How to Create a Sentimental Footed Tray
Do you have sentimental items in your home? Are you addicted to footed trays like I am? Well, let’s just combine the two and you’ll understand why I have created a sentimental footed tray.
A repurposed use that made me love it.
A couple of years ago a storm blew through our property and decided to take down a few trees along the way. Sad, beyond belief. But, truly thankful that none touched our home.
The DIYer part of me decided I needed to capture those trees and repurpose them for gifts. There were a few sliced into round plate chargers that decorated my table and my mantel.
My creative husband on the other hand decided that cutting them into slabs would be a great idea for serving trays to be gifted.
We live on Walnut Street and since this tree was a walnut tree, it truly gave more meaning to these slabs. They were sanded and coated with a food safe oil and gifted at Christmas.
But, I could never bring myself to serve or decorate with ours. It just was missing something. It wasn’t the cutest of the bunch. You know. More rustic than my usual entertaining style.
And today, it dawned on me.
It needed a little extra.
You know, like feet that I found here, and handles so that it spoke footed serving tray to me. I decided those great feet were perfect for a round wood slice and have those on order for the next project!
Sounds easy. Right? Well, our sentimental piece was not that easy. There was a gouge on one side and then varying colors of sanded wood and bark on the other, making handles that looked right a bit challenging.
STEP 1- Make decisions on materials you need.
Now, this is what I found that spoke to me.
A few handles and four feet from Lowes (on clearance for $1 each! BAM!). And soooo many choices for a board in case you didn’t have a tree fall in your yard!
Warning!
Knobs and hardware are a rabbit hole that will really unleash your creativity!
STEP 2: Add your hardware.
Gather your pencil and ruler for marking and drill to make holes for your handles and feet.
It was easy to mark, drill and screw the handles through to the bottom side of the wood, choosing the right length screws provided.
But the challenge was with the cabinet knobs I chose for the feet. I didn’t want the screw to have to go through the top side with a washer like they do on a cabinet door.
TIP: Look for hanger bolts that fit your knobs that have a screw on both ends so that you screw them into the knob and then pilot drill into the wood to screw them into place. Problem solved!
STEP 3: Put that footed tray to great use!
And then it shouted loudly!
So loudly, that it has taken over decorating for the fall…
And it showed up for dinner as a charcuterie board…
… perhaps it really may be happier at Christmas!
You know what I learned along the way? That the not so cute side really was like so much in life. We aren’t perfect. We have rough edges and perhaps some unpretty parts. And that made me love it more. More meaning to this now sentimental footed tray. A tree that once lived here, as I have, continuing to have a new purpose and beauty.
So.
What sentimental piece do you have that needs to be repurposed? That will bring joy to your home and happy thoughts to you?
Or who needs a cute gift from you that is so easy to make and showcase in their home??
Tag, you’re it!
I hope you’ll join me to see what a few of my friends have created!
These great muffins for Christmas gifts!
Some Christmas gifts to make that you won’t want to miss.
Need inspiration for your Christmas tree? This one may help.
Great book ideas for decorating, inspiration and gifting here.
Wood Pedestal Tray for a Farmhouse Christmas – Chalking Up Success
How to Make Footed Tray – Cottage in the Mitten
Christmas Tray DIY – Cottage on Bunker Hill
(***For your shopping convenience, I often add links to help you shop, that as an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.)
43 Comments
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Rachel Harper
I love love this. Such a creative idea. So happy to be sharing this challenge with you.
Rachel
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you, Rachel. I am sooooo happy to have participated in the challenge that created something I love so much!
Martha Wallace
Beautiful tray! A forever treasure!
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you! It is now a treasure!
Tammy
Leslie,
This project turned out great! I love the wood with the metal.
JAYNE
What a wonderful way to use up the wood from that walnut tree! I love how you use your footed tray for all sorts of occasions. I hope mine will turn out to be just as useful!
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you, Jayne. I love it so much more now with handles and feet. Who knew?!! Can’t wait to see how yours turns out…please share when you are finished!
Kimberly Snyder
absolutely beautiful Leslie! I love it! It really reflects “you”! I love your logo at the top of the blog, too! Thanks for sharing your tray!
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you, Kimberly! You are too sweet. My son made my logo quickly a few years back as a “construction” holding sign before I had the nerve to hit “publish”. It will be refined soon!
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Linda
Your tray is so beautiful and I love the sentiment behind it. Your stylings are all so lovely!
Leslie J Watkins
You are so kind, Linda. Thank you sooooo much!
Suellen
As always “Love” your creative ideas Leslie! Thanks for sharing with us.
Leslie J Watkins
Suellen, I am so thankful that you are following me in this journey. I can hear your words of encouragement when you write them. This quarantine time needs to end soon so that we can more easily travel the miles to meet and truly share life. Love you, sweet friend!
Sue at Blu
Leslie I love the thought process behind your lovely tray! I have one more riser to make and it came from my childhood home. What a sweet project!
Leslie J Watkins
Aw, that sounds perfect! Can’t wait to see what you create with it. I love the end result of this one. I’m not sure it will ever be put away again. I’m finding uses for it in every room!
Jennifer Williams
The walnut slab is absolutely stunning. I love that it has so much meaning. Beautiful tray!
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you, Jennifer. That slab was just unhappy without feet and handles. It is amazing the transformation in how it looks and how I use it now. Thankful this challenge gave it new life!
Kim Waldorf
What a great way to use that wood! I love the different ways you styled it. Nice job!
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you, Kim! You are too sweet. I am sooooo much happier using that wood now! Game changer!
Jennifer
Oh, I love that you made your tray from your tree!! That’s awesome!! It came out great too.
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you, Jennifer. I can’t wait to use the hairpin legs on the round ones now!
Renee Barton
I LOVE this. I might have to do this with some of my rough cut cedar boards. I was debating what to do and love your handle idea!!!
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you, Renee! It’s amazing how much they changed my view of that board and how I now reach for it to use for serving or table scaping.
Sharon Rexroad
great idea using those hanger bolts! your end result is GORGEOUS and your styling is FABULOUS!
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you, Sharon! You are too sweet. Those hanger bolts were a game changer. My husband was the genius in finding those.
Donna @ Modern on Monticello
We lost a walnut tree last year too and I have yet to do anything with that gorgeous wood. I love your idea and the feet and handle you picked were perfect with the rustic wood. Thanks for the inspiration.
Leslie J Watkins
So glad I could inspire! Those trees just had to be repurposed. So many great ways to repurpose and gift them. We found that the longer you wait, the more difficult to get the saw through it! Have fun with your creativity!
Sonya
The hardware you choose was perfect. I love that there are slight imperfections on the sides and did the same on my sides. It was so fun being part of the challenge with you.
Allison O'Dell
So funny! I bought handles and adorable knobs too but ended up going in a different direction! I absolutely LOVE the story behind this tray. And the fact that it’s walnut, all the better. Beautiful wood, even with the more rustic vibe. This turned out so pretty and I hope you get amazing satisfaction each time you use it!
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you for launching all of this Allison! And for your sweet comments. So many things I have learned through this process. I am truly thankful and am over the moon with salvaging a less than loved piece. Thank you for all of your encouragement…can’t wait for the next challenge!
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Do Dodson
The tray turned out amazing! I love the warm industrial vibe. Well done, my friend. 🙂 xo
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you, Do! That means a lot coming from you! Happy Thanksgiving!
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Cindy Rust
Love this footed tray idea Leslie! It has so many uses. Pinned
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you, Cindy. I am getting ready to add it to the island for Christmas decorating. Thank you for pinning!
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