Starbucks Coffee Cup Cozy ~ Easy Craft For The Beach
“One More Coffee for the Road?” my husband asked as I am putting together this free online tutorial on how to make a reusable (Starbucks) coffee cup cozy! He just confirmed the usefulness of this craft project.
Making a coffee cup cuff, holder, sleeve or cozy – whatever you like to call it - is simple to do and a delight to have. Meanwhile, Mother Nature will thank you daily as you stop wasting by using the store-supplied cardboard versions.
Handmade coffee cup sleeves are also really cool! The sky is the limit when it comes to patterned fabrics and crafty bejewelling. Keep in mind, however, that your cozy must be easily washable, fold-able and portable, so don’t go overboard on the doodling.
So …, if you wonder what to do for a whole afternoon at the beach, while the kids play in the sand?
Create a unique Starbucks coffee holder.
It’s a hand-made gift that you can give year round or get ready early for Christmas?? How is that for planning and ’starting early’…??!!
This easy craft project is ideal for the beach. Of course, if you make plain, standard versions, they are made much faster with a sewing machine (within 15 minutes).
However, you can capitalize on the fact that the beach (or in your garden) and enjoy the extra available time and let those fantastically time consuming embellishments beckon you: mono grams, bejeweled edges, …
Cool Coffee Cup Cuffs
There are plenty samples of interesting coffee cup cozys online. Many have the same basic design, but fabrics, findings and details vary.
PinkGasoline presents sets of them monogramed to suit an entire wedding party.
Gifts2Give dollies them up with corset ribbons, and TheCozyCorsetCuff makes them reverseable. Sevensmooches and others offer coffee cup cuffs with hand-loomed blanket stitches on recycled felted wool from old sweaters ~ a more rugged look.
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Others focus on fabulous fabrics. Have a look at these:
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Check out that fabric on the right on the coffee cup cuff by SoSheSews. I love it. The faux leather material is actually fused recycled plastic grocery bags, stitched up with fun text (Whip it up, baby! (make it for meeeee…) and other details. The inner layer is re-purposed cotton sweatshirt material.
Notice how the findings all vary. New and vintage buttons, ribbons & ties, … Note that this lacing isn’t just a cute accent, it’s a practical addition that allows our cozies to fit up to a pint of ice cream as well as any cup of coffee, tea, soda, beer–you name it. The felted coffee cup on the top right does not need any findings at all. So … choose felt if you want to make really a easy version of a coffee cup cozy!
Best Design Coffee Cup Cozy
While Valentine corset coffee cup cozy’s are cute, I think that, when all things considered, the key features of the BagelCreations versions of the coffee cup cozy is most practical:
1. It comes with a stretchy elastic band, so that it fits any size paper coffee cup, including non-Starbucks varieties.
2. They fabrics are fun and appropriate (albeit not ‘super wow’. This is why I still want to make my own…)
3. The elastic band goes over the cup holder when not in use, creating a neat fabric roll, which, together with the hook (spot it at the left in the photo) makes a great key chain hanger. This makes that you will actually have the holder with you when needed.
4. The inside is lined with a heat resistant fabric. Also, the holder is about 1.5” taller than the typical paper sleeves from Starbucks.
I love all these features.
They are easily embraced into your own design, using my free online craft template and tutorial, complete with step-by-step suggestions. You can modify the design of this free tutorial any way you like. And I hope that you do!
Free Basic Pattern for a Starbucks Coffee Cup Cozy
The pattern is really simple, as you can see.
Coffee Cup Holder ~ Craft Preparation
What You’ll Need ~ Before You Leave
If you are going to make this project by hand, I suggest you prep it at home. What you’ll need (to do) before you head out for the beach/vacation location:
- Forms & Patterns. Keep your brown paper coffee cup sleeve from Starbucks when you get your next cup of coffee there. By golly, keep your empty coffee cup as well. Clean it. The cup will be helpful in positioning your button in the best spot. Now, use the above template to cut your fabrics.
