Making Christmas Serving Trays

• PAINT
• DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paints: snow white, raspberry, country red, blush, forest green
  
  
• BRUSHES
• 2 inch foam
• #10 flat
• #2 script
• #0 liner
  

  ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Cookie Wagon Express

• SUPPLIES
  
• Wizzer Wagon
• Brown paper bag
• Clear tape
• Ruler
• Pencil with new eraser
• Water-base varnish
• White wood glue
• 1 yard red ribbon, 23/4 inches wide
• Sprig of holly

1. Take wheels off of wagon (they will be reassembled at end). Wood should be smooth and free of dust. Apply 2 coats of snow white with 2-inch foam brush on entire wagon. Use a piece of brown paper bag to sand when dry.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Paint the wagon white.

2. Use tape to section off stripes on sides of wagon and handle. Use a ruler to space tape 3/4
   inch apart. Place pieces of tape at a slant on all sides. For handle, start tape on one end and wrap around in a spiral to other end.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Use tape to section off the stripes.

3. Use #10 flat brush to paint raspberry between the tape. Use #2 script brush to add a thin line of country red on left side of each stripe. Allow paint to dry 10 minutes and remove tape.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Paint raspberry between the tape.

4. Use the eraser end of a pencil to make the berries in clusters of 3 on the wheels. Dip the eraser into country red and make 5 dots around the center hole (dipping into paint for each berry). Add a dot of blush and raspberry next to each red dot.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Dip the eraser into the country red.

5. Thin forest green with 50 percent water and use #0 liner brush to make thin lines for the pine needles. Make a line in the center coming out from each berry cluster. Then add shorter thin lines on each side.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Make short thin green lines.

6. Paint the trim on the top of the wagon and the pegs for the wheels with forest green using #10 flat brush.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Paint the trim on the top of the wagon.

7. Use your finger to rub country red on the rims of the wheels.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Rub red on the rims of the wheels.

8. Allow paint to dry completely before varnishing. Use 2-inch foam brush and a water-based varnish to apply 2 to 3 coats. Glue wheels and pegs together with white wood glue after varnish is dry. A red ribbon and sprig of holly can be added to the handle.

   Holiday Hints! Be creative and try cutting contact paper in wavy strips to block out the striped areas instead of tape. Don't use masking tape because it sometimes leaves a residue. Instead of painting between the stripes with a flat brush, try dabbing paint with a sponge for a textured look.

©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Christmas Catchall Tray

• 9 x 9 inches cardboard
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors
• 2 pieces coordinating fabric, 45 x 12 inches each
• Fabric scissors
• Iron and ironing board
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Straight pins

1. Mark a line 11/2 inches from each edge of cardboard square. Cut along each line, and throw away corner squares. You will end up with a 6 x 6-inch piece for bottom of tray and four 6 x 11/2-inch pieces for tray sides.
   
   
2. To make corner ties, cut 1 x 45-inch fabric strip. Fold long edges toward center, and press with iron. Fold strip in half (again along long edge); press. Stitch along open edge with sewing machine and matching thread. Cut into 8 equal lengths.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Press.

3. Cut 101/2-inch square from each fabric. Place 1 square right side up on work surface. Pin a tie about 23/4 inches from each corner; stitch in place. With right sides facing, sew fabric squares together along 3 sides with 1/4-inch seam allowance. Trim edges, and turn inside out. Fold under edges of open side; press.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Sew fabric squares together along three sides.

4. Place one 6 x 11/2-inch side piece of cardboard inside fabric square directly across from opening. Sew seam 13/4 inch from edge of fabric, enclosing cardboard. Slip 2 other side pieces between fabric to left and right of opening; sew seam 13/4 inch from each edge. Place square cardboard piece in middle pocket, and sew about 1/4 inch from edge of cardboard to enclose it in fabric. Place last cardboard side piece between fabric, and hand-sew edges of open side closed.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Sew cardboard side piece between fabric.

5. Fold up sides of tray, and make bows out of ties at each corner.

©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Candy Cane Serving Tray

• 11 x 14-inch wood serving tray with handles
• 8 wood toy wheels, 13/4 inch diameter
• Sandpaper
• Tack cloth
• Acrylic paint: red, white
• Paintbrushes: 1-inch foam, 2 small detail
• Ruler
• Pencil
• 1-inch painter's tape
• Craft knife
• Matte spray varnish
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks

1. Lightly sand wood tray and toy wheels to remove any rough spots. Wipe with tack cloth to remove dust. Using foam brush, apply coat of red paint to entire tray and to toy wheels. Let dry. Lightly sand again; wipe with tack cloth. Repeat painting, sanding, and tacking 2 more times. Let dry.
   
   
2. Starting about 1 inch from side of tray, apply strips of tape diagonally around 2 flat sides. Leave 1 inch between each strip. Allow tape to come over top edge and onto inside of tray. Make diagonal stripes along top edges of each handle, again leaving 1 inch between each tape strip. Trim ends of tape with craft knife, and press down tape edges to secure.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Make diagonal stripes with tape.

3. Using detail brush, paint white stripes between each strip of tape to create wide white stripes. Let dry completely; remove tape.
   
   
4. To make smaller stripes within each 1-inch stripe, measure and mark 1/2 inch on first complete stripe. Affix tape diagonally along this mark, again wrapping tape over top edge and onto inside of tray (trim ends of tape on inside with craft knife).
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Measure 1/4 of an inch from edge of tape.

5. Measure 1/4 inch from edge of tape, and apply another piece of tape diagonally. Repeat across side of tray.
   
   
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 on other flat side of tray.
   
   
7. Using detail brushes, paint between diagonal paint strips, using red paint on wide white stripes and white paint on wide red stripes. Let dry, and remove tape. Spray entire tray with 2 coats of matte varnish; let dry between coats.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Paint the tiny red stripes.

8. Using detail brush, paint white stripe (1 inch at its widest point) on toy wheel. Make 2 more stripes, each 1 inch apart, to create a peppermint candy effect. Let dry. If desired, add 1/4-inch stripes on wide stripes to match tray. Repeat for all wheels. Spray wheels with 2 coats of matte varnish; let dry between coats.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Use a detail brush to paint the wheels.

9. Stack 2 wheels together with a red stripe opposite a white stripe. Glue in place. Repeat with remaining wheels. Glue 1 stack of wheels to each corner of tray.

   Holiday Hint!Embellish white ceramic mugs to go with your Candy Cane Serving Tray. Just use a red ceramic paint marker to add red stripes to the mug handles. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for care and handling.