Painted Wooden Serving Tray

September 7, 2010

Put an old wooden frame to good use as a serving tray with our simple staining technique. Whether you’re using it to serve afternoon tea or proudly displaying it on your kitchen table, it’s sure to turn heads.

Painted Wooden Serving Tray
Coloring in designs with candle wax is an easy way to add an artistic touch to wood surfaces. The wax repels the stain, so when you wipe it away, you reveal the natural color. Follow these easy step-by-step instructions to decorate and assemble your tray.

Materials
Wood frame, any size
Plywood*
Pencil
Stencils, optional
Painter’s tape
Candle wax (available at craft supply stores and online)
2 paintbrushes (1 wide for staining, 1 narrow for painting)
Water-based stain, color of your choice
Gloves
Paper towels
Paint, color(s) of your choice
Drill
2 drawer handles
Wood glue
Screwdriver
Screws

*Tip: Before you purchase your plywood, measure the inside of your frame. Take the numbers with you to your local home improvement store and have them cut the plywood to size for you.

Instructions

With a pencil, draw or stencil a design onto the piece of plywood. To create a stripe across the entire tray, use painter’s tape. Then, holding the wax like a crayon, color in your design.
Use a paintbrush to apply stain to entire tray. Let dry completely.
Put on a pair of gloves, then use paper towel to wipe away the wax and reveal the unstained design. Peel off painter’s tape, if used.
If desired, use a narrow paintbrush to carefully paint your designs an accent color. Then let dry completely. In the meantime, pre-drill holes in the sides of the frame for the handles.
Snap the decorated plywood into the frame, then secure with wood glue. Once dry, screw in the handles.

Tip: When choosing which way to put the plywood in the frame, think about how you’ll display your serving tray when it’s not in use. To hang it as wall art, show off the decorated side on the bottom. If you’d like to set it on the counter, position the adorned side so it faces up.

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