Tip: Particularly if you are going to make many cozys (like one for each member of the family for Xmas or for all people in a wedding party) and if you are planning precise details such as an embroidered monogram, I would use the basic template below to make your own, more detailed template, marking all stitches, buttons, hooks, tags, etc. Just measure it all. It is very simple.
- Fabric. Find 2 pretty pieces of pre-washed fabric of about 6" by 12", and a small piece of heat resistant lining such as Insul Bright of the same size. (check out the article I wrote on this craft material .)
- Cut. Using my template or your own modified version as a guide, I’d cut the cuff at home. As you can see in my template, I allow an additional 1/2” below the paper sleeve template, an additional 3/4-1” above the paper sleeve, and an extra full 1" for the sides as I’ve cut off the glued bits from the Starbucks sleeve, and as I want some overlap. I’d also allow about 3/4" for a hem on all sides. Before you cut your second piece, … check that you cut one of the layers inside-out and that the patterns all lines up nicely etc.
- Layer. When cut, pins the layers together, to prepare for later hand-sewing. If you are going to do embroidery, you might want to bring an embroidery hoop, and wait with layering. It depends on what kind of embroidery.
- Crafty Details. Go through your craft cabinet, and find materials to jazz up your coffee cup holders. Look for bits that match in color and style. Refer to the examples for creative ideas. As you will want to roll up the coffee cup cozy to transport it as a keychain, don’t go overboard with heavy, large beads. Instead, opt to find some embroidery silk, small beads & buttons, ribbons, and extra bits of fabric to make a decorative tag or fabric flowers.
Don’t forget to choose some elastic band and a matching button, to close the coffee cup wrap. As well, take out ample sewing thread, a needle or 2, scissors, and a kitchen tray (so you won’t loose your iddybits in the sand).
What You’ll Need ~ At the Beach
- Time. A lavish amount of suntan lotion, ample time and creativity.
- Chair. The type of beach chair in which you can comfortable hold a tray on your lap.
These Starbucks coffeee cup cozy’s are great fun
as Personalized Christmas Gifts or Birthday Presents!!
I’d start with making just 1 sleeve, for myself. I’d let this experience help me lubricate my creative impulses. Then, using all great ideas that came to mind, I’d plan to do another 50 more, probably doing the basic sewing on a sewing machine and the detailing at the beach.
Craft Materials
Insul Bright
To create the best version of Starbucks coffee cup sleeves, use this craft material: Insul Bright.
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A heat/cold resistant material, specially developed for the craft community to help us make functional items with our crafty endeavors. It’s excellent.
(Check out the article I wrote on this great craft material.) |
Acrylic Felt by the Yard
To create the easiest version of Starbucks coffee cup cozy s, use this craft material: felt.
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Excellent quality, heavy, yet pliable, this acrylic felt is similar in every way to traditional wool felt. This 100% Acrylic Felt is non-allergenic. It’s perfect for all fashion and home decorating craft projects. Easy to sew or glue with no raveling edges. Sold by the yard. Click the rolls of felt image to Buy Now, so you can make something as cute at the below soon:
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What a cool idea. I especially think my wife would like the bodice type ones with the ribbon in the back. Very scandelous.
There’s a place you can submit ideas to Starbucks if you’d like, and other people vote on them. I submitted an idea for a cup holder I designed that worked on airline armrests. I thought Starbucks would be a great place to sell them, especially if made green and with the logo on them.
Anyway, cool idea.
Interesting idea! I’ve always found that “going out for coffee” can be one of the most wasteful things, as time after time I’m left with a cup that I have nothing to do with afterwards.
Could also make some great, easy gifts too!
Quite comprehensive and creative.
I can see my wife wanting to engage in crafts like these. Great ideas.
FYI: I accepted this article into the Carnival of Economic Fun #2. It will appear on Wednesday, Sept 16th. Thanks for submitting!