I had an obsession with 2 Ingredient Dough for a while. I would use it to make bagels every weekend so we would have breakfast for the week. So I had to figure out what to do with the empty yogurt containers. When Pete’s young nephew was coming to visit, I had a great idea. I would upcycle a yogurt container into DIY Decoupage Drums.
See, one of the ingredients in 2 Ingredient Dough is non-fat Greek yogurt. I buy it in either 32 oz. or 48 oz. containers, and then I feel bad about just recycling the container. So I had to figure out how to upcycle yogurt containers.
These decoupage drums are fun for kids. And if they beat them up, no worries because they were really made from trash anyway.
DIY Decoupage Drums Tutorial (Upcycled Yogurt Containers Craft)
We mention specific colors in our supplies section and our post, mostly so you can easily follow along to this DIY Decoupage Drums Tutorial.
You can choose any colored or patterned napkins that you want.
DIY Decoupage Drums Supplies:
- 2 empty 32 oz. yogurt containers
- Masking tape
- Scissors
- 2 teal napkins
- 2 gray napkins
- Mod Podge
- Foam brush
How To Make DIY Decoupage Drums:
Discard the top of the yogurt container (or keep it to make a personalized trivet if you’re really into upcycling).
If your container has a plastic label around the outside that you can cut off, go ahead and do that. If the label is printed on the surface, you have to just leave it as is.
Wash and dry your yogurt containers. You want to make sure to remove any dirt from the outside and any yogurt from the inside.
Cut a long strips of masking tape and put it across the center of the container’s top. Affix one side down, then pull it tightly across, and affix the other side down.
Then, create a layer of masking tape across the top of the yogurt container, just slightly overlapping the tape.
You’ll want to affix the ends on to the top of the yogurt container, but try not to push down too hard.
Create a second layer of masking tape going across in the opposite direction.
So, if your first layer of masking tape lies vertically, lay the second layer of tape horizontally.
On the strips on the sides, trim down any excess tape.
Finally, add a third layer across the top. This time, go diagonally.
Paint a thin layer of Mod Podge around the entire container.
Very carefully, wrap the teal napkins around the entire container.
You don’t have to be perfect (these will end up being toys for kids, of course), but try to lie the napkin down as carefully and flat as possible.
If the yogurt container was printed on directly, you want to use napkins that are thick enough to cover that writing. Two-ply napkins are best to use if you have writing on the container.
As that is drying, cut a shape from the gray napkins. You can cut stripes, circles, chevron, whatever your heart desires.
Put Mod Podge on the gray napkin. Affix the gray napkin down.
After the Mod Podge on the gray napkin has dried, cover the entire container (the tape portion excluded) with Mod Podge. That will seal this so if it gets wet, the napkins will not tear of bleed.
Now, be a little careful with this. Usually, Mod Podge dries clear so you can be generous with it. With these decoupage drums, though, the Mod Podge dries clear but it also dries bubbly. So, a thinner coat is better.
At the top and bottom of the container, use a very little bit of Mod Podge to stick down anything portion of the napkins that isn’t flat.
Let the Mod Podge dry overnight.
When the Mod Podge has dried completely, it’s ready to play.
You can bang it with your hands or make drums sticks from chopsticks.
What napkins are best for decoupage?
Two-ply napkins are best for decoupage.
You also want to look for flat napkins. Ones with raised embellishments won’t really work. The embellishments will be pushed down by the Mod Podge and may shift and ruin the pattern.
Patterned or colored napkins are fine. Just keep in mind that if you’re using a patterned napkin, you don’t want to layer it because you’ll overlap and won’t be able to see the design very well.
What other containers can you upcycle with decoupage?
If you don’t buy a lot of yogurt like we do, but you still want to follow this DIY Decoupage Drums tutorial, no worries. You can save a bunch of other containers to do this craft.
You can use:
- Ricotta cheese containers
- Sour cream containers
- Large, plastic butter/margarine containers
- Plastic pots from the plant store
- Plastic drink bottles
Honestly, you can pretty much decoupage any plastic container. But the first three on that list will be great for decoupaged drums. The last two are better for décor.
Want more ways to upcycle yogurt containers?
This isn’t the only craft we have where we upcycled a yogurt container, if you can believe that. We also have these DIY Easter Tea Light Candle Holders, which are made from upcycled glass yogurt containers.
Need more upcycle craft ideas?
We are big “trash to treasure” kind of people around here. I don’t ever want to throw anything away because it could potentially be a craft.
I wish I was kidding, but the number of toilet paper rolls that I have saved for when kids come over is … a lot.
Some of our favorite upcycle crafts are below. I tried to separate them by what’s upcycled, so you can choose what to make based on what you have at home.
Upcycled Peanut Container Craft:
Upcycled Egg Carton Craft:
Upcycled Bottles Craft:
Upcycled Tin Can Craft:
DIY Decoupage Drums
These DIY Decoupage Drums is a great way to upcycle yogurt containers. They're made from items you probably have at home. Trash to treasure!
Materials
- 2 empty 32 oz. yogurt containers
- Masking tape
- 2 teal napkins
- 2 gray napkins
- Mod Podge
Tools
- Scissors
- Foam brush
Instructions
Clean your container. Cut a long strips of masking tape and put it across the center of the container’s top. Affix one side down, then pull it tightly across, and affix the other side down.
Create a layer of masking tape across the top of the yogurt container, just slightly overlapping the tape.
Create a second layer of masking tape going across in the opposite direction.
On the strips on the sides, trim down any excess tape. 
Finally, add a third layer across the top. This time, go diagonally.
Paint a thin layer of Mod Podge around the entire container.
Very carefully, wrap the teal napkins around the entire container.
As that is drying, cut a shape from the gray napkins. 
Put Mod Podge on the gray napkin. Affix the gray napkin down.
After the Mod Podge on the gray napkin has dried, cover the entire container (the tape portion excluded) with Mod Podge. 
At the top and bottom of the container, use a very little bit of Mod Podge to stick down anything portion of the napkins that isn’t flat. 
Let the Mod Podge dry overnight.
Clean your container. Cut a long strips of masking tape and put it across the center of the container’s top. Affix one side down, then pull it tightly across, and affix the other side down.
Create a layer of masking tape across the top of the yogurt container, just slightly overlapping the tape.
Create a second layer of masking tape going across in the opposite direction.
On the strips on the sides, trim down any excess tape. 
Finally, add a third layer across the top. This time, go diagonally.
Paint a thin layer of Mod Podge around the entire container.
Very carefully, wrap the teal napkins around the entire container.
As that is drying, cut a shape from the gray napkins. 
Put Mod Podge on the gray napkin. Affix the gray napkin down.
After the Mod Podge on the gray napkin has dried, cover the entire container (the tape portion excluded) with Mod Podge. 
At the top and bottom of the container, use a very little bit of Mod Podge to stick down anything portion of the napkins that isn’t flat. 
Let the Mod Podge dry overnight.Would you make these DIY decoupage drums? Be sure to comment below and let us know what pattern you would make on them.