Star Spangled Wood Tray

A simple handcrafted potato stamp and an old piece of wood come together to make the perfect patriotic star spangled wood tray.  A subtle touch of patriotism for your decor.

With patriotic holidays fast approaching, it’s time to pull out our stars and stripes.

The thing is, I don’t typically enjoy going all crazy red, white, and blue.

I mostly do white 😉

Which you may already know.

But with a little creativity and ingenuity – and an old chunk of chippy white wood buried in piles of junk – I found a way to subtly bring in my stars and stripes and pay my honor to the home of the brave.

I’ve got the stars on my makeshift tray (which I’ll show you how to make with the help of a potato!).

And the stripes can be found in my pillow and throw just behind it!

All nestled snugly on my beloved, nap inducing, slip-covered “Felicity Sofa” from Joss and Main.

The tufted bench is also from Joss and Main.

And I’m pretty smitten with my Birch Lane blue striped, lightweight fringe throw.

This fun tray can also be used as a serving tray and lap tray.

(Photo courtesy of my 5 year old who made me super nervous holding my big girl camera.  I was ready at a moments notice to drop the ice cream and save my camera.  But she did so good and can be hired for ice cream).

And I really like placing the tray on tables as a perfect centerpiece.

Isn’t that chippy white paint to die for!?

It was really just a piece of old plywood from who knows where, un-buried after the winter snow melted.

After potato stamping the stars, I simply screwed on some handles I found at Hobby Lobby.

I think she’ll work as a lovely photo prop as well.

Now let’s talk about how you can make your own star spangled wood tray.  It really was so easy and hardly merits a tutorial, but I’ll walk you through my steps anyway.

Supplies:

• Old piece of wood.
  • Don’t feel like it needs to be painted white either.  I think natural wood with white painted stars would also be really pretty.
• Craft paint of choice
• Foam brush
• Potato
• Star template
  • A simple print out is what I used
• 2 handles

To make your potato stamp, simply place your paper star template on top of a potato cut in half.  With a pairing knife, cut around the star shape leaving the shape itself raised from the rest of the potato.

Lightly brush paint on the star stamp and stamp it on to the wood.  I found I like to dab the stamp on paper towel first, so the actual stamp on the wood looked slightly more faded and worn like the wood itself.

After all the stamping has dried, sand it lightly and screw on your handles.

It was really that easy peasy, and I’m so excited to use it throughout all the patriotic holidays and get together’s coming up.

If your looking for a little more patriotic home decor how-to’s, take a minute to check out my Farmhouse Friday friends.  They always have amazing projects to share and inspiration galore!

*Linking up to these parties, HERE.

*This post contains affiliate links to products I use and love.