How To Make A Charming Paper Mache Tray with a Mushroom Design

Turn recycled materials into a functional piece of art with this paper mache tray crafting guide. Featuring a delightful mushroom design

This is an easy-to-follow full tutorial for making a delightful paper mache tray painted with a vibrant mushroom motif. It is functional and a charming addition to any room.

Whether serving a cup of tea, organizing your craft projects, or looking for a unique homemade gift idea, these paper trays are handy and pretty. The best part? They cost almost nothing, as they’re crafted from waste materials in your trash bin. This project is perfect for those looking to craft on a budget or even for those considering handmade items to sell.

Materials Needed:

• Thick cardboard (I used the back of an old calendar)
• Old cereal boxes for extra cardboard
• Newspaper
• Masking tape
• Mod Podge (diluted 50/50 with water for the glue mixture)
• Gesso (for priming)
• Acrylic paints
• Green spray paint
• Gold Sharpie
• Spray acrylic varnish

How To Make A Paper Mache Tray

Step 1: Create the Base: Start by choosing a tray-shaped oblong plate as your model for your tray shape. Trace its outline onto a piece of thick cardboard and cut it out to form the base of your tray. This forms the first layer of your craft.

Step 2: Building the Sides: Cut strips of cardboard from old cereal boxes to fashion the sides of the tray. Using masking tape, attach these strips around the edge of your cardboard base, creating a raised lip—this will be the tray’s sides and help contain items on the tray.

Step 3: Applying Paper Mache: Tear the newspaper into strips of paper. Prepare your glue mixture by diluting Mod Podge with water. Start applying the strips to the cardboard using glue, ensuring each strip overlaps the previous one for strength. Apply three layers of paper mache, allowing sufficient drying time between each layer.

Decorating The Paper Mache Tray

You can decorate your paper mache tray with paint or decoupage. I opted to paint my tray with a fun mushroom motif because I love mushroom-themed crafts and home decor.

The mushroom design was drawn by following this tutorial for drawing mushrooms. I drew a common toadstool known as a Fly Agaric Mushroom, and I loved its red cap with white spots. If you don’t want to draw your own design, you can download mine here.

Step 4: Priming: Once your tray is dry, apply two layers of Gesso over the entire surface. This acts as a primer and ensures that your paints adhere well and look vibrant.

Step 5: Adding the Mushroom Motif: Cut out the mushroom motif and place it in the centre of the tray. Spray paint the entire tray green, then carefully remove the mushroom cutout to reveal the design.

Step 6: Detailing: Use a pen to outline and add details to the mushroom design, filling in the colours with acrylic paint. For an extra touch of elegance, use a gold Sharpie to edge the inner lip of the tray.

Step 7: Finishing Touches: To protect your tray and make it splash-proof, finish off with a spray acrylic varnish. This will ensure your tray can withstand the wear and tear of everyday use.

Conclusion and Related Posts

Creating this mushroom-themed paper mache tray is not just a craft project; it’s an opportunity to bring a piece of nature into your own home. It’s perfect for use on your coffee table or as a decorative charcuterie board for your next gathering.

If you are a mushroom fan like me, check out these free vintage mushroom prints for decoupage or drawing inspiration. But if you prefer a floral tray, check out this collection of botanical drawing tutorials.

If you enjoyed this project, check out more of our paper mache crafts on the site, like the adorable paper mache tea cups or a paper mache bowl that pairs beautifully with this tray.

For those feeling adventurous, why not explore crafting with other recyclable materials from your bin, such as plastic bottles and wine corks, or experiment with different crafting mediums like air-dry clay?

And finally, if you still have plenty of cereal boxes left over, how about making these wonderful DIY magazine files?