Skip to main content

Easy DIY Summer Serving Tray

Hello everyone! How's everyone doing? I hope all is well. Today I am bringing you a quick and easy design. We're going to create a summer serving tray. You could also use this tray as a decor element as well. I am reusing a wooden crate I purchased a few years back for $3 at my local Target store. I figured it would be perfect to repaint and add a few other embellishments. If you're ready, let's create a cute summer tray.

Painted wooden serving tray with bright yellow summer sign with decorations on tray

Video tutorial





Craft materials displayed on a table


Materials


One wooden crate
I am reusing an old wooden crate I purchased at Target for $3. 

Acrylic paint
Optional mod podge-If you decide to seal your paint
One paintbrush
Scissors
Fruit stickers or other summer embellishments 
I found a pack of clear fruit stickers at Dollar Tree
One wooden summer word sign
E6000 or hot glue

Pink acrylic paint, paintbrush and wooden serving tray on a table

Begin by applying your acrylic paint to your wooden tray. I am using multisurface acrylic paint for the main tray. Be sure to allow your tray to fully dry. Between each coat of paint, I used my blow dryer to help with the drying process.


Acrylic paint, paintbrush and painted tray on a table

After applying paint to the outer surfaces of your tray, take your second acrylic paint and begin to apply the paint on the inside of your tray. I wanted the inside of my tray to be white. Once you have applied your paint and it has fully dried, you can take Mod Podge to seal off your paint. Using Mod Podge is optional.

yellow acrylic paint, wooden summer sign and paintbrush on a table

Next, take your wooden summer word sign and apply your acrylic paint to it. I decided to go with a yellow color. I thought the yellow color would pop against the brighter pink color of the tray.

Painted yellow summer sign, adhesive, and painted tray on a table

Afterward, take either E6000 or hot glue to apply your summer sign to the front of your tray. 

Wooden tray and fruit stickers on a table

This last step is simple. Take your stickers or other embellishments and add them to your tray using either E6000 or hot glue. 

Close-up of wooden tray with greenery,  mini straws and glass cup on a table

Completed serving tray displayed with decorations

Your summer tray is complete. Isn't it cute? I love how it turned out. And just to think that by taking an old wooden crate that was stuffed away in storage, it could be turned into a colorful, summer tray.  Thank you so much for stopping by and creating with me. Be sure to check out more of my crafts here and also on my YouTube channel. I'll see you soon.

Pin Share Save

Pinterest Pin with title and image of summer serving tray


 

Comments

  1. This is perfect for summer Stephanie! I never think to create items for summer for some reason, something I think I need to improve on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Honestly, I would have never thought to create a summer tray. ☀️ I figured it would be perfect for my girls to use during the summer.

      Delete
  2. I like it, the stickers are cute, great color for the tray!! Thanks so much for linking up at #IMadeItMondayLinkParty 15. Pinned.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dee, thank you. I really appreciate it. 😊

      Delete
  3. This is very cute ... and practical!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna, thank you. 😊 Thank you so much for visiting.

      Delete
  4. So cute Steph! Thanks for sharing on Crafty Creators!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! 😊 Always love sharing on Crafty Creators.

      Delete
  5. This is so perfect for Summer! Featuring when my party opens.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carol, thank you! 😊 I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed my summer tray. Thank you so much for visiting.

      Delete
  6. This is adorable! I have been looking for some type of tray to go on my low table on my deck. This might be the idea!

    I would like to invite you to join my Tell It To Me Tuesday link party for the chance to be featured. This link party runs from Tuesday - Friday, and can be found at Perfectly Imperfect - Life with Lyndsey. Perfectlyimperfect-lwl.com/ > for you > tell it to me tuesday. I hope to see you there!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, thank you! I'm always happy to receive feedback on my craft creations. Thank you so much. 😊 I'll be sure to check out your link party.

      Delete
  7. Absolutely love this Steph! I had been thinking of making a summer tray, this great tutorial has given me the motivation to make one.
    Thanks bunches for sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month my friend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paula, thank you. I really appreciate it. I am also happy to hear that you enjoyed the tutorial and that it has given you motivation to create one. I am sure it will turn out wonderful.

