DIY Nautical Map Serving Tray

Step 1…Paint the Tray…

I’ve had this tray for years and it is adorable, but it was looking a little ragged. It had a bunch of chips and a big water stain on the top. Therefore, the first thing I did was paint this sucker, using some left over white spray paint from my garage. If you want to attempt this project and don’t have a tray already you can get a similar one,  here,  here or  here.

Ah! Yes! That’s much better.

Step 2…Cut the Map and Glue it…

To cut the map, I simply measured the top of the tray and then measured the map and cut it with scissors. I wasn’t worried about the seams because I knew the adhesive and the Mod Podge would smooth them out.

NOTE: You can use whatever image you want on the top. It doesn’t have to be a map at all. I used this Bahamas nautical map wrapping paper from amazon.  

To attach the map to the tray, I used this spray adhesive. Simply spray a generous amount right to the top of the tray, and then carefully place the map on top. Once it was stuck to the tray, I used this roller tool to smooth out any bubbles. You can also use a credit card.

Step 3…Mod Podge the Top…

I used my foam brush to put several layers of  Mod Podge on the top. This stuff will seal it and protect it from any moisture. I just pour some on and then use a foam brush to paint it on. For this piece, I used 2 coats.

Step 4….Finish it off…

Finally, the last step is to spray a top coat (or two) of this  Clear Acrylic Gloss Coating. This stuff dries in minutes and adds yet another layer of protection against spills. I used 2 coats. You can probably skip this step, but I had some of this on hand and figured, it couldn't hurt to add it.

That is it. Simple, easy and cheap to make.

Here is the finished product.