Make a Killer Floating Shark Cooler for Your Next Party
Sink your teeth into this easy summertime project that'll make your pool party more fun and memorable.
Gabriela Hardan
What You'll Need:
- 28-quart cooler
- protective paper or plastic (for under the cooler lid)
- painter's tape
- foam (big enough for the shark fin)
- marker
- sharp scissors
- hot glue gun and sticks
- dark gray paint and primer spray paint
- (3) pool noodles
- sharp knife
- (2) bungee cords
- (12) zip ties
Protect the Cooler
Place a sheet of scrap paper or newspaper under the lid of the cooler (Image 1). Attach painter's tape around the edges underneath the lid (Image 2).
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Make the Shark Fin
Draw a fin on a piece of foam using a marker (Images 1-3). Cut out with sharp scissors (Images 4 and 5).
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Attach the Fin to the Cooler
Attach the fin to the center of the cooler's lid using hot glue.
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Paint the Lid
Spray paint the lid and fin with a dark gray paint and primer spray paint. Let dry.
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Cut the Pool Noodles
Fit the pool noodles around the cooler, and cut at the corners at a 45-degree angle using a large, sharp knife (Images 1 and 2). You should have four pieces that fit around the cooler (Image 3).
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Connect the Pool Noodles
Cut the hook off one end of a bungee cord, and loop that end through the holes in the pool noodles to connect all four (Images 1 and 2). Tie the cut end to the hook on the other end of the bungee cord (Images 3 and 4). Adjust the noodles to hid the knot. Repeat all steps to make a second rectangle of noodles.
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Attach the Noodle Rectangles Together
Stack the two noodle rectangles, and attach a zip tie around the top noodles near each corner — four total. Next, loop another zip tie through each zip tie at the top, and loop around the bottom noodles to connect the two stacks together (Images 1-4).
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Attach the Cooler
Place the cooler inside the pool noodles, and pull the noodles halfway up the cooler (Image 1). Attach a zip tie to the top pool noodle on both sides of the cooler where the handle is (Image 2). Loop a zip tie through each end of the handle and loop through the zip tie on the pool noodle to connect them (Image 3). Tighten the zip ties (Image 4), and cut off the ends (Image 5).
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Sarah Busby
Let it Float
Fill the cooler with beverages, and place in the pool to float around!
Gabriela Hardan
