How to Customize a Stanley Lunch box into a Tea to Go Kit

DIY Table Top for Stanley Lunch Box

4/16/2025

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I really like tea, and when I saw some videos of people using the metal Stanley lunch box as a coffee to-go setup, I knew I had to make one but for tea!

You can buy tabletops that fit this lunch box, but I knew we had some nice scrap hard wood that would make a great top. So I went to work creating one, and put together the teas, cups, snacks, and supplies that would be my tea time to-go setup!

Materials/Tools:

Wood size around 14in x 7.5in

Dremel Blueprint Portable Saw Station (Amazon)

DeWalt Scroll saw (Home Depot)

Makita Cordless Compact Router (Home Depot)

DIABLO 1/4 in. Radius Rounding Over Bit (Home Depot)

Howard cutting board oil (Amazon)

Cricut maker (Amazon)

Thick Self-Adhesive Cork Sheets (Amazon)

Cricut Black Vinyl (Amazon)

Inside Tea Kit:

Stanley Classic Lunch Box 10 qt (Amazon)

Travel Tea Set (Amazon)

Small Glass Jars (Amazon)

Trio Tea Timer (Amazon)

Snow Peak Hozuki Mini Lantern (Amazon)

Jetboil Flash Camping Stove (Amazon)

Loose Tea Pack, Cream Earl Grey (Amazon)

Matador Pocket Blanket (Amazon)

Nite Ize Original Gear Tie (Amazon)

Bamboo Skewers (Amazon)

Gingham Paper Napkins (Amazon)

Sterno S'Mores Heat Fuel (Amazon)

How to make a Stanley lunch box coffee tea to go kit.

This is the Stanley Classic Lunch Box 10 qt. They also make a smaller version that only has one clip on the front.

How to make a tabletop for a Stanley lunch box for a to go coffee kit.

I started by tracing the top onto cardboard, and working out the sizing. So you don't have to figure it out, I have made a template available as a free download.

How to make a tabletop for a Stanley lunch box. Free downloadable template.

I traced my template onto the hardwood I used.

Here's how we made a table top for the Stanley lunch box for our tea to go kit.

I made the straight cuts on the table saw.

We rounded the corners on the wood Stanley table top on the scroll saw.

Mom used a scroll saw to cut the rounded edges.

it's not necessary but it's a nice touch to use a router on the edges of the Stanley table top to give it a professional look.

To round the edges, I used a compact router.

Lastly, we marked the placement for the metal hanger, but this is also indicated on the free Stanley tabletop template.

We lined up and traced the cut outs for the metal hanger, but this will already be marked on the template.

Using a DeWalt scroll saw to cut out the notches on the tabletop.

Mom cut out the notches for the metal hanger.

We finished both sides of the Stanley lunch box table top with Howard's cutting board oil.

To finish the wood we used, I used cutting board oil following the instructions.

The oil brings out the beauty of the wood and will protect it from spills. (Although, it is important to not let water just sit on the wood.)

Adding a little piece of wood to the table top for added stability.

I also added a little extra piece of wood to the bottom each side to hold it extra securely in place.

I personalized my Stanley lunch box with vinyl stickers made on a cricuit maker. You'll see a kayak, greyhound, nature, and a nod to DIY.

Here's a look at the inside of the Stanley lunch box tea to go kit. Inside are loose leaf teas, travel tea set, snacks, and a way to heat water.

Here is a look inside the tea box. You can see everything fits, including a stove to heat water, 4 loose leaf tea selections, a travel tea set, and snacks!

Here's everything that is in the box. Storage bags and other things are stowed away under the table top until it's time to put everything back into the box!

I made custom cork coasters to keep the tea set in place, especially on uneven ground. I cut out them out using my Cricut Maker with the following settings: cork side up on purple mat (secure with painters tape if needed). Heavy denim setting with rotary blade.

Steph personalized the lunch box with her second YouTube channel, Hi, I'm Steph.

Everything fits back in the box! If you want to see more about the tea setup, check out my second YouTube channel, Hi, I'm Steph!

With a few quick swaps of supplies, the Stanley lunch box becomes a s'mores to go kit.

I also made it into a s'mores to-go setup!

Here's a look at the s'mores to go. hungry yet for s'mores?

This is such a fun way to take tea or s'mores to-go! I have already taken it out many times with friends and family and it's great to have a cup a tea in nature.

What do you think? What would you put in your Stanley lunchbox? Tea, coffee, s'mores, or maybe just lunch!

For more details on the setup, check out my YouTube channel Hi, I'm Steph!

Please note: This is not a sponsored post.

FYI: We are not professionals, and we don't claim to be. This is what we found worked for our project. Yours may need a little different approach. Safety first!

FYI: Affiliate links are being used on this page. Purchasing via these links help support MDP.