How to Start Painting a Food Tray

A painted wooden food tray makes a fantastic accessory for your home or a lovely handmade gift. Some people find painting intimidating, but we'll tell you everything you need to know. Collect a few supplies and read on for more details.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tray
• Pencil
• Paper
• Acrylic paint
• Puff paint
• Brushes
• Palette
• Lacquer
• Paper towels

1. Gather your supplies. You'll need a wooden food tray (preferably balsa wood), a pencil, a piece of paper, various colors of acrylic paint, puff paint, brushes, a palette, spray-on clear lacquer and paper towels to clean up spills.

2. Draw the design you want on the bottom of the tray on a piece of paper first. Once you're satisfied with your design, draw it on the bottom of the inside of the food tray with a pencil.

3. Outline your entire design with a very light color-mix some yellow paint with white paint for a suitable shade. Don't worry that not all your objects are meant to be this color-the color is light enough for you to paint over it with appropriate colors later.

4. Paint your design in the colors you want. Mix paints together on your palette to make custom colors and colors for shading.

5. Fill in the rest of the bottom of the food tray with a contrasting paint color if your design doesn't cover the entire bottom of the tray.

Tips & Warnings

• If the acrylic paint isn't as smooth as you'd like, mix it with a little water.