      Delete
  8. Awwww, this is adorable :) I'm not sure if I'd be able to get the summer sign, but I'll try to make something similar. It's just too cute. Your ideas are absolutely rocking, every time I come here there's something new and it's always great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mariama, thank you so very much. You are so kind, and I appreciate it. I hope you will give it a try. And yes, any theme would be wonderful. Thank you for visiting. ♡

      Delete
  9. I am not crafty at all, but this is so absolutely adorable. I am popping in because I saw your post on Home Matters Linky party and I had to stop in and say hello and let you know how cute your craft is. Have a wonderful week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jennifer, I appreciate you stopping by. Thank you. That's perfectly fine if you aren't crafty. This project is super simple and requires very few materials as well as skills. Perfect for any beginner. 😊
      I hope that you have a wonderful week.

      Delete
  10. How sweet, this looks adorable. Thanks for sharing with us at Handmade Monday

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love this summer tray! Perfect for the season. from Turn Around Tuesday #41

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment. Your comments brighten my day. I hope that you know that it is appreciated. I do my best to respond to every comment. If you have a question, please feel free and ask away!

Popular posts from this blog

Decoupaged Glass Jar Candle Holders with Faux Leaves and Gold Wire

  Learn how to create beautiful decoupaged glass jar candle holders using leaves and gold wire. This DIY project is a perfect way to upcycle old glass jars and create unique candle holders for your home decor.  I hope you're all doing well. The weather has cooled down and we're enjoying the change. I'd like to share a quick upcycling decoupage project with you all today.  I had some extra glass yogurt jars and bought two taper candle holders from Target's dollar section. I wasn't sure what to do with them at first. In today's project, I will show you how to decorate small glass jars using faux fall leaves and gold wire. Video tutorial Materials Needed: - Two taper candle holders - A paintbrush - Mod Podge - Faux fall leaves or a decorative napkin - Hot glue - Two battery-operated tealight candles - Gold wire Applying Mod Podge and faux leaves to glass jars To start with, grab a paintbrush and use it to apply Mod Podge on your glass jar. Apply a small amount of M

DIY Dollar Tree Christmas Photo Clip Memo Display

Transform a Dollar Tree mini photo clip into a delightful Christmas memo display with this easy DIY project. It adds a festive touch to your holiday decor while providing a charming way to showcase memories and reminders. Using simple materials, you can create a beautiful display perfect for your home, office, or as a thoughtful gift. This project is ideal for anyone wanting to add a personalized aspect to their Christmas celebrations. Get creative this holiday season with this budget-friendly craft idea! Video tutorial Materials Needed - One mini clip photo frame - Acrylic paint (green and white) - Paintbrush - Glue (hot glue recommended) - Twine - Assorted Christmas decorations (I used mini Christmas trees) - Scissors - Ribbon Remove the Bow    Start by removing the bow from the photo clip frame. It should come off easily since it is attached with hot glue. If it doesn't, use a craft knife to carefully detach it, ensuring not to damage the bow as you will need it later for this p

Christmas Book Stack Decoration

Create a festive Christmas book stack decoration using wood. This DIY project will add a touch of holiday charm to your home. Find step-by-step instructions and inspiration here. Hello, and welcome! I've decided to start working on some of my Christmas crafts, and since I've had some wonderful feedback on my other wooden stacked book craft, (If you would like to check that craft out, the link is below).  DIY Stacked Wood Books I thought I would work on a Christmas wood book stack craft. If you're ready, let's dive right in, and create your very own Christmas wood-stacked books creation. Video tutorial Materials needed -Dollar Tree Wood Crate -Red bells -Twine -Scissors -Paint -Paint Brush -Hot glue -Gold letters (stickers) -Mini wreath -Gold flowers Creating your books Start by applying paint to your wooden box. The colors I went with were red and green. I wanted green in the middle, and red on the top, and bottom. Since this box has two openings on the side, don't

