Learn how to create your own vibrant DIY Taco Serving Tray and infuse your taco night with a true fiesta atmosphere. This project doubles as a Lazy Susan, ensuring all your taco ingredients are easily accessible to everyone gathered around your table.

A detailed view showcasing the edge of a handcrafted taco serving tray, filled with delicious tacos and fresh guacamole, perfect for a Taco Tuesday feast.

Get Creative with Color: The COLORSHOT Challenge

I was thrilled to join Stephanie from Gathered In The Kitchen in the Get Your Color on Challenge! Any chance to experiment with new paints is an opportunity I welcome.

About the Challenge

The challenge was simple yet inspiring: design a craft project using COLORSHOT Premium Paint Markers. We were each gifted a 6-pack of these markers at the recent Haven Conference and eager to put them to use.

COLORSHOT markers are known for their richly pigmented paint that dries to the touch in just 30 minutes and fully cures in 24 hours. The paint is designed to be permanent on diverse surfaces, both light and dark, including wood, metal, plastic, and glass – ideal for a wide range of craft projects.

These paint markers boast an impressive array of colors, all viewable on the COLORSHOT website. Adding to their appeal, the color names are wonderfully playful. My 6-pack included:

• Marshmallow (white)
• Stiletto (red)
• Emoji (yellow)
• Hello Handsome (blue)
• Cash (green)
• Little Black Dress (black)

A vibrant six-pack of COLORSHOT Premium Paint Markers, showcasing an assortment of colors perfect for adding artistic details to any DIY taco serving tray project.

Meet the Challenge Participants

[List of Bloggers participating in the challenge would be here, as in original article]

My Vision: A Lazy Susan Taco Tray

I’d been envisioning a Lazy Susan Taco Tray for quite some time. In fact, the wooden rounds and Lazy Susan hardware had been waiting patiently in my craft room. This challenge provided the ideal motivation to finally bring this project to life and create a unique taco serving tray.

DIY Taco Tuesday Tray: Project Breakdown

This DIY taco serving tray project is divided into two key phases:

1. Constructing the Lazy Susan Tray: Assembling the base and ensuring smooth rotation.
2. Personalizing the Tray: Adding custom text, decorative elements, and vibrant color using COLORSHOT paint markers to create a festive taco serving tray.

The project outline is detailed below, with comprehensive instructions provided in the subsequent sections.

An organized display of materials required for crafting a DIY taco tray, featuring wood rounds, handles, a Lazy Susan swivel plate, vinyl for stencils, wood stain, paints, and sealer.

Building the Lazy Susan Base

The foundation of this rotating taco serving tray is built from two pre-cut wooden circles: a larger 18″ top and a slightly smaller 12″ base. These are joined by a Lazy Susan swivel mechanism, allowing for effortless rotation.

I sourced the wood rounds from a local home improvement store. Pre-cut and factory-sanded, they required only sanding and staining before decoration and the attachment of the swivel plate.

Installing Lazy Susan hardware is generally straightforward, though package instructions can sometimes be unclear. For those unfamiliar, Woodcraft offers a helpful video tutorial on how to install Lazy Susan Hardware.

Handles are added as a finishing touch, after painting and sealing. Pre-drilled holes, made using a Kreg Tools Cabinet Hardware Jig, ensure precise handle placement.

Customizing Your Taco Tray

My design concept involved personalizing the taco serving tray with festive text and a colorful border. Etsy and Creative Market are my go-to resources for digital design assets, offering a wealth of options and supporting independent artists.

I discovered the perfect font on Creative Market, “La Fiesta” by Fontdation, and a cheerful digital clip art banner on Etsy, “Fiesta Banners Digital Clipart by EmilyCromwellDesigns).

A beautifully decorated round wood taco serving tray, featuring “Taco Tuesday” and “Fiesta!” text, enhanced with a vibrant, hand-painted pom-pom border, showcasing a festive design.

Using these digital assets, I designed a stencil in Cricut Design Space and cut it from vinyl using my Cricut Maker. The stencil and COLORSHOT markers were then used to paint the design onto the taco serving tray.

If you don’t own a Cricut or Silhouette, craft stores offer pre-made stencils, including COLORSHOT alphabet stencils available at The Home Depot.

