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This tray doesn't start from a template or a set of measurements — it starts from whatever scrap boards you glue up, and the shape (oval, a simple animal silhouette, a monogram) gets traced on afterward and cut freehand with a jigsaw. No CNC or router required.
Keep every board no thicker than 3/4". A thicker glue-up gets difficult for a jigsaw to follow accurately around a tight curve, especially through a full 3/4" of hardwood.
Because the shape is entirely up to you, this is one of the more forgiving small projects to improvise on — a wobble in the outline reads as handmade character rather than a mistake.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Scrap wood boards, max 3/4" thick≈ about 8 ft of 3/4" × 6" board | 3 board ft |
| Wood glue | 2 oz |
A board foot is a volume, not a length: 144 cubic inches, or a piece 1″ thick by 12″ wide by 12″ long. The “≈” note beside each row shows roughly how much 3/4″ × 6″ board that works out to.
Overall cost: $. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
Glue up enough scrap boards, none thicker than 3/4in, to cover your desired tray footprint. Clamp until fully cured.
Once the glue-up is dry, trace your chosen shape onto the panel — an oval, an animal silhouette, a monogram, or whatever suits the gift.
Cut the outline with a jigsaw, following the traced line closely.
Sand the edges and faces smooth, then finish as desired.
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