Modern farmhouse, farmer’s market, vintage, rustic, country kitchen; any of these could describe the decor trends that have been super popular for almost a decade now. Whatever you call it, a wooden tray centerpiece is a must!
We aren’t going to make just any wooden tray centerpiece though. This DIY project puts a new twist on the staple piece. With just a couple of extra pieces of wood and some rope, we’re going to turn this simple wooden tray into an adorable display for all of your fresh farmer’s market produce, or fresh veggies straight from your garden. I myself love to plant a garden every year.
From your kitchen counter to your dining room table, you can easily move this little, wood tote centerpiece wherever you’d like. It’s also perfect for carrying snacks or drinks to the patio for your guests, or just to add the finishing touch to your rustic dining room decor. The possibilities with this woodcraft project, among many that I provide in my membership, are endless.
This is a basic wooden tote that you can make from just about any type of wood. The wood I used for this tutorial though is a product from Rockin’ Wood on Amazon. Rockin’ Wood asked me to get creative and build something using their products, so I used these pre-cut 12” reclaimed wood planks to create this farmer’s market inspired centerpiece. The pre-cut planks certainly saved me some time by not having to cut down any long boards.
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Farmer’s Market Wood Tote Building Instructions
Materials:
- Six – 3.5 inches wide wood planks at 12 inches long
- Rope
Tools:
- Table Saw
- Crown Stapler
- Drill and drill bit large enough to drill a hole for your rope
Build the tray
Lay three of the 12” planks side-by-side, flat on your work space.
On a table saw, rip two of the 12” planks in half down to 1 ⅞” wide. (If you don’t have a table saw this project can be modified by having tall sides on the tote).
Place the thin pieces you ripped around the outside edges of the 3 planks to create a tray.
You may have to trim two of the edge pieces, so mark them with a pencil and trim off the excess. (I had to trim off about ⅛”)
Once the edges are flush, use a crown stapler to fasten the edge pieces into the bottom boards.
You can use glue if you would like to, but I chose not to for this project because this one is very lightweight.
Make sure your staples are going in straight, so that they do not poke out of the boards that you are stapling into.
(If you don’t have a crown stapler, a brad nailer or drill and small screws would be an option.)
Create the Handles
On a table saw, rip the last 12” plank in half at 1 7/8″ and measure down about an inch to determine where to drill the holes for a handle. Drill a hole in each half plank large enough for the rope that you’ll be using as the handle. For this project I used ⅜” rope that’s fairly inexpensive to purchase at Harbor Freight.
Place one plank on each edge directly in the center of the wooden tray. Make sure they are not crooked, but stand at a 90 degree angle, then fasten them with a crown stapler or screw and screw gun.
Finish the handle
Once the sides are assembled, roughly measure your rope for the handle creating as little or as much slack as you’d like. Cut the rope, thread through one hole and tie a knot. Repeat on the other side, and you are done!
If you love crafting, but find yourself spending way too much time deciding what to make and the most efficient way to make it, the Woodcraft Blueprints membership may be a small investment worth making.
You will receive two wood craft tutorials per month with supply lists and detailed instructions. These wood crafts have been researched (by me) to be trending wood crafts that you can sell, gift, or keep for your own enjoyment.
You’ll also receive access to a members-only group, foundational woodworking tips and tricks, and more.
Let me know if you have questions about this project or the membership below!!
Labinda Thomas says
That is really nice I like it