Upcycle An Old Pot Lid Into An Adorable Serving Tray

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Whether you received a new set of cookware or you're planning on disposing of your old pots and pans, you may find yourself with an extra lid (or two) in your cupboards. While you may be inclined to throw it out and say goodbye to kitchen clutter, we've got another idea: upcycling it into a serving tray. We got the inspiration for this DIY project from YouTube creator LanaS DIY, who turned a regular old pot lid into a colorful tray that's perfect for holding hot items like teapots and coffee mugs.

Before you dig out your lids and begin crafting, you'll need to gather a few things. The tools required for this project include a screwdriver, hair dryer, paintbrush, and scissors. In terms of materials and supplies, you'll want to grab polyvinyl acetate (PVA) glue, the fabric of your choice, acrylic varnish, acrylic paint, a square of Styrofoam, a cork trivet, and jute rope. Once you've rounded everything up, you can get started.

First, remove the pot's handle with a screwdriver. Then, wash and dry the glass so the surface is clean and ready for painting. Using a paintbrush, apply PVA glue (like this $8.99 Erigathe PH-Neutral Adhesive PVA Glue from Amazon) to the outside of the pot lid. Lay your fabric over the lid, add more glue on top of it, and cut off the excess fabric with scissors. After trimming, add another layer of glue around the edge of the lid, and let it dry. When it's done, apply a layer of acrylic paint to the fabric, and use a hair dryer to set it. Then, add acrylic varnish over the paint — and continue on to the following assembly phase of the project.

Next up: Trace the shape of the lid onto a piece of Styrofoam. Using scissors, cut out the circle and add a hole in the middle. Put a layer of glue on the painted part of the lid, and attach the Styrofoam circle. To apply pressure and attach the two pieces to each other, lay a cutting board and a heavy item (like a pot or jug of water) on top. After that, add glue to both sides of the cork trivet and blow-dry it. Then, apply two layers of acrylic varnish to each side before putting glue on the Styrofoam side of the lid. Press the pieces together, and put them under pressure so they stay connected (like you did before).

Finally, it's time to add a rope "handle" around the outside of the lid. To do this, you'll apply glue around the edges of the trivet and glass. Next, wrap jute rope over the glue, crossing it over itself at the top (so it looks like a loop). Connect the rope to the tray with glue, and cut off any dangling strings so it looks neater. If you'd like, you can also add more glue to make sure the frayed ends stay down. When you're finished, wipe off any extra glue or residue from the glass with a damp cloth.

While the video creator used the serving tray to hold a teapot, there are other ways you could use it as well. For example, you could use it to display candles, trinkets, or other decorative items on your kitchen countertop or dining room table. Alternatively, you can turn your pot lid into a piece of budget-friendly garden art to add a pop of color to your yard.