My friend Fritzy asked me to do something fun with her old Coleman Cooler. As you can see it was pretty beat up and rusty. I mean heck it was old and well used.
I knew right away what I wanted to do with it. It was gonna be personalized with all the little things that remind me of Fritzy.
First we had to sand the rust off.
Then I applied a couple coats of spray Rustoleum Primer.
Then it was paint time! This color was called Key Lime, another spray paint Rustoleum product. (I forgot to take pictures of the primer/paint process)
The picture below is after I outlined. FYI this was all hand painted by me! Which makes it more personal.
I wrapped Duct Tape around the bottom plastic piece. It was beyond cleaning through the years of use.
The corner edge had cracked and was sticking out. So the Duct Tape helped with keeping this together.
Then I used scissors to cut out the drain area.
And here is Fritzy's one of kind cooler!!
To give ya a little story behind all the graphics.
The Harley symbol is because she's a Motorcycle riding Mama. And when I get my motorcycle "someday" she has already picked out our matching patches (skulls). Because of course we will be rinding together! The fish on the sides are kind of a long story. But to sum it up in a short version.... Fritzy has a tendency to misinterpret what people say quite often. So one day at work, we were stopped by a security guard and asked if we had seen a person wearing "tanish pajamas"? Frizty heard that were some fish missing. She kept asking him "What fish, the fish from the Radiology Clinic?" That security guard looked at her like she was crazy. And so every time she misinterprets something someone says I always look at her and say "What FISH?" We crack up every time!
The green ribbon symbolizes her fight with Kidney Disease. The pink ribbon is for her very good friend, Roxy that died from Breast Cancer.
And finally the eternity symbol in the middle is actually a tattoo she has on her wrist. I just added "Be strong and Believe". Because she is such a positive strong person through all of her struggles. And she never loses the hope to Believe.
Love my friend Fritz!!
She is a true friend!
Shared on:
I bet she loves her cooler! How sweet is that!! :)
ReplyDeleteThank You Denise!
DeleteYou are one sweet friend. I clicked on the link when I saw the pink ribbon... I am a breast cancer survivor and big hugs to you and Fritzy for the loss of your friend. XOXO Holly
ReplyDeletehttp://coconutheadsurvivalguide.com/blog/
Thank You Holly! Fritz is such a good friend. From the day we met we hit it off. Everyone always says that you really only have a handful a "true" friends in a lifetime. And she is deff one of them. Thank you for reading and commenting on this post!
DeleteShelly
What a great idea. I love all the personal touches. There is nothing like a handmade gift from a friend. Good job.
ReplyDeleteThank you Meg!
DeleteThat is one heck of a cool (pardon the pun) cooler with such an amazing personal story...love it! You are very talented!
ReplyDeleteMarie@Interior Frugalista
LOL THANK YOU Marie!
DeleteThis is so cute!! I would never have thought to paint a cooler!
ReplyDeleteJenn
http://www.endlesslyinspired.com
Stopping by from Sugar Bee Crafts
Thanks Jenn!
DeleteThis is awesome!!! I also would never have thought to do this!
ReplyDeleteTaylor
www.ourfamilyworld.com
Thank You Taylor!
DeleteVery cute! I love it! You are a great artist! :) Saw on Dandelion Wishes. :) I linked up an upcycled blue jean backpack. I'd love for you to stop my and give me your opinion about it. :)
ReplyDeleteGina @ Gina's Craft Corner
http://ginascraftcorner.blogspot.com
Thank You Gina!!! I'm excited to see the wedding day pics with it in them!! Im headin over to your blog now!!!
DeleteShelly
Cute cooler! I love the fish!
ReplyDeleteNavy Wifey Peters @ Submarine Sunday Link Party
Thank YOu!
DeleteWhat a great story....and I love what you did with the cooler. Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing on Project Inspire{d} Pinning!
Nancy
Thank You Nancy!!
DeleteA+mazing! I love this whole project! Its super fun and I bet she loved it! Thank you for sharing at Give Me The Goods!
ReplyDeleteDimples & Pig Tales
Thank You Amber!
