Combining Files to make a Fun Drinks Wagon

Hiya.  Today I have a hybrid project using some great files from Simply Crafty SVGs to make a playful 3D project. The weather here in Scotland is breaking records for high temperatures and rain-free days! At times like these, BBQs are dusted off and outdoor parties are the order of the day. This project would make a fun table centre for such occasions.



Little Waggon

I cut and assembled the Little Wagon SVG file with minimal alteration, just increasing the size a little and adding some custom lettering.

As I would be adding extra weight to the finished wagon, I added some extra bracing pieces behind the wheels. This was achieved by simply folding a strip of cardstock into a rectangle, and adhering it between each set of wheels. The braces are barely visible when the wagon is upright.

I also decided to secure the pull handle in position by adding a little piece of folded card, stuck to both the handle and the waggon front.

Wooden Chest

The wooden chest is adapted from the cooler from the Tent Camping Box file. I initially made it in blue so it looked like my large plastic cooler, but I decided that a more vintage look was required, so endeavoured to make it look like a rustic chest.

It was the perfect opportunity to try out my new embossing folder (a 3D Texture Fades Embossing Folder by Tim Holtz called Lumber). The texture was enhanced by applying Walnut Stain Distress Ink to the edges and the top surface of the panels I made (details to follow).

The chest was scaled up in size to suit the wagon. I cut the chest from kraft cardstock, and then cut a duplicate to cut up for panels (just using scissors). By cutting off the chest sides I was able to fit the pieces through my embossing machine.

I then cut the individual panels apart, trimming them to be slightly smaller. I also cut an additional strip to make a lip around the chest lid, and also made the long strips longer still, so that they would wrap around three sides of the chest. The panels were then adhered to the base piece and the flaps trimmed as shown below.

I relocated the piece which sould have been on the bottom of the chest, and stuck it to the inside of the lid instead as it would show more there.

It was then simply a matter of assembling the chest and attaching the lip with some spare tabs of card (visible in the pic of the complete chest, above). The chest was finished by applying the decorative strips (not necessarily where they were intended to be), and adding handles cut from silver metallic card.



Beer Bottles

I minimised the inner beer bottle shape from the Beer Bottle Card SVG file together with the cap, the neck label, and two of the front label pieces (there are loads to choose from).  I made a 12" x12" Print & Cut on cream cardstock for the pale parts of the label, adding the phrase "Cheers m' beers" in a font which I then curved to match the shape of the label. Read more about how to do a 12" x 12" Print & Cut here.

Prior to applying the labels, the bottles (a double thickness), were coated with Nuvo Crystal Glaze on the non-textured side, and left to harden overnight. The effect is very glass-like in real life, but doesn't show well in the photos.

The labels and caps were then adhered, and the bottles were arranged in the chest. I LOVE the bottle cap design that comes with the file - it's a great little detail and looks so realistic cut from metallic card. I added some plastic ice cubes to keep the bottles upright (available from florist suppliers). The chest was then loaded onto the little wagon.

All three files are available from the Simply Crafty SVGs website and heaps of ideas for using the files on the Simply Crafty SVGs blog.