the mold completely, trying not to overflow the individual cavities.
The resin will begin to change colors, from clear to white, as it cures and hardens. It also generates heat as it cures, so the mold and the castings may be hot to the touch.
Allow to cure completely and harden before removing pineapple castings from the mold.
The resin will take anywhere from five to 15 minutes to cure, depending on how large your mold is. You’ll know it’s ready it becomes white and solid and is cool to the touch.
At this point, you can pop the castings out of the mold. When you first remove the resin pieces from the mold, they may feel slightly greasy. You can wipe away any residue to prep them for painting.
If necessary, use scissors to snip away any bits of hardened resin that overflowed the mold. You can also use sandpaper to smooth the edges.
I’ve made a quick video of the casting process to show you just how easy these are to make.
You have two options for adding the plastic drink stirrers to the resin castings.
You can drill a hole in the resin and glue the sticks inside the hole. Or you can simply glue the sticks to the back of the resin piece.
The first option is more time consuming, but it gives your custom swizzle sticks a more finished look. I’d recommend doing this if you plan to give these as gifts.
If you’re just making novelty cocktail stirrers for a themed party or event, you may just want to glue the casting to the sticks. You’ll also need to choose this option if your casting isn’t thick enough to drill.
To drill the holes for the sticks, I ended up using duct tape to attach the resin pineapples to a sturdy box. This enabled me to drill the holes safely without hurting myself.
I’m sure I could have used a clamp, as well. But I’m an impatient crafter, and this worked for me.
Drill the holes in the resin pieces before painting them. The size of the drill bit you will need depends on the size of swizzle sticks you are using. You want the stick to fit snugly into the hole, while allowing enough space for glue. Be careful not to drill through the back of the casting.
Once the holes have been drilled, you can paint the resin pieces. I used Montana Cans Goldchrome and Copperchrome for the sets I made. I love the sheen you get with these acrylic spray paints.
Don’t forget to spray the back sides of the resin pieces so the cocktail stirrers look good from all angles when in use..
I used E6000 glue to attach the swizzle sticks to the pineapples.
Add a bit of glue to the end of the swizzle stick and then insert it into the hole you drilled. Be careful not to get excess glue on the pineapple, as it could lift the paint.
You may have to prop the drink stirrers on a small box of the handle of a wooden spoon to hold the sticks in the right place while the glue dries.
If you didn’t drill holes in your resin pieces, use the glue to attach the sticks to the back of the casting. Be mindful that excess glue might lift the paint.
One the glue has dried, handwash the drink stirrers and mix up your favorite cocktail.
A few you may want to try:
- Frozen Tropical Lemonade with Pineapple Infused Rum
- Moonshine Old Fashioned
- Sparkling Vanilla Cherry Cocktail
Shop for Novelty Ice Cube Molds
Pin This! DIY Pineapple Swizzle Sticks
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