4 Ways to Create the Perfect Parrothead Party Accessories

It’s Parrothead Party Time

It’s Parrothead Season and you know what that means: plenty of margaritas, cheeseburgers, hula skirts, and beach-themed parties! At amaZulu, we absolutely love this time of year because Jimmy Buffett fans aren’t afraid to get creative. Each year, the crafts and beach-themed projects get even better, with innovative uses for products like bamboo, thatch, ropes and nets, and decorative coverings.

If you’re traveling to Tampa or West Palm Beach in the next two weeks to see Jimmy perform live, you’ve only got a few days left to impress your fellow Parrotheads! We’ve compiled some of our favorite beach-themed DIY Parrothead Party accessories that we think will blow your friends out of the water when you’re lounging in Margaritaville, eating a Cheeseburger in Paradise. Check them out, and if you know of any more, let us know on our Facebook wall or send us a quick tweet. How creative can you get?

Bamboo Canteen & Cups

The weekend doesn’t start until you’ve got plenty of festive drinks to go around. Why serve margaritas in plain red solo cups when you can impress your friends with a hand-made bamboo canteen and accompanying cups? Here’s how:

• Take a decent-sized bamboo cane and cut it so that two solid pieces (nodes) are at each end. You should not be able to see through the bamboo cane at this point.
• Take a knife point and carve a hole into your section of bamboo
• Create a stopper out of a piece of wood or more simply, with a cork
• Fill with beverage of your choice and fasten with wood stopper or cork

And there’s your canteen! But what canteen is complete without some stylish bamboo cups to go along with it? Here’s how to create these:

• Take a piece of bamboo and cut below the node so that your cup has a natural bottom
• Trim the bamboo to desired cup length
• Take a sanding bit and dremmel and sand off the rim and inner layer of your cup; this prevents the flakes from coming off in your drink
• Coat your cup with food-grade wax or sealant, such as Butcher Block Conditioner, found at Home Depot
• Apply this coat up to 3 times and let dry

These cups are great to have even after your party is over; they also make great gifts!

DIY Rope Lights

These rope lights are so simple, you won’t be able to believe you haven’t done it before. And it looks great not only for themed parties, but in your home or backyard as well. Simply take some rope and a strange of white Christmas lights. At the female end of the lights, start weaving the strand with the rope by twisting the rope in the opposite direction of the braid. Keep doing this until almost the entire string of lights is intertwined with the braid. You can drape your rope lights anywhere you’d like, or set them on the floor or a table as a great conversation starter. They’re rustic, beachy, and beautiful!

Upcycled Tire Ottomans

Got some spare tires around? This one is a little bit trickier, but all those other Parrotheads will definitely wonder where you picked these great rope ottomans up. Here’s what you’ll need:

• A new or used tire
• Bamboo plywood or medium density fiberboard cut in circles with a 55cm diameter
• 6 screws
• A drill
• A screwdriver
• A hot glue gun
• Rope
• A cloth
• Scissors
• Brush sealer

Here’s how to create your upcycled tire Ottoman:

• Clean off the tire with a dry cloth
• Place one of the plywood circles on top of the tire and drill three holes in three distant points, deep enough to penetrate the tire underneath
• Secure the wood to the tire with screws
• Repeat this with the other side of the tire
• Apply hot glue to center of the board and apply the tip of the rope to the glue, pressing firm enough that it will stick down
• Begin twisting the rope in a snail-shell shape and secure each round with hot glue
• After you’ve covered the entire piece of plywood with rope, do the same with the edge of the tire, making sure to glue in enough places to secure it
• Flip the tire upside down and continue to cover with rope until you reach the edge of the board
• After covering the entire tire, cut the rope
• Glue the end of the rope to the tire to keep it from stick out
• You don’t need to coat the bottom of the tire with rope, as it will set on the ground
• Seal the entire ottoman, wait one hour, and apply another coat

This DIY ottoman will work great as a seat or table for your beach party. And the best part is, you can reuse it after your Jimmy Buffett weekend has ended! It’s chic enough to add to your backyard or living room and everyone will wonder where you got it!

Thatch Tiki Bar

It’s impossible to have a true Parrothead party without a tiki bar, complete with thatch umbrella and plenty of margaritas to go around. Our thatch umbrellas are easy to install and come in many varieties, including natural and synthetic. You can install an umbrella over an existing table, or you can build your own tiki bar. These will look great in your backyard, on your boat, or out on the beach. Everyone will want to join your party!

Got a party to plan, or do you simply want to lounge in style on the beach? amaZulu would love to help! We specialize in providing theming materials that liven up any Parrothead party. Check out our inventory of bamboo, thatch, decorative mats, nets, and rope, and more! Who knows what creativity you can spark up, and we want to help you bring your visions to life! Give us a call at 877-243-5309 and let us help you get ready for your Jimmy Buffett weekend!

Image Credits:

Sensible Survival 

A Merry Mishap 

Handimania 

Sam Howzit

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