Grab some dollar store supplies to make this DIY cookie sheet serving tray. For just a few dollars, you can make this functional and beautiful farmhouse-style tray.
How to make a decorative cookie sheet tray.
A note from Aimee: This blog post first appeared on The Crazy Craft Lady in September 2020. It has since been updated to bring you the best, most current creative content.
Why I love this craft
I really enjoy taking Dollar Tree items and turning them into something that fits perfectly with my home decor style. In this case, I used a cookie sheet and gave it a shiplap-style upgrade with an overall farmhouse look to use as a table centerpiece.
With a project like this, there are many things you can do with it so paint it and decorate it to fit your unique style.
Do I need miter shears?
I always mention that heavy duty craft scissors can get the job done; however, if you’ll be doing lots of cutting, I highly recommend having a pair of miter shears on hand. What I love most about this craft supply is precision it gives with each cut. It has a built-in angle guide, which is perfect if you’re not great with getting angles cut just right.
In addition, you’ll also be able to cut through most types of materials such as wood, plastic, rubber, and certain soft metals.
The inspiration for this craft:
I first made a DIY Cookie Sheet Serving Tray back in 2020 (scroll to the bottom of this post to see my original project) and went as far as drilling holes for the handles. I loved the overall look, but this time I kept it much more simple by attaching handles with hot glue and half wood beads. I also primarily used white chalk paint and this time I did more of a distressed look.
Video Tutorial: Decorative Cookie Sheet Tray
Watch this quick video to see how this craft came together:
Cookie Sheet Tray
Grab a cookie sheet tray from Dollar Tree and make a decorate piece to add to your home decor.
Materials
- cookie sheet tray (Dollar Tree)
- White spray primer or matte spray paint
- jumbo craft sticks
- Folkart home decor chalk paint (castle and French linen)
- jute rope
- half wood balls (4)
Tools
- miter shears
- 1" flat paint brush
- hot glue gun and glue sticks
Instructions
- Watch the video. Follow along with the tutorial video for a step-by-step guide for making your own decorative cookie sheet tray.
- Cut the craft sticks. Cut the craft sticks in various sizes to create a shiplap-style look on the cookie sheet. Cut a small triangle notch out of the four corner pieces to better match the rounded edge of the pan.
- Spray paint everything. Place the sticks (in the same order) into a box to paint with the white spray primer. You don't have to do a thick coat. At the same time, lightly spray the edges of the cookie sheet as well.
- Distress the craft sticks. Once the craft sticks have dried, paint and distress them with the chalk paint.
- Paint the cookie sheet. Paint the entire cookie sheet with a coat of chalk paint (after being sprayed with the primer).
- Attach craft sticks. After the paint has dried, dry fit the craft sticks, and then secure with hot glue.
- Attach handles. Watch the video to see how I do this without having to drill holes. Fray the rope ends a bit. Then hot glue the rope ends to the tray, followed by a half wood bead. Work quickly before the hot glue hardens.
- Embellish the tray. You can add whatever you'd like on top of your tray.
Notes
Use your miter sheers of heaving duty craft scissors to create a "round-like" edge on the corner craft stick pieces.
The Finished Craft
Don’t forget to PIN this craft for later:
Dollar Store Kitchen Aisle Crafts
This craft was part of a compilation video on my YouTube channel – along with a jute rope bowl, a reverse canvas lantern, a serving platter picture frame, and deli basket wall decor.
More Craft Stick Projects to Try:
- Craft Stick Jack-O-Lanterns
- How to Make a Craft Stick Wreath
- Craft Stick Christmas Trees – an Easy DIY Christmas Ornament Idea
- DIY Mini Wood Sign Ornaments From Wooden Craft Sticks
I Think You’ll Love These Crafts:
- Dollar Store Craft: Floral Decorative Tray
- Decorative Tray from a Wooden Toy Box
- Plastic Serving Tray Picture Frame – Dollar Store Craft
- Dollar Store Easter Decoupage Tray – an Easy Spring Craft
And here’s my original craft from back in 2020:
Turn a plain old cookie sheet into a decorative serving tray
Video Tutorial – DIY Cookie Sheet Serving Tray
Just watch this video to see how I made this serving tray – or you can watch it on YouTube.