How to Turn Jars into Festive Holiday Organizers

 Hello everyone! I'm so glad you decided to join me today. I'm excited to share one of my favorite upcycling projects with you. I love giving new life to glass jars, plastic containers, and anything else that can be reused for storage. This project is a fantastic way to repurpose these items for organizing craft supplies or even holiday treats, like wrapped candies and more! Today, we're going to create simple upcycled storage jars. I promise you'll love this project, and these jars also make great gifts! Let's begin building your beautifully decorated holiday storage jars if ready. Video tutorial **Materials Needed:** - A plastic or glass container/jar with a lid   - Mod Podge   - Optional: Epsom salt   - Decorative tissue paper   - Decorations (I'm using the following items):     - Two mini faux gold Christmas trees     - A mini black holiday truck     - Two mini metal white stars     - Faux foliage   - Acrylic paint (I will be using white and black)   - Paint

Easy Dollar Tree Christmas Wooden Tree Decorations

  Create festive and budget-friendly Christmas wooden tree decorations with these easy DIY ideas using supplies from Dollar Tree. Get inspired to add personalized touches to your holiday decor without breaking the bank. Hello everyone! I hope all is well. Today we got a little snow over here in Colorado. How's the weather where you live? Today I'm sharing my latest creation. I created these decorative Christmas trees using the wood ones from Dollar Tree.  Video tutorial Here is a list of materials you will need to decorate your two wooden Christmas trees: Two wooden Christmas trees were purchased at Dollar Tree Two sheets of decorative craft paper Twine Mod Podge Faux craft gems and pearls Scissors Hot glue One paintbrush Acrylic paint Marker or pencil for tracing Start by taking your pencil or marker and tracing out your Christmas tree. Flip your paper over set your tree over the paper and trace it out. Once you have traced out your tree, use your scissors to cut out your trac

DIY Winter Wonderland Reusing Tea Tin Container

Have you ever wondered what to do with those tea tin containers once you’ve finished using them? While going through my tea storage, I came across one nearly empty tin. After finishing it off, I decided to create a beautiful winter scene using the tin. I absolutely love making these little winter displays by repurposing tin containers. If you’d like to create one yourself, I would love for you to follow along! Video tutorial Materials Needed: - Tin container - Acrylic paint - Sanding block (optional) - Paintbrush - Foam block - Decorative tissue paper - Mod Podge - Winter decorations (I’m using faux snow cotton, a winter tree, and a wooden house) - Hot glue - Optional: stamp and ink, faux pearl stickers Prepare the Tin Container: Start by applying paint to the tin container. I chose to use my sanding block beforehand to prepare the surface for paint.   Once sanded, apply your acrylic paint. Make sure to allow the paint to dry completely. I needed three coats for full coverage. Cut the

Target Wood Sleigh Upgrade

Transform your Target wood sleigh into a stunning Christmas centerpiece with this easy DIY upgrade. Get step-by-step instructions and ideas to spruce up your holiday decor. Video tutorial  Hi everyone! I'm so excited to share this simple decorating craft with you. I recently took a trip to one of my local Target stores, and I found this wood sleigh in the Dollar spot. I was pretty excited because I knew I could upgrade the look of this sleigh with just a few materials. Like most of my crafts, I use just a few materials when creating my crafts.  If you're ready let's begin and upgrade this wood sleigh. Materials needed for this craft One Wood Sleigh (Target dollar spot) Wooden Stars  (Joann's Craft Store) White paint Red paint Scissors Hot glue Christmas greenery  (Joann's Craft Store) Twine Optional - Mini lights, Wrapped gifts, Christmas Vinyl Sticker This craft was around $12 Start by applying some white paint to your sleigh. When applying the paint to your sleigh

DIY: Upcycled Painted Glass Jar to Shimmery Flower Light Display

  Looking for a fun and eco-friendly DIY project? Look no further! Discover how to upcycle a plain glass jar into a mesmerizing flower light display that will add a touch of magic to any room. Get ready to shine bright! Today, I will teach you how to upcycle a glass candle jar. For this project, I am reusing a glass jar that I have washed out. You won't need many materials for this craft. The main items required for this project are a glass jar, Mod Podge, acrylic paint, and shimmery flower embellishments. Fortunately, I found a pack of shimmery flower embellishments at my local Hobby Lobby store, which was discounted. You can use any embellishments of your choice. The full list of materials is provided below: Video tutorial Materials needed: - One glass jar (I am reusing a glass candle jar) - Acrylic paint - Mod Podge - Ribbon - Paintbrush - Shimmery flower embellishments - Hot glue - Scissors -Battery-operated push light Applying acrylic paint and Mod Podge To begin, take your ac