Serve Up Style

Surprise mom with breakfast in bed on a tray fit for a queen. It's simple to construct and fun to customize the finish. She will love you for it.

Chalk It Up!

The contrast of the black chalkboard with the natural pine is simply stunning. Write messages of love or waste away the morning playing games. This tray makes a great bed companion.

Paint the top of the tray - and perimeter of top, if desired - with chalkboard paint. When dry, finish the remainder of the tray with urethane. Let dry. To finish, attach a decorative brass corner to the bottom of each leg.

What We Used:

• black latex chalkboard paint 1824-110
• satin urethane finish 1878-212

Tray Magnifique

Create a faux marquetry look with stencils, stain and paint.

Measure, mark and tape a border to paint. Stencil the Old Script design centred in the border. Let dry. Centre the Fleur de Lys stencil over the Old Script stencil and paint, using the border colour. Apply stain to the tray where desired. When dry, rub a dark paste wax over tray. Attach a decorative brass corner to the bottom of each leg

What We Used:

• Designer Series paint: suede finish 1858-243/252/261
• border and Fleur de Lys colour: Strong Espresso
• Old Script colour: Fools Gold
• stencils: Old Script, Fleur de Lys 
• stain: Aged Oak 1876-624
• dark paste wax 1874-760

Spring Garden

Subtle, soft hues in a botanicalinspired design.

Paint the tray a base colour. In a container, gradually add white paint to the base colour to create a lighter shade. Stencil a design using the lighter colour paint. When the paint is dry, sand the edges with150 grit sandpaper to reveal some wood beneath. Attach a decorative brass corner to the bottom of each leg.

What We Used:

• Beauti-Tone Designer Series paint: suede finish 1858-234
• base paint colour: Earl Grey
• stencil: Peony

What's In Store:

• stencil brushes 1610-344
• stencil adhesive 2020-075
• 150 grit sandpaper 1060-176
• brass corners 2350-011
• Bloc It tape 1670-098

Breakfast Tray Instructions

Materials

• 16" x 8' laminated pine shelf - for tray
• 1" x 2" pine (6') - for legs
• 2" x 2" pine (4') - for apron
• 1" x 7' pine door stop
• finishing nails 2134-078
• 2 1/2" #10 wood screws (4) 2173-962
• wood glue 2020-041/042

Alternative method to fasten legs

• 2" double-ended screws (4) 2110-617

Here's How

1. Cut the laminated pine shelf to 28" length for tray.
2. Cut four, 12" lengths of the 1" x 2" pine for legs.
3. Position legs flush to the corners of the tray and drill pilot holes with a countersink through the top of the tray and into the leg.
4. Glue and fasten the legs to the tray with screws.
5. Fill screw holes with wood filler, let dry and sand smooth.
6. Measure, mark and cut the pine apron to fit tightly between the legs, on all four sides of the tray. Glue and nail the apron in place.
7. Cut door stop with mitred corners to fit tray.
8. Glue and nail door stop to edge of tray.

Tip: With some finishes, such as the stencils, it is best to pre-paint the pieces and then assemble.

Alternative method to fasten legs:

1. Mark the centre lines on the end of each legs and drill a pilot hole.
2. Mark the corresponding points at each corner on the bottom of the tray.
3. Drill into the tray, but not all the way through, at each corner. Insert double-ended screws.
4. Glue and screw legs to the other end of the screws.