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Cabinet Door Repurposed Into a Tray

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This post will show you how to make a cabinet door repurposed into a tray. This is an easy project, perfect for beginners.

Cabinet doors are easily found at your local Habitat for Humanity Re-Store. I get mine in various places and many times for free.

100_8943%5B2%5D[1] I measured and drew my lines for a Harlequin pattern.

taping a harlequin pattern I used the  Painter’s Tape to mark off my diamonds.

taping a harlequin patternI painted the diamonds blue.

Scotch BlueI wanted a little something extra for my tray. Scotch Blue Painter’s tape is great for making your own stencils. Overlap some tape onto waxed paper.

 

scotch blue stencilingPrint off a template.  You can see how I did this painter’s tape stencil on my post Harlequin Fleur-de-lis Stenciling

 

stencil%20brushI chose Ebony paint from DecoArt for the Fleur-de-lis.

harlequin-fleurHere is my former cabinet door looking all dressed up in her new outfit!  I asked the opinions of my readers, and they overwhelmingly said . . . “it should be a tray”.

 

100_9098  This Rockler Drawer Pull Jig allows you to get uniform measurements each and every time.  I have made trays before and I found it difficult to get the holes the right distance apart.  Not with this jig!  You simply find the center of your wood, choose the right width of your handle, and center your handle from top to bottom.
The “fence” on the left locks your measurements in place so that if you’re doing more than one drawer, the handles will be the same on all of the drawers.

 

100_9103My handles are 3 inch centers, so I set the jig so that those holes are centered left to right and top to bottom.  I used an auto center punch.  I have to tell you I was amazed at what this little tool does!  I went around punching “dents” in scrap wood in amazement!  Seriously!  Something so simple entertained me for quite a while.
100_9106Do you see those two little indentations?  SWEET!  That little punch is going to come in very handy.   Why? you ask!
100_9113Because of this feature right here. Instead of marking your spot with a pencil, you PUNCH the spot. Because it leaves that special indentation, your drill bit has a “resting” spot, meaning it’s less likely to jump around.  I think this will really come in handy when I do hinges on my Window Cabinets!

 

100_9114It is winter, and very cold here, soooo you can see I’m working right in my kitchen.  I drilled the holes on both sides, and the handles fit perfectly!  Plus, they are equidistant on both sides.  I’m pretty good, but usually my handles are not this perfect.

 

100_9115I decided to change out the paint.  I taped of the inset part of the cabinet door with some more Scotch Blue Painter’s tape.

 

100_9119You can see the handles in the background before I painted them. You can also see that I have my kitchen island/bar covered with plastic.  😉
100_9118Using some more Mythic paint, and a fabulous Purdy Paint Brush  I changed out the blue to the grey.
100_9165I spray painted the handles (in the basement, due to the weather) and attached them with some screws leftover from my kitchen handles.

 

100_9170I have a lot of handles in my stash, but I chose these because of the detail. It reminded me of the fleur-de-lis shape.

 

100_9180
I’m still playing around with maybe hanging it on the wall when it’s not in use.  We’ll see.  I don’t have a nail in the wall where it would go, so I didn’t want to hang it yet until I’m sure.   Sometimes I’m so wishy washy!
Thanks for hanging in there with me folks!  Ya’ll are the bestest!

gail

See more cabinet door project ideas below:

 

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ABOUT GAIL WILSON - A teacher at heart, Gail Wilson relishes the chance not to show off her projects, but to help others find their inner handywoman, step-by-step. Her blog, MyRepurposedLife.com, chronicles her scrap-saving adventures and has been featured on countless DIY magazines and websites, including Women’s Day, Design*Sponge and Apartment Therapy. She is a longtime influencer for both Homeright and Gorrilla Glue. With a tribe of more than 450,000 followers, Gail is inspiring a new generation of DIYers to pick up some tools and get to work.

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Comments

  2. LOve this! The painters tape stencil idea is awesome! I will definitely be giving that a try. Thanks for inspiring!

    Reply

  3. I love this!!! I saw you on alittlenicknack. This is a project that is definitely on my “to do” list!! Great job, it looks amazing!!!

    Reply

  4. Hi! I featured your project today! Hope you can stop by and grab a button! Have a great New Year!
    alittleknickknack.blogspot.com

    Reply

  8. I need one of those jigs too! And that punch thing? Very cool. I’m off to ask santa to put one in my stocking…. 😉
    Love the tray with the grey edgy and black handles. they are perfect with the pattern!

    Reply

  11. I love the idea of using the painting tape as a stencil! I will for sure be trying that. I love the tray turned out beautiful

    Deb.

    Reply

  16. The handles are perfect~they do look like little fleur-de-lis. Your tray is going to look good no matter where you put it.

    Reply

  18. Oh that looks fabulous now… like it much better with the outer edge in the lighter colour… great job. Now I am off to find one of those jigs… I wish I had that when I did the handles on Mya’s dresser that is awesome.

    Have a great day Gail.

    Hugs, Deb

    Reply

  21. Love the tray — beauty and functionality — what could be better!?! That jiggy thingy is awesome too! I learn so much from your blog. Thanks for sharing your ideas and knowledge with us all!

    Reply

  22. I got my Scotch Blue Paint Kit yesterday. They really went above and beyond! I was so impressed with the kit! Can’t wait to try it out too! 🙂

    Reply

  23. You did a beautiful job on this tray…not that I am surprised by that. I wish I had the nerve to try these types of things! ~sigh…maybe someday!

    Reply

  24. You could always put a nail at the top of your wall where it won’t be noticed, and hang it from a ribbon. Awesome project, by the way!

    Reply

  25. I love this tray! You did a fabulous job! And you could lean it on a shelf or hang it when it’s not in use…holding mugs and fixin’s for hot cocoa…brrrrr….it’s getting cold early this year!

    Reply

  27. I love it SO much more now that you made the harlequin an inset and painted the outside white – its perfection now!! You really notice the handles and the fleur de lis, it is just gorgeous!

    Reply

  29. A+++! I really like your tray… good idea to paint the trim white to really show off those perfect handles. I’m never disappointed with your projects!

    Reply
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