Bar trays come in all colors, styles, shapes and sizes. Wouldn't it be
nice to create your own customized bar tray -- one that fits
your style, your vibe?
My summer style has been leaning in the direction of bright colors that
really pop. Today I'll be showing you how I made my own monogrammed bar
tray and how you can totally do the same, or customize it even further for
yourself and your taste.
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Creating your own customized bar tray is a very doable, fairly
inexpensive DIY project that pretty much anyone can handle (yes, I'm
talking to you!). You might already have a thrifted (or just plain old)
tray on hand waiting for a makeover.
That's what I had -- a nine year-old tray just waiting for a makeover. I
shared this tray on the blog back in 2015. It worked for us at the time
but it has truly taken a beating and needs a new life.
I was lucky enough to be able to pull the graphics off the tray in one
whole sheet and discard it. That left me with a clean slate to work
with.
This is my 7th post explaining DIY decoupage with cocktail napkins. For
valuable tutorials on how to decoupage with cocktail napkins, along with
tips and tricks, be sure to visit the following posts to assist you with
this monogrammed bar tray project:
How To Make Chinoiserie Pumpkins DIY Decoupage
DIY Chinoiserie Vase
How To Make Chinoiserie Easter Eggs With Cocktail Napkins and Mod
Podge
How To Make Chinoiserie Christmas Ornaments
DIY Floral Decoupage Bunny
How To Make A Chinoiserie Planter Jardiniere
HOW TO MAKE A CUSTOMIZED MONOGRAMMED BAR TRAY
1. Prep the tray (clean it, remove graphics, add a coat of white paint to
the base of the tray for best outcome -- whatever you need to do to get it
ready). I used two coats of
Apple Barrel Matte Acrylic Paint
in White.
2. Decoupage the base of the tray with Mod Podge -- I used
Mod Podge Gloss finish, but you can use Mod Podge Matte finish if you prefer and with:
your choice of patterned cocktail napkins.
I picked up my gorgeous napkins at T.J. Maxx on a whim. I just loved
those bright summer colors! If you like them I found some other punchy
floral napkins you might like:
Remember you can use any napkins you want -- I've used Dollar Tree
napkins as well as napkins from Amazon. Any pattern goes - the sky's
the limit!
I usually play it pretty fast and loose with my decoupage projects,
not worrying whether or not I keep the napkin pattern going. I
usually use chinoiserie napkins, and that type of pattern is
very forgiving. However, the fruit and floral pattern I chose
for this project was not.
It took a lot of planning and piecing together before I got a look
I was happy with. Maybe it was due to the fact that for this project
I used whole squares of napkins versus small pieces of napkins
(which is what I usually use).
You'll have to play it by ear depending on the napkins you choose
and the size of napkin pieces you use.
3. Create a monogram by using a
free monogram maker
and a laserjet printer. (Inkjet printers will not work for this project!)
Make sure you size it appropriately for your tray. (It doesn't have to be
a monogram if that's not your style. Get creative with it!)
4. Once the decoupaged napkins have dried, cut out your monogram and
decoupage your monogram onto the cocktail napkins in the middle of the
tray.
For some reason the napkins didn't want to cooperate for me this time.
They insisted on bubbling up and wrinkling pretty badly. It was so bad I
literally scraped off the first attempt (after I had finished the whole
thing!) and did it all over again. Since I was leery of how it would
react to the sealant I skipped that step.
While I've definitely had better decoupage results, I've accepted this
one "as is" at this point. Obviously it would hold up better as a bar
tray if it had sealant on it, but we're not big cocktail drinkers -- so
other than for display purposes, its actual use will be limited.
I couldn't help but add fresh fruit to the cocktail bar display -- it's
always great to have fruit options in summer to liven up your
drinks.
Pink bottles add a lovely touch to the colorful mix of cocktail
essentials.
I love using vintage plates and bowls from my collections to add color and visual
interest.
Figural pitchers are quite popular these days. I got this one for a song
a few years ago. While not vintage, I do still love it. The rattan plate
holder is thrifted.
I even added some figural measuring spoons shaped like lemons!
If you don't want to make your own monogrammed bar tray, you can find
ready-made monogrammed bar trays online:
Well, that's it for today, friends!
I hope you enjoyed reading about
How To Make A Monogrammed Bar Tray
and that I've inspired you in some way.
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Kathleen, your bar tray is gorgeous! Blessings, Cecilia @ My Thrift Store Addiction
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