Wood Burned Farmhouse Tray

I’m a little bit obsessed with wood burning, now that I know how easy it is to do with the Scorch Marker! If you can draw or stencil it, you can burn it with the help of this handy tool. Here’s how I used it to create a fun decorative farmhouse wooden tray that’s totally food-safe, too!

Image contains a round wooden tray with a “farm fresh” farmhouse design wood-burned onto the surface.

How To Make A Wood Burned Farmhouse Tray

Supplies:

unfinished wooden tray (I used this one from Target)

Scorch Marker Pro

Stencil (I used this Farm Fresh one from Hobby Lobby)

Painter’s Tape

Heat Tool (must be 1000+ watts of power/350 degrees Fahrenheit)

Sandpaper (fine grit/220)

Finishing Oi l

Instructions

Step 1: Sand the tray.

Use a fine grit sandpaper and sand until smooth. The smoother the surface, the cleaner your burned image will be.

Step 2: Tape your stencil in place.

Image contains Amy’s hand holding a Scorch Marker above the round wood tray and stencil.

Step 3: Color in the open areas of the stencil with the Scorch Marker.

I used the bullet tip end for this, but you can also use the end with the small sponge brush. Remove the stencil. The ink will look pink/purplish before heating.

Image contains a round wooden tray with a design stenciled onto it in a light pink ink. A Scorch Marker sits on top of the tray.

Step 4: Apply heat.

Use a 1000+ watt heat gun or place your project in an oven heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. When using the heat gun, slowly move it around to evenly heat the whole design. Holding it stationary can create hot spots on the wood.

Image contains a yellow heat tool held over top of the wooden tray.

As the ink reacts with the heat, your design will change from pink to dark brown. This means it’s been permanently burned into the wood! The more heat you apply, the darker the burn will be. The ink is now gone, and the tray is completely food safe.

Image contains a round wooden tray with a “farm fresh” farmhouse design wood burned onto the center.

Step 5: Add a sealer.

I use the Scorch Marker Wood Finishing Oil, which is made of three all-natural ingredients and is totally safe for food so that I can use my tray for serving. You can also use your favorite wood stain or acrylic sealer, keeping in mind that it would be for decorative purposes only.

Image contains a round wooden tray with a “farm fresh” farmhouse design wood-burned onto the surface. A Scorch Marker sits on the tray.

Now your tray is complete and ready to use or display! It’s easy to customize simply by changing the stenciled design. You can also create your own original design by drawing/writing anything you like with the Scorch Marker instead of stenciling.

Save 10% on any purchase on the Scorch Marker website with the code AMY67492.