From the Studio: DIY Rustic BBQ Tray for Summer Cookouts 🍔🌽☀️

Memorial Day weekend is basically the unofficial kickoff to summer — which means backyard BBQs, citronella candles, someone forgetting the hot dog buns, and everybody pretending they’re a grill master for the day. So, for this week’s From the Studio, we’re making something fun, rustic, useful, and easy to customize: a DIY Summer BBQ Serving Tray.

The best part? It looks like something you’d buy at a cute boutique market stand… but you can make it yourself in an afternoon.

What You’ll Need

🪵 Wooden tray

(unfinished trays from craft stores work perfectly)

🎨 Acrylic paint

Think summer colors: creamy white, faded red, sage green, navy, or black

🖌 Foam brush or paintbrush

📄 Vinyl stencil OR printed design

(BBQ sayings, stars, checkers, lemons, burgers, etc.)

🕯 Matte sealer spray or Mod Podge

🪚 Optional extras:

• Rope handles

• Checkerboard pattern

• Distressing wax

• Wood beads

• Tiny faux greenery

Step 1: Paint Your Base

Start by painting your tray in your main color. For a rustic summer look, try:

• Warm cream

• Smoky blue

• Vintage red

• Olive green

• Matte black

Don’t worry about perfection. Slight texture and brush strokes actually make it look more handmade and cozy.

Let dry completely.

Step 2: Add Your Summer Design

Now comes the fun part.

You can stencil or hand-paint:

• “Backyard BBQ”

• “Burger Basket”

• “Hot Dog Hotline”

• “Grill & Chill”

• “Fresh Squeezed”

• Simple checkerboard corners

• Tiny stars for Memorial Day vibes

If you want the trendy cottage-meets-vintage look, lightly sand the edges afterward to distress it.

Step 3: Seal It

Once your paint is dry, seal the tray with a matte topcoat or Mod Podge. This helps protect it from inevitable ketchup incidents.

Because let’s be honest… summer BBQs are not gentle.

Styling Ideas

Here’s where this tray really shines:

• Use it for burgers and hot dogs

• Create a lemonade station

• Hold BBQ condiments

• Style it on a patio table with candles

• Use it as a centerpiece with mason jars and flowers

• Bring it to cookouts instead of another boring grocery store veggie tray

  
  

Make It Feel Expensive

A few tricks to make your DIY look boutique-quality:

• Stick to muted colors instead of neon

• Use matte finishes

• Add tiny imperfections intentionally

• Mix rustic wood with modern fonts

• Don’t overcrowd the design

The goal is “cute summer market find,” not elementary school craft day.

Final Thoughts

One of my favorite things about summer crafting is that it doesn’t have to be complicated to feel special. Sometimes the best projects are the ones that make everyday moments feel cozy — like eating watermelon on the porch or standing around a grill with friends while someone inevitably burns the first burger.

If you make your own BBQ tray, customize it to match your style. Rustic farmhouse? Vintage Americana? Minimal neutral? There’s really no wrong way to do it.

And bonus: this makes a REALLY good handmade gift.

Happy crafting ☀️