Once the paint was dry, I applied a clear protective finish. As polyurethane finishes are generally not food-safe, food should not be placed directly on the tray.

Also, polyurethane does not make wood waterproof. Clean the taco serving tray with a damp cloth, avoiding submersion in water.

A festive Taco Night tablescape featuring a central lazy susan taco serving tray overflowing with delicious tacos, complemented by various serving dishes and vibrant decorations, creating an inviting dining atmosphere.

Step-by-Step Guide: Making Your DIY Taco Tuesday Tray

Materials and Tools You’ll Need

Materials for the Lazy Susan Tray

• 18″ Wood Round (Top)
• 12″ Wood Round (Base)
• 6″ Lazy Susan Swivel Plate
• Wood Stain (Water-Based) – I used BEHR Fast Drying Water-Based Wood Stain in Early-American
• Wood Conditioner (Water-Based) – I used Behr Water-Based Pre Stain Wood Conditioner
• Clear Protective Finish (Water-Based Polyurethane Aerosol, Matte) – I used BEHR Fast Drying Water-Based Polyurethane Aerosol in Matte Sheen
• Wood Handles with Screws

• 6 x ½” Wood Screws

• 6 x ¾” Wood Screws

• 6 Flat Washers

• Felt Pads (Optional)

Materials for Decorating the Tray

• COLORSHOT Premium Paint Markers (6-pack or desired colors)
• Vinyl for Stencil
• Transfer Tape
• Matte Mod Podge
• Makeup Sponge

Tools for Tray Construction

• Dust mask
• Safety glasses
• Hearing protection
• Random orbit sander
• Sandpaper (150-grit, 220-grit)
• Sanding sponges (180-grit and 220-grit)
• Tack cloth
• Lint-free cloth or paintbrush
• Disposable container for stain
• Disposable gloves
• Kreg Tools Cabinet Hardware Jig
• Drill/Driver & bits
• Screwdriver
• Paint respirator

Tools for Decoration

• Cricut or Silhouette cutting machine (optional, for stencil)
• Weeding tools
• Scraper

Project Steps

1. Sand the Wood Rounds

A person using a random orbit sander to smooth the surface of a wooden round, preparing it for staining and painting to create a custom taco serving tray.

The taco serving tray uses two wood rounds: an 18″ top and a 12″ base. While pre-sanded from the store, additional sanding is necessary for staining and painting.

Prioritize safety! Wear protective gear before sanding. Dust masks protect your lungs, safety glasses shield your eyes, and hearing protection safeguards your ears.

A close-up of a person wearing essential safety equipment – safety glasses, a dust mask, and hearing protection – emphasizing the importance of safety during wood sanding for DIY projects like a taco serving tray.

Sand using progressively finer grits of sandpaper with a random orbit sander. Start with 150 grit if the wood is in good condition. Remove dust with a vacuum or tack cloth. For tack cloth, unfold and create a “poof” to gently lift dust.

Demonstrating the technique of forming a bubble or poof with a tack cloth, ideal for effectively removing fine dust particles from a sanded wood surface in preparation for crafting a taco serving tray.

Next, use 180 grit sandpaper, remove dust, and finish with 220 grit. Sand edges with a sanding sponge for easier handling.

Detail of sanding the edge of a wooden round using a sanding sponge, showcasing a practical method for achieving smooth edges on a DIY taco serving tray.

2. Condition the Wood

A container of Behr Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner, a key product for preparing wood before staining to ensure an even finish on a DIY taco serving tray.

Apply Behr Water-Based Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner to prepare the wood for water-based staining, ensuring even stain penetration.

Use only water-based products for this project. Stir conditioner thoroughly before use (avoid shaking or thinning).

Close-up of mixing pre-stain wood conditioner with a wooden stick, highlighting the necessary step to ensure the product is properly prepared for application on a wooden taco serving tray.

Apply conditioner liberally with a nylon/polyester brush or lint-free cloth to all wood surfaces, including edges. Let it soak for 5-10 minutes, then wipe off excess with a clean, dry cloth.

Applying pre-stain wood conditioner to a wooden surface using a clean cloth, demonstrating the process of preparing the wood to enhance stain absorption for a DIY taco serving tray.

