Craft Ideas for Wooden Trays

Transform a plain wooden tray into a work of art. Whether or not you have artistic ability, a little creativity and imagination will go a long way in a fairly short time to make a beautiful tray to use and show off to friends and family. Large or small, a hand-decorated wooden tray made by a child or adult also makes a lovely gift for any occasion.

Hand-Painted Tray

Decide on a design and the appropriate acrylic paint colors to paint a design on an unfinished wooden tray. Use a pencil to draw a design such as a garden scene with pots of bright flowers or Christmas-themed images. Don't paint your design first--paint the remainder of the tray with acrylic paint, front and back, being careful not to paint over your design. Let the tray dry. Then paint in your design or scene. Like any artwork, sign and date it. Spray the entire tray with clear polyurethane varnish.

Decoupage Tray

Choose a theme for your tray such as travel, garden, books, memories or holidays. Collect photos, color and black and white images cut from magazines, brochures or photocopied from books. Use a fast-dry can of spray paint (non-acrylic) over the entire tray with a color that complements your theme. When dry, arrange your images on the inside part of the tray as desired. Working in small areas, lift the images and apply a decoupage adhesive medium with a glossy finish, such as Mod Podge, with a small foam brush (available at any craft shop). Press the images on, then coat with more Mod Podge. If choosing a garden theme, use a few real flower petals such as from pansies; the Mod Podge will penetrate the petals and make them hard and shiny. If using photographs or photocopies, first spray them with a clear finish to avoid smears.

Mosaic Tray

Apply a coat of colored wood varnish on the back and sides of a wood tray to give it a polyurethane protective finish. Leave the inside bottom of the tray unfinished. Purchase a sufficient quantify of small tile squares--with designs, plain or any combination you like--to lay inside the bottom frame of the tray. Create your design on a worktable so you can easily manipulate the tiles.

Use a spatula to spread a thin, even layer of white tile grout onto the bottom of the tray, working on one small area at a time. Work fairly quickly to place the tiles before the grout begins to dry. Gently press down on the tile pieces until you feel the bottom of the tray. Place the tiles close together. Continue spreading grout and placing tile pieces until your design is complete. If you accidentally get some grout on the tile, use a wet cotton swab to remove it ... then pat dry with a paper towel. With a paintbrush, apply a grout sealer around your mosaic a few days after the grout has cured.

Tile and grout are available at your local tile store or home improvement store.