DIY Scrap Moulding Trays

Are you on a purge mission to get rid of excess stuff? Me too! How about your workshop? Do you have scrap wood you need to get rid of? Yes? Perfect. Today I have a simple tutorial to show you how to make DIY Scrap Moulding Trays. These are really cute little trays that can be given as gifts and used to corral things together.

Regardless of how you use these scrap moulding trays, they are a great way to reuse materials.

Materials:

• Scrap 1″ board (cut to any size rectangle or square you like.)
• Door/Window casing
• Speed square
• Sandpaper
• Brad nailer
• Brad nails
• Wood Glue
• Fusion Mineral Paint

Optional: Clamps

Instructions:

Cut a 45˚ angle into one end of your case moulding (the longer side of the cut should be on the outside of the moulding.) Never used a miter saw before? Watch this video tutorial to learn how to use a miter saw.

Line up the inner edge of the cut against one corner of your base wood. Mark the location of the other corner onto the moulding.

Extend the line along the moulding using a speed square.

Line up the mark with your saw blade and cut at a 45˚ angle.

Repeat for the remaining sides until you have four sides cut with all ends mitered to 45˚.

Test fit all the moulding sides against the base board and make any adjustments as needed.

Sand any rough spots off with a sanding sponge.

Paint the moulding your color of choice. I used a variety of Fusion paints. This is the first time I’ve used Fusion Mineral Paints. They go on smoothly and they don’t require primer. Plus, with a light sanding afterwards they don’t feel chalky.

Squeeze wood glue onto the corners and bottom edge of the moulding pieces.

Set them in place around the base.

Nail 1 ¼” brad nails through the moulding and into the base.

Secure the corners with one or two more brad nails.

Time to load up your tray with goodies and give it as a gift.

Or use your tray to organize your desk.

If you fell in love with the tray with the striped bottom, you can learn how to make striped wood block here:

Another tray you can make with scraps is this fun Nailhead State Capital Tray:

What do you think? Want to use up your scraps to make some fun trays?