Upcycling a Bamboo Tray with Blueprint Paper

Several years ago, I found this bamboo tray at the Goodwill Bins (aka, the Goodwill Outlet). Even though it wasn’t all that special, I knew it was a blank canvas that I could have fun with- someday. I just didn’t know when that day would come.

AND, somehow it survived “The Great Purge” of 2020. Between C-19 lockdown and our move to Charlotte, I really went to town on our garage and purged a LOT of thrifted stuff.

But I’m so glad I didn’t give it back to Goodwill! Because a few months later, I came into some older blueprints.

That’s when I decided to pair up the blueprint paper with the bamboo tray that survived The Great Purge AND a move out of state.

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Prepping the Bamboo Tray

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this bamboo tray is that I wasn’t entirely sure it was 100% bamboo. I’m telling you, the flat bottom felt like plastic.

Tapping my fingernail on it sounded very plastic-y. And it was stamped “Valueboo” on the bottom, which caused further suspicion on my part.

Either way, though, my plan was to decoupage some blueprint paper onto the flat portion of the tray. So, before I did anything else, I selected a blueprint to use and trimmed it down to fit the tray.

Next, I decided to “degloss” the sides of the tray, which felt glossy and/or lacquered. And since I planned on painting the sides, I wanted the paint to adhere.

So, I purchased some deglossing wipes and rubbed them on the handles and sides. Technically, these are made for painted surfaces, but I gave them a go anyway.

This might have been unnecessary, but it certainly didn’t hurt. And the sides and handles DID feel less shiny and slick when I was done.

Decoupaging with Blueprint Paper

Once the tray had been cleaned and deglossed, I set up my drop cloth to do some painting. With a nice rich blue to compliment the blueprint paper.

I used strips of wide painter’s tape along the borders of the flat plastic portion before painting. Since I wanted the blueprint paper to really “pop” against the dark paint, I planned to decoupage it directly to the faux bamboo (and not over a coat of dark paint).

Then, it was time to break out the Mod Podge! Now, I don’t *do* a lot of decoupage (just this handful of projects!), so I’m not the most skilled at it.

In other words, my decoupage is prone to wrinkles. Which I don’t love, but I’ve learned to accept.

I knew that using a large piece of paper like this blueprint would probably result in wrinkles. In my experience, more decoupaged real estate just lends itself to more wrinkly chaos.

But I brushed on some Mod Podge, placed my paper on the glue, Mod Podged some more on top, and hoped for the best.

I also continued to brush Mod Podge across the entire tray, front and back, so that the satin finish was cohesive across my project. Mod Podge is a handy topcoat, that’s for sure!

Upcycling a Bamboo Tray with Blueprint Paper

All in all, it turned out ok! A few wrinkles for sure (I couldn’t find my brayer beforehand), but not a total mess by any stretch.

In fact, I think the wrinkles give it a little more of a vintage-y look, too.

The more I look at it, the more I love it! It has such a great modern industrial look, too- and it’s been a while since I worked on an industrial style project!

I’m just so glad that I held onto to that bamboo tray, because it really worked wonderfully with the blueprint paper. And I have plenty of vintage blueprints left to make a matching set of coasters if I want to, too!

And if you love the modern industrial look, then this collection of upcycling ideas might be just what you’ve been looking for!

Craft on!

S

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