The process of applying wood conditioner to a round wood piece, part of crafting a DIY taco serving tray, ensuring the wood is properly prepared for subsequent staining.

Let the conditioner dry for up to 20 minutes, then lightly sand with a 220-grit sanding sponge to remove raised grain (“fuzzies”).

A detailed shot of raised wood grain on the edge of a wooden piece after applying wood conditioner, illustrating why light sanding is necessary for a smooth finish on a DIY taco serving tray.

Remove dust with a tack cloth after sanding.

3. Stain the Wood

A collection of wood staining supplies, including a can of Behr Wood Stain, gloves, and application tools, ready for use in enhancing the wood for a DIY taco serving tray.

Stain with a water-based stain. BEHR Fast Drying Water-Based Wood Stain in Early-American was used for this project. Stir stain thoroughly, pour into a smaller container.

Pouring wood stain into a disposable container, showing a practical step in preparing for the staining process of a wooden taco serving tray.

Apply stain with a brush or clean cloth in the direction of the wood grain. Aim for uniform coverage, avoiding pools of stain.

Using a clean cloth to apply wood stain to a wooden surface, demonstrating the technique for achieving even coverage on a DIY taco serving tray.

Let stain soak for 5-10 minutes, then wipe off excess with a clean cloth in the direction of the grain, blending for uniform color. Do not let unabsorbed stain dry.

Wiping off excess wood stain from a wooden board with a clean cloth after allowing it to set, crucial for achieving the desired finish on a DIY taco serving tray.

Wait at least an hour for the stain to dry before attaching the Lazy Susan hardware.

4. Install Lazy Susan Hardware

Attach the Lazy Susan swivel plate using appropriate length and type screws for your hardware and wood thickness.

Use #6 x ½” screws for a 6″ square swivel plate to the base piece, and #6 x ¾” screws with #6 flat washers for the top board.

Mark Centers and Draw “X”s: Find the center of each wood round and draw perpendicular lines through the center to form an “X” on both. Hardware will align with these lines.

Mark Screw Locations (Bottom Board): Align the swivel plate on the top of the bottom board, ensuring the “X” lines are visible through mounting holes. Mark screw locations with a pencil.

Marking screw placements along perpendicular lines on the base plate of a Lazy Susan, a precise step in assembling a rotating taco serving tray.

Mark Access Hole Location (Bottom Board): Rotate the swivel plate to position a larger hole between “X” lines. Mark this access hole location.

Marking the position for an access hole on the base plate using a larger hole in the Lazy Susan swivel plate as a guide, an important step for assembling a functional taco serving tray.

Drill Pilot Holes (Bottom Board): Remove the swivel plate and drill pilot holes at the 4 marked “X” locations (do NOT drill through).

Drill Access Hole (Bottom Board): Using a larger bit (e.g., 3/8”), drill the access hole fully through the 5th marked location.

Drilling an access hole in the bottom board with a larger drill bit, creating a necessary opening for hardware installation in a DIY Lazy Susan taco serving tray.

Mark Screw Locations and Drill Pilot Holes (Top Board): Align the swivel plate on the underside of the top board, aligning “X” lines with mounting holes. Mark hole locations.

Marking hole placements for the Lazy Susan swivel plate on the underside of the top board, ensuring accurate alignment for a smoothly rotating taco serving tray.

Drill pilot holes at marked locations on the top board (do not drill through).

Drilling pilot holes on the underside of the top board for attaching the Lazy Susan swivel plate, a key step in constructing a rotating DIY taco serving tray.

Attach Plate to Base Board: Align access holes and pilot holes on the base board. Attach plate with ½” screws.

Attaching the Lazy Susan swivel plate to the base board using screws, securing the foundation for a rotating DIY taco serving tray.

Align Plate with Top Board Holes: Place base board on top board. Align plate holes with top board pilot holes through the access hole.

Attach Plate to Top Board: Using longer screws and washers, attach the plate to the top board through the access hole.

Placing a washer on a screw before attaching the Lazy Susan swivel plate to the top of the taco serving tray, ensuring a secure and durable assembly.

Attaching the Lazy Susan hardware to the underside of the top board by inserting a screw and washer through the access hole, completing the rotating mechanism for the taco serving tray.

