Wine Bottle Serving Tray – Perfect for the Holidays!

Instructions

STEP 1: GET MY WINE BOTTLE SERVING TRAY DESIGN

Get Design #275 which is the free SVG design file for this tutorial. You can download it from my free resource library (get the password to the library in the form at the bottom of this post).

Here is what the Wine Bottle Serving Tray file will look like when you upload it to Cricut Design Space and ungroup it:

Tip: If you are not sure how to upload an SVG cut file to Cricut Design Space, watch this helpful video training series I made. If you are on an iPad or iPhone, here is how to download and upload SVG files to the Cricut Design Space app.

Once you have decided which layers you want to cut, hide the remaining layers.

STEP 2: PREPARE YOUR WOOD SHEETS FOR CUTTING

If you are using the Cricut Maker to cut your trays, you will need a StrongGrip mat (purple) as well as painter's tape.

Tape all four sides of the sheet of wood to the mat to ensure that it doesn’t move while cutting. Make sure to review the placement of each wood sheet on the Mat Preview Screen in Cricut Design Space (after pressing the Make It button) to ensure the pieces will cut in the right places.

Move the star wheels on your Cricut all the way to the right to avoid leaving indentation marks on the wood.

Use the knife blade and the material setting that matches your choice of wood. For the wood sheets I used, I used the Basswood – 1/16” (1.6 mm) setting. The Cricut will need to make several passes to cut through the wood. Design Space should show you exactly which pass it is on and the expected remaining time is. Please be patient as this does take time to cut.

Use the PAUSE button on the Cricut to pause the cutting so you can check the progress and remove any debris that may be loose from the mat. Press the Cricut C to resume cutting.

Do not eject the mat from the machine until you are certain the cut is complete. Make sure you check the progress of the cut and remove the mat as soon as you determine the wood is fully cut.

STEP 3: PREPARE YOUR WINE BOTTLE SERVING TRAYS FOR FINISHING

If you wish to attach the reinforcements to your trays, now is the time to do so. Each reinforcement will only match its corresponding serving tray. You will want to match them before applying the craft glue.

Use your craft glue and a small paintbrush to make sure the reinforcement pieces are evenly covered. Apply the reinforcement to its corresponding tray and allow them to dry for at least 30 minutes.

After your trays have dried, use a piece of 320-grit super fine sandpaper to sand the trays lightly until they are smooth on both sides. Don’t forget the tray edges and holes. If you have chosen a different wood from the one listed in my supply list, you may need to pick a different grit sandpaper.

After sanding, wipe the board down with a cloth to remove any debris left on the wood from sanding.

STEP 4: FINISHING YOUR WINE BOTTLE SERVING TRAYS

If you wish, apply wood stain to the serving trays using a foam brush. Make sure you use a food-safe stain. You will apply the stain to the top and the bottom while allowing it to dry between applications.

Once the stain is evenly applied to the trays, use a lint-free cloth to evenly wipe the excess stain off.

Remember to allow the tray to dry before applying stain to the other side. If you wish, you may apply additional coats of stain to the trays.

One of my favorite things to use when I need to elevate a project to dry are these little yellow cones! They are incredibly strong and I've even used them to hold heavy cabinet doors.

Make sure your trays are dry prior to applying the Polycrylic (water-based and food-safe) finish. You will apply the finish to the top and the bottom while allowing it to dry between applications and before applying the finish to the other side. If you wish, you may apply additional coats of finish to the trays.

Prior to use, make sure to wash your trays with a gentle detergent and do not allow them to be submerged in water any longer than necessary.

STEP 5: SHOW IT OFF

Enjoy your new Wine Bottle Topper Serving Trays! You will want to experiment with different layouts and wine bottles. I have included three leveling circles in case your bottles are not identical.