Supplies – Cookie Sheet Serving Tray
- dollar store cookie sheet
- spray primer or white spray paint
- craft sticks (wide popsicle sticks) – from the dollar store
- scissors
- white chalk paint and paint brush
- hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
- drill and drill bits
- nautical rope – from the dollar store
How to Turn a Dollar Store Cookie Sheet into a Decorative Serving Tray
I started with a baking sheet from my local Dollar Tree. First, I drilled four holes into the baking sheet – two on each end. I started with my smallest drill bit and worked my way up to largest one I had in my set.
Then, I took white spray primer and painted both pans. It works best to use thin coats, and it will probably take 2 to 3 coats to get all of the metal covered on the tray.
Once the spray paint has dried, you can start crafting.
Making a Wood Backing for the Serving Tray
I grabbed these craft sticks from the dollar store. They’re just wide popsicle sticks. The wood is thin enough that you can actually cut them with a regular pair of scissors. So I just cut off the rounded ends with my scissors.
And then I set them in place on the tray, to make sure that they were the right size and they would fit. Be sure to cut the craft sticks at varying lengths and stagger them, so that you kind of have that shiplap or planked look.
To cover this tray, you will need probably two thirds of the packet of craft sticks.
I just use regular old Rustoleum chalk paint, but you can use really whatever white paint you have on hand. Then I used a wide paint brush to paint the craft sticks. I used a dry brush technique so that I didn’t have complete coverage on the sticks. They look a little bit weathered or distressed and you can still see a little bit of the wood grain poke through.
The nice thing about using chalk paint is that it dries quickly. I was able to hot glue all of my craft sticks in place soon after painting them.
Adding Rope Handles to the Tray
Finally, I used this nautical rope that comes in the craft section at dollar tree to make handles for my tray. I just threaded a section of rope through each hole on the end of the tray and secured it with a knot in the back.
Just be careful because it takes more length than you would think to tie a knot in this rope. I ended up having to throw away my first cut of rope because it was too short. You can always re-tie the knot and make the handle shorter, but you can’t make it longer.
So for about three dollars worth of craft supplies, I was able to make a cute little decorative serving tray.
DIY Cookie Sheet Serving Tray
Grab some dollar store supplies to make this DIY cookie sheet serving tray. For just a few dollars, you can make this functional and beautiful farmhouse-style tray.
Materials
- Dollar store cookie sheet
- Spray primer or white spray paint
- Craft sticks (wide popsicle sticks) – from the dollar store
- Scissors
- White chalk paint and paint brush
- Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
- Drill and drill bits
- Nautical rope – from the dollar store
Instructions
- Drill four holes into the baking sheet – two on each end. Start with the smallest drill bit and work your way up to a drill bit that's just a bit bigger than the rope.
- Spray the baking sheet with white spray primer. It works best to use thin coats, and it will probably take 2 to 3 coats to get all of the metal covered on the tray.
- Once the spray paint has dried, you can start crafting.
Making A Wood Backing For The Serving Tray
- Cut the rounded ends off the craft sticks.
- Then I set the craft sticks in place on the tray. Make sure that they are the right size and will fit. Be sure to cut the craft sticks at varying lengths and stagger them, so that you kind of have that shiplap or planked look.
- Use a wide paintbrush to paint the craft sticks. Use a dry brush technique so that you don't have complete coverage on the sticks. They look a little bit weathered or distressed, and you can still see a little bit of the wood grain poke through.
- Once the paint has dried (chalk paint dires quickly) hot glue the wood sticks in place on the tray.
Adding Rope Handles To The Tray
Finally, use nautical rope to make handles for the tray. Thread a section of rope through each hole on the end of the tray and secured it with a knot in the back.
Notes
Just be careful because it takes more length than you would think to tie a knot in this rope. I ended up having to throw away my first cut of rope because it was too short. You can always re-tie the knot and make the handle shorter, but you can’t make it longer.
To cover this tray, you will need probably two-thirds of the packet of craft sticks.
More Dollar Tree DIY Farmhouse Decor:
- Thrifty Genius! Dollar Tree Farmhouse Decor Ideas and DIYs
- DIY Pizza Pan Door Hanger – Dollar Store Craft
- DIY Framed Placemat – Dollar Store Wall Decor
- Who knew!? Dollar Store Laundry Basket DIYs and Hacks
- Dollar Store Tray DIYs, plastic serving platter transformations
- Dollar Store Cutting Board Crafts
- Fabric Covered Books, Make a Neutral Color-Coordinated Book Stack