5. Drill Handle Pilot Holes

Drill holes for handle attachment using a Kreg Tools Cabinet Hardware Jig for accurate placement and straight drilling.

Using a Kreg Tools Cabinet Hardware Jig to accurately position and drill holes for handle installation on a DIY taco tray, ensuring professional-looking results.

Adjust the jig’s Drill Guides to match handle dimensions (e.g., 3 inches center-to-center). Adjust the Edge Guide for desired handle distance from the edge.

Mark a centerline for handle placement on the tray. Position the jig with the Edge Guide against the edge and the centerline visible in the jig’s Centerline Window. Clamp jig.

Drill holes using a 3/16″ drill bit through the jig’s Drill Guides.

Drilling handle holes in a wooden taco tray using a Kreg Tools Cabinet Hardware Jig, ensuring precise and aligned holes for easy handle attachment.

Close-up of drilling handle holes in a wooden taco tray with a Kreg Jig, demonstrating the process of preparing the tray for handle installation.

Handles are attached after painting and sealing.

6. Create Stencil Design in Cricut Design Space

(Alternative: use pre-made stencils or freehand paint).

Design a stencil in Cricut Design Space. Start with an 18” circle template matching the tray size. Plan text and design sizes and placement.

Use “La Fiesta” font for “Taco Tuesday” and “Fiesta!” text and a pompom border from EmilyCromwellDesigns. Upload fonts and designs if needed. Jennifer Maker offers a tutorial on how to upload fonts to Cricut Design Space.

Adjust sizes, position, and text curvature to your liking.

A screenshot from Cricut Design Space, displaying design dimensions for a DIY taco serving tray stencil, indicating precise measurements for crafting elements.

Another Cricut Design Space screenshot, detailing specific dimensions for design elements of a taco serving tray stencil, ensuring accurate sizing for cutting and application.

A Cricut Design Space view, showing further dimension details for a taco serving tray stencil design, essential for precise digital crafting and cutting.

Final Cricut Design Space screenshot, providing the last set of dimension specifications for creating a taco serving tray stencil, ensuring all components fit together perfectly.

7. Cut Stencil with Cricut Maker

Cut the stencil from permanent vinyl. Vinyl color is not important.

The stencil will be cut in segments due to size limitations of a 12” cutting mat. Do not cut the original circle template shape.

A preview of the cut file in Cricut Design Space, illustrating how the stencil design for a taco serving tray is prepared for cutting with a Cricut machine.

Place vinyl (face up) on a standard grip cutting mat (12” x 24” recommended for larger designs). Do not mirror the design. Select vinyl cut setting and use a fine-point blade.

A Cricut Maker cutting machine in action, precisely cutting a stencil design from vinyl, a key step in creating a custom-decorated taco serving tray.

After cutting, remove vinyl from the mat.

Demonstrating the proper technique for removing vinyl from a Cricut cutting mat by flipping it over and peeling the mat away, preventing damage to the stencil for a taco serving tray project.

Cut around design elements and weed the stencil. Remove vinyl from areas to be painted (leaving negative space).

Using a Cricut weeding tool to carefully remove vinyl pom-poms from the stencil, preparing the negative space for painting a decorative taco serving tray.

Close-up of weeding a vinyl stencil using a Cricut pick, a meticulous step in crafting a detailed design for a DIY taco serving tray.

8. Apply Stencil to Tray Top

Due to size, the design is cut in segments. Piece the pompom border around the wood round edge, trimming if needed for fit.

Trimming excess vinyl from a stencil segment to ensure a perfect fit around the wooden taco serving tray, adjusting for size and shape in the DIY process.

Tape stencil segments to the wood with painter’s tape for placement, then use transfer tape to apply the vinyl stencil to the wood. Scrape transfer tape to ensure good vinyl adhesion. Remove transfer tape.

Using a scraper to firmly apply transfer tape over a vinyl stencil on wood, ensuring the stencil adheres well for crisp paint lines on a DIY taco serving tray.

9. Apply Mod Podge to Prevent Paint Bleed

Apply matte Mod Podge to the stencil to prevent paint bleed.

Applying a thin layer of matte Mod Podge over a stencil using a makeup sponge, a technique to prevent paint bleed and ensure sharp lines on a DIY taco serving tray.