DeleteWow, this cooler is now so much brighter and so much more meaningful thanks to you! Lovely work.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up at The CSI Project this week. Greet to "meet-cha!"
Warmly,
Lauren
The Thinking Closet
Thank You Lauren!! She loved it!!
DeleteFun and Fabulous!!! TFS...hugs...
ReplyDeleteThank You Andrea!
Deletesuper job, and ever so creative! right up my alley! whoo hooo by the way love your site
ReplyDeleteThank You!! And thank you for sharing it on your FB page!!
DeleteThank YOU! Heading over now!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing! What an incredible way to show your friend how much she means to you. I'm sure she loves it.
ReplyDeleteShe was in AWW! I love to make peoples day! She sure didn't expect something like this. And it does have soo much meaning to her and I. Thanks for checking this out!!
DeleteShelly
Oh wow! You are one talented lady! I wish I had eyes like yours!
ReplyDeleteThank YOU!
DeleteShelly
First of all, that is the coolest "cooler" I've ever seen. Second, all the time you put into it to make it meaningful must have had Fritzy in tears when you gave it to her! That is very cool!! You are SO talented...and such a great friend. Loved this post!!...and kinda wish I had something for you to "re-do" for me!! ha ha
ReplyDeleteWell I would love too!!! Just send it on over! LOL She was in Aww when I gave it to her. She is a great friend that has been through alot. So anything that makes her feel loved, I'm all for it! Thanks for checking it out!
DeleteShelly
This is so timely, because I'll be painting a mini fridge for my daughter's dorm in the next week or so. It's old and really scratched up, so I'm doing chalkboard paint. I never thought about using spray primer. Love that idea.
ReplyDeleteSpray primer....way easier!!! Did you check out -http://minettesmaze.blogspot.com/2013/06/zechs-wedding-wagon-redo.html?!
DeleteThat was another old rusted wagon that I did for another friend! Love both of these projects! Thanks for looking!! Hope you go and check it out!
Shelly
That is one awesome cooler!! What a sweet project!
ReplyDeleteThank You Rabia! Thanks for stopping!
DeleteShelly
I loved when you knew the strip was beyond cleaning and used duct tape. Great job and it I'm sure is a treasured gift. Enjoy your SITS Day.
ReplyDeleteThank YOU! And thanks for checking it out!!
DeleteShelly
Awesome! Visiting from SITS and I now need to go paint a cooler. I've never had the urge to before and I don't own one but whatever. I need to paint one. Have a happy SITS Day!
ReplyDeleteLOL Go for it!!!!! It was fun! Challenging but I like that every once in awhile! Thanks for hopping over and checking it out!!
DeleteShelly
What a great project, and how special! You are so talented, and creative. I love all the photos of your projects. Happy SITS Day!
ReplyDeleteThank you! And thank you for stopping over to check it out!!
DeleteWhat a great blog, and I love your creativity. The photos of your projects are great, and very inspiring. Thanks for sharing them. Happy SITS Day!
ReplyDeleteThank you again!!
DeleteThanks for all the creativity and the great photos that you share. Happy SITS Day!
ReplyDeleteJoan
http://jrrmblog.wordpress.com
Thank you! And thanks for stopping!
DeleteThat is an amazing cooler! I now want to personalize mine but I'm not very crafty. And I can't draw for anything so that is a problem. Over from SITS.
ReplyDeleteLol!! Thank you! And thanks for checking it out!!!
DeleteCute and clever and she'll never have to ask if she can find her cooler again. Stopping over from SITS!
ReplyDeleteThank You Becky! Sorry for the late response.
DeleteHopping over from SITS and I love this! Cute and clever!
ReplyDeleteAwesome and creative re-use of that cooler - I really do want you to come and recycle my house ok? Hope you are having a great SITS day!
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE too!!! Thanks for stoppin by and checking it out! Sorry for the late response.
DeleteGreat way to remember a friend. I bet she loved the cooler. It's a great idea. Thanks for sharing at Throwback Thursday.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Denyse
Thanks Denyse! She did LOVE IT!
Delete