A friend came to visit me recently and asked for a tray but I didn’t have one to give her. I aim to be a great host and to discover that I didn’t have one of the most basic kitchen items was slightly embarrassing. Anyway, I made a mental note to buy some trays but when I went searching for one, I just couldn’t find what I wanted. Then one of my personal mottos came back to slap me upside the head: “Create what you can’t find.” Over the years I’ve learned to view not finding something that I want as a cue to creating it. So, I did a quick online search and discovered chalkboard trays – hooray! I decided to learn how to create one and the rest is history.
I love that you can write on this tray with chalk which is helpful when you’re throwing a party but don’t have time to explain the name or contents of each dish to your guests. Plus, you can decide to write a cheeky message or draw a quick sketch whenever you feel the urge to be creative. I think it would be a great gift for a housewarming party or for someone who loves to host. I really don’t think you can ever have too many trays. So, I hope that you are inspired to create this simple DIY chalkboard tray and as usual all the instructions and shopping links are below. Enjoy!
• • •
You will need:
- A flat piece of wood or a chopping board (I went to B&Q, found a piece of plywood and asked a store attendant to cut it into 3 pieces, which gave me 3 trays measuring 26 cm x 40 cm; here’s link to the plywood I used: http://bit.ly/2XUYqUn)
- Painters masking tape (N.B. I prefer using the blue tape over regular masking tape; it just gives better results) https://amzn.to/39M9sRz
- Dulux Primer & Undercoat for wood https://bit.ly/2LOG4lI
- Chalkboard paint (I chose black paint but it comes in different colours) https://amzn.to/3itoU8Y
- A small paintbrush https://amzn.to/2XX3Hei
- A pair of door handles http://bit.ly/2M2aiRX or https://amzn.to/3qGuYxJ
- Gorilla Glue https://amzn.to/35XEW6h
- Writing Chalk https://amzn.to/3qCrw7n (N.B. You can use chalkboard pens but they may require a bit more work to wipe off)
Instructions:
-
- Use the painters masking tape to create a border around the perimeter of the piece of wood and make sure you leave enough room on the ends for your handles. (Tip: Press the tape firmly to the wood so that paint does not seep underneath; this will ensure that you have crisp borders when the tape is removed at the end)
2. Use a paintbrush to apply the wood primer and undercoat to the wood. Then wait for 2 hours before applying another coat.
3. Once the primer is completely dry (wait at least 2 hours after applying the second coat) apply a coat of the chalkboard paint. Leave it to dry for 2 hours before applying another coat. Then after about 30 minutes carefully remove the painters masking tape.
4. Use the Gorilla Glue to attach your handles to the ends of the tray (N.B. the Gorilla Glue expands as it dries, so use small amounts, but if your pice of wood is thick enough you can decide to screw the handles on). Leave it to dry overnight and once it’s dry write on your tray with chalk and use as you wish.
• • •
Amazing, very easy to make and versatile!!
Author
Thanks so much! I appreciate your feedback. xx