Using a makeup sponge, apply a thin, even coat of matte Mod Podge to the stencil and cutout areas. Avoid getting Mod Podge on unpainted wood.

A close-up of a stencil coated with matte Mod Podge, illustrating the protective layer applied to prevent paint bleeding and ensure clean edges on a DIY taco serving tray design.

Let Mod Podge dry for at least 60 minutes before painting.

10. Paint the Stencil

Use COLORSHOT premium markers to paint the stencil.

Shake markers capped before use. Prime markers by pumping tips on a test surface until paint flows.

Side-by-side close-up images showing the tip of a COLORSHOT marker before and after priming, demonstrating how to prepare the marker for painting detailed designs on a taco serving tray.

Apply paint to the stencil. Paint dries to the touch in 30 minutes and cures in 24 hours.

Using a COLORSHOT Premium Paint Marker to fill in a pom-pom stencil on a wooden serving tray, adding vibrant color and detail to a DIY taco serving tray project.

Painting a thin line on a stencil using a COLORSHOT premium paint marker, showcasing the precision and control these markers offer for detailed designs on a taco serving tray.

Clean excess paint from marker tips after painting. Rinse tips under water if needed (remove tip carefully first). Recap markers carefully to avoid tip damage.

11. Remove Stencil Carefully

A taco serving tray with a stencil that has been painted and coated with Mod Podge, ready for the stencil to be carefully removed to reveal the finished design.

Check stencil removal after 1-2 hours. Removing it too late can damage the wood, as happened when the stencil was left overnight.

Peeling a vinyl stencil from a freshly painted taco serving tray, carefully revealing the design and ensuring a clean removal process.

Using a Cricut pick to aid in the removal of a stencil from a painted taco serving tray, ensuring delicate areas are lifted carefully to preserve the design.

An image showing wood damage caused by leaving a vinyl stencil on a painted surface for too long, highlighting the importance of timely stencil removal in DIY projects like taco serving trays.

If damage occurs, re-sand carefully around painted areas, re-stain, and touch up paint as needed. Avoid leaving the stencil on too long.

Sanding wood that was damaged due to prolonged stencil adhesion, demonstrating the corrective steps needed when vinyl stencils are left on too long during DIY projects like taco serving trays.

12. Apply Clear Top Coat

After 24 hours of paint drying, apply a clear protective finish. Use BEHR Fast Drying Water-Based Polyurethane Aerosol in matte sheen.

Wear a paint respirator and spray in a ventilated area. Shake can for a minute, hold 12 inches from the tray, and apply a thin, even coat with overlapping strokes.

Spraying Behr Matte Clear Water-Based Polyurethane Aerosol to seal and protect a stained and painted Taco Tuesday tray, ensuring durability and longevity of the DIY project.

Apply a second coat within an hour, or wait 72 hours for recoating (light sanding needed after 72 hours). Wait 24 hours after the final coat before using.

Polyurethane is not food-safe; use serving dishes on the tray, avoiding direct food contact.

13. Attach Handles

Handle screws provided may be too short for the wood thickness. Use longer screws (#8-32 x 1 ½” machine screws).

A close-up view of attaching a handle to a taco serving tray using a machine screw inserted from the bottom, ensuring a secure and functional handle placement.

Insert screws from the bottom through mounting holes. Attach handles, tightening screws from the bottom.

Using a screwdriver to tighten a machine screw, securing a handle to the taco serving tray and completing the functional hardware assembly.

14. Add Felt Pads (Optional)

Add felt pads to the bottom of the Lazy Susan base to protect your table surface from scratches.

Festive Taco Tuesday Tablescape Ideas

I was thrilled with my finished taco serving tray and created a festive Taco Tuesday tablescape around it. See how I made matching wood napkin rings with COLORSHOT markers in this post.

Get Your Color on Challenge Showcase

A graphic showcasing the seven bloggers who participated in the Get Your Color On Challenge, highlighting the collaborative and creative spirit of the project.

Explore the creative projects from other bloggers using COLORSHOT Premium Paint Markers!

Gathered In The Kitchen**A Loverly Life**

Yellow Cottage Living

Faith & Farmhouse Feet Under My Table**This Dear Casa**

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