Dear Marc:
I’m planning a formal get-together with family and friends. I’m jazzing up my dining room for the affair. I have a beautiful hutch in my dining room that looks very bare. I’ve heard magazine editors often use serving trays when staging a room for a photo shoot. I visited a few boutique shops looking for the perfect tray to use on my hutch, but I didn’t find what I was looking for. I want a rustic, rugged serving tray that will fit well with my branch base, glass-top table. Do you have a fabulous project for creating a DIY tray?
Jenna

Dear Jenna:
Rustic weathered woods and wrought iron paired with sleek modern touches are very popular in design! This look is reminiscent of the olden days when these types of woods and iron pieces were found in our grandfathers’ workshops.

Today, this look is classified as chic and is sought after by designers. Thus, these pieces are usually found in high-end boutiques with a price tag that makes one wonder if the tray is in fact gold plated.

For the bakers among us, the supplies needed for this project will be found in our cupboards. For all others, simply visit a friend and borrow a cookie sheet as you’ll need it for this project. As you say your goodbyes, mention to them that you’ll bring them a fabulous rustic serving tray on your next visit.

In this project, we’ll transform an old cookie sheet into a designer serving tray using a few craft and hardware supplies.

The following supplies are required for this DIY Serving Tray project.

- Weathered cookie sheet
-- Self adhesive black board
-- 2 handles
-- Square chrome studs
-- Craft distress ink
-- Sponge
-- Glue gun
-- Utility Knife
-- Drill with bit
-- Gold leafing pen

Step 1: Apply the self-adhesive blackboard to the inside bottom of the cookie sheet. Using a utility knife, cut any excess material.

Step 2: Using distress ink pads and a sponge, apply layers of ink to the side lips of the tray. Allow drying time before continuing to the next step. This will create the desired “weathered look.”

Step 3: Measure the middle of the side lips of the cookie sheet. Drill two holes on each side and install the handles.

Step 4: Glue three square studs below the tray’s handle using a glue gun. Leave 1 cm (1/2-inch) between each stud.

Step 5: Using the gold leafing pen, draw a line around the lip of the cookie sheet.

Step 6: The cookie sheet has now been transformed into a designer serving tray. Place a few treasured pieces and a good book onto the tray. Pour yourself a nice cup of tea and enjoy!

Marc Atiyolil, celebrity designer and home trend expert is the Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Home Trends Magazine, regular contributor to CTV, and the host of the Marc Atiyolil Show on www.MarcAtiyolil.com. Catch Season 2 every Thursday at 2pm.

To submit a question for Marc, visit www.CanadianHomeTrends.com

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