How To Make A Monogrammed Bar Tray

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:

 

Caspari Floral Trellis Boxed Cocktail Napkins

 

Boston International Marimekko Collections Rosarium Rose

 

Boston International Cocktail Paper Napkins FLower Party Cream 

 

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.

 

 5. Optional: Once the monogram has dried, protect your entire decoupage project with Mod Podge Acrylic Sealer in Matte or Modge Podge Acrylic Sealer in Gloss.

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!

 

And if all this has made you thirsty, check out How To Make A Diet Strawberry Lemonade Cocktail (or mocktail) for an easy and refreshing summer drink.

  

If you don't want to make your own monogrammed bar tray, you can find ready-made monogrammed bar trays online:  

 

Personalized Linked Circles Serving Tray

 

Personalized Monogrammed Damask Black Wooden Tray-Large 

 

Personalized Monogram Serving Tray

 

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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