This simple but beautiful DIY Wooden Serving Tray is a perfect way to use your Cricut to add a special message to your new cocoa serving tray.
I love simple DIY ideas, and this one is a great choice for the holiday season.
It is beautiful but simple, and it is easy enough that anyone can make this!
DIY Wooden Serving Tray for Hot Cocoa
We love hot cocoa, and while it doesn’t need a special serving platter to be delicious, it always helps.
This pumpkin spice and roasted marshmallow hot cocoa is even more delicious when it is served on a beautiful wooden tray with a warm and welcoming message!
To get started on this project, you will need to gather a few supplies.
This is an easy project, but it has a few steps that you have to follow carefully.
Make sure you are paying attention to the steps and read them over before you get started so you are well aware of what you need to do for this project to turn out as beautiful as the images.
Things to Note Before Making a Wooden Serving Tray
As this will be used for serving food, when you shop for stains, paint, or sealant, make sure that you are choosing safe products for this purpose.
Look to see if food-grade options are available.
Also, if you don’t want to use it as a tray but just as a sign, you can leave off the handles on the sides.
That cuts back on time spent on this project as well as money.
Note: Allow yourself 1-2 days to complete this project to make sure the stain or paint is fully dried before you apply the vinyl to the board.
More Fun DIY Cricut Projects
- Scrabble Letter Tiles
- DIY Bloom Where You Are Planted Mason Jar
- Coffee Mug with Vinyl Statement Using Cricut
Supplies Needed
- A round piece of wood
- Wood stain or paint
- Mod Podge
- Sponge brushes
- Cabinet handles
- Vinyl for Cricut in the preferred color
- Contact transfer paper
- SVG File (download here)
Tools Needed
- Cricut
- Drill with 7/64th drill bit
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Blue light grip mat
- Weeding tool
- Scraper tool or old gift card for scraping
How to Make a Wooden Serving Tray with Cricut Design
For this project, you will begin by staining or painting the wood. I
f painting the wood, you will do so, covering all sides as desired, then set aside to allow it to dry for 12-24 hours.
If staining the wood, you will stain along the grain of the wood and then use an old cloth or paper towel to wipe away 90% of the stain.
This, too, will be set aside for at least 12-24 hours to completely dry.
Once the stain or paint has dried, you will seal the piece of wood with Mod Podge or your preferred sealant as directed in the printable below.
Allow this to dry completely before moving forward to apply the vinyl.
While the wood stain and sealant are drying, begin working on your SVG file using measurements that fit your wooden slice.
I have included my measurements in the printable directions for reference.
Edit and print your vinyl file according to your machine’s directions.
Once the vinyl has been printed, you will then remove excess pieces using a scraping tool.
Now, you will use a piece of contact or transfer paper and apply it to the vinyl to make the transfer to the wood later easier to manage.
Lay your vinyl onto the wood piece and adjust it to fit, then press down and gently remove the transfer paper until all that remains is the vinyl on the wood.
You can add an extra layer of sealant if desired.
How to add the handles to the serving wooden tray
- Once the vinyl is down and adhered, find the middle for your handles on each side.
- Take a 7/64ths drill bit and drill a small hole for ease of screws. Screw down the handles (your choice of design), and it’s complete!
If you don’t want to use this as a serving tray, then skip the handles. You can also hang it on the wall by adding a sawtooth hook.
And that’s it! Now you’re ready to use your wooden tray!
DIY Cricut Wooden Serving Tray for Hot Cocoa
Equipment
- 2 sponge brushes
- Drill with a 7/64th drill bit (optional but makes it easier)
- Phillips head screw driver
- Cricut I'm using the Cricut Explorer
- Blue light grip mat
- Weeding tool
- Scrapper tool/old gift card
Materials
- 15 ” Wood round find it at most hardware stores
- Wood Stain or paint color and brand of your choice
- Mod Podge
- Cabinet handles of your choice
- Contact/transfer paper
- Vinyl in color of your choice
Instructions
Staining or Painting the Wood
Start the project by staining or painting the wooden piece.- If staining this piece, you will use the sponge brush first to coat the wood with stain using the sponge brush in a well-ventilated area. When staining, go along the grain of the wood using an old cloth or paper towel while applying pressure and wipe 90% of the stain off of the wood.
- If painting, you will coat all sides and allow to dry for 12-24 hours before moving to the next step.
Sealing the Wood
Once the stain is dry, you will seal the piece of wood.- I used Mod Podge as it is easy, inexpensive, and a great barrier. You could also use any regular sealant you prefer for this step.
- When adding sealant, you want to apply going in the same direction in a nice even layer. You don't want this too thick as that will prevent the vinyl from applying and staying in place.
- Simply coat the entire piece of wood and once again, allow this to dry.
Adding the Vinyl
While the sealant is drying, you will want to upload the SVG file and make sure you create your quote to the proper measurements of your wood slice. Depending upon the size you are able to find, this may vary. Below are the measurements I used as a mockup.- Wood- 15” Diameter
- Handles - 4.98” (height)
- Design - Cookie Co. - 11.4” (wide)
- Design - Hot cocoa - 11.5 (wide)
- You will follow directions for your machine for loading the vinyl and then proceeding to print.
- I remove all extra vinyl with a scraping tool or weeding tool. Use what works best for you in this process.
- Cut a piece of contact or transfer paper the size of your vinyl cutouts, and apply to the vinyl. Smooth this in place with a credit card or smoothing tool.
- Next, turn the entire design facing downwards, and begin slowly pulling the vinyl's plastic backing off the contact paper. Do this a little at a time for best results.
- When the vinyl has been successfully transferred, you will be able to see through the transfer paper with vinyl attached.
- Next, you will center your vinyl on the wood round, making sure to leave space on the sides for the handles if adding them. Lay the transfer with vinyl lightly on top of the wood.
- Note: Do not pull too tightly when laying it down or it can distort the vinyl and leave you with air bubbles later.
- Don't apply pressure or press down on the design until you are happy with where it is placed. Once you are happy, begin applying pressure and smooth over the design using your scraper tool.
- Once enough pressure has been applied, you will slowly remove the transfer paper starting at one corner and easing it away until only the vinyl remains on the wood.
- Since some letters of this design are small, you will need to be very careful during application to not tear them as you peel away the transfer paper.
Notes
Screw down the handles (your choice of design) and it’s complete! If you don't want to use this as a serving tray, then skip the handles. You can also hang it on the wall by adding a sawtooth hook.
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