We have all seen those extravagantly painted coolers that girls use to reward their fraternity boy(s) for taking them to their formal, or to just show off how crafty they are. Well, there are many other occasions when boys deserve a nice gift and painting a whole custom cooler just is not going to happen. This, my friends, is the next big thing: a custom painted flask.

The flask, like the cooler, is adorable and every time he uses it he will think of you. But the flasks are so much better for both of you. Ladies, this is a craft project you can finish in a day if you really wanted to and it only requires one design instead of like five. Gentlemen: a flask is a lot easier to carry around than a whole cooler and you will use it a lot more often, anyways. So, let’s grab our paintbrushes and get to work.

First, we will start by picking an idea or design the getting the paint colors necessary. This flask is going to be Patagonia inspired, so a couple of blues, a calm purple, and orange, along with detailing colors is all we need.

Once you have a game plan, be sure to get a stainless steel flask. These are smooth and easy to paint.

If you don’t want silver as your background (and for this we don’t) you will need to paint a background color. Paint the sides completely and let dry. Now you have a new, smooth base coat.

Next, is the detail and outlining. For Patagonia, it is going to be the mountain view line and whatever name you want to put in the large blank area. It could be his fraternity, name, or even initials. Once you are done, be sure to let it dry before moving on.

Next, it’s coloring time. This is when you will be able to add the bulk of the design. Since there is overlapping in this design, it is smart to let each layer dry before adding another color.

Now that you have finished be sure to Modge Podge it completely. The Modge Podge will keep the paint from chipping off, and we know those boys can be rough, so this is a super important step. Be sure to pick the Modge Podge with the finish you want. I like glossy but matte can look just as cool.

There you have it, my ladies: a new, inventive gift for your gentlemen -- or even something you can make for yourself. Bottoms up.