DIY Wood Trivet – Dollar Store Craft
Make a DIY wood trivet using dollar store tumbling blocks! If you love this, check out more simple DIY projects for the home. This post contains affiliate links.
Crafters tend to have a love affair with Dollar Tree…. but have you ever tried crafting with non-craft supplies?
A while ago, when shopping for travel activities for kids, I purchased a tumbling tower game to take along. I figured it’s a good travel building toy for the kids.
They didn’t really end up using it – but I did! It ended up in my craft room for years…. until I finally pulled them out for a couple of crafts! The first was a DIY wood trivet in a parquet style. It’s so so easy!
Make these for the holidays, as a gift, as spares for your Thanksgiving feast – or any time you just need extra surfaces for hot dishes. I stained mine and painted the edges metallic, but you can also paint it, stencil on seasonal designs, use your Cricut to add fun messages (just make sure to stencil them on and not use vinyl. I’m not sure it’ll stand up to the hot pots … the possibilities are endless!
The dollar tree tumbling tower game is so versatile. Because the blocks are more solid than craft sticks, you can make more substantial projects. But they’re also relatively lightweight.
They hold up well with wood glue and the unfinished surface is perfect for painting with craft acrylics.
Since they don’t have the prettiest grain, staining them isn’t necessarily the best approach. I liked to highlight the basket weave pattern so I stained it.
And I felt that it was too “dark” when I finished so a metallic edge brightened things up.
Finally, while I added felt circles to the bottom that I cut out of sticky felt sheets, you can make it much quicker with felt furniture glides. This helps balance out the surface even if it’s not perfectly even, and it helps it slide on your counter or bare table more easily.
What you need to make a DIY wood trivet
- Dollar store tumbling blocks (if you can’t find it there and don’t want to purchase online, check on Amazon for similar travel-sized packages)
- Wood glue
- Recommended: flat, narrow paintbrush and palette
- Sticky felt cut into circles or felt furniture glides
- Wood stain or paint
- A foam brush or rag – and another rag or paper towel to wipe your stain
- Optional: metallic paint (I used FolkArt Liquid Gold) and a fine paintbrush
- Something somewhat water resistant to finish it with, such as Outdoor Mod Podge or Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge
Note: the idea of sealing it is that it should be wipeable, not really washable. If you miss a tiny spot, your wood will get wet. I recommend finishing it but not putting it in the dishwasher or otherwise letting it get soaked – even if you use Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge.
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How to make a trivet with dollar store tumbling blocks
1. Glue together groups of three tumbling blocks on the long, thinner side.
Create nine groups of three.
2. Let it set. Glue together the groups of three in a basketweave pattern. You may find it easier to glue if you squeeze some on a palette and brush it on with a paint brush.
Create a basketweave pattern by gluing it as follows. Top row: vertical, horizontal, vertical. Middle row: horizontal, vertical, horizontal. Bottom row: vertical, horizontal, vertical. Allow the glue to dry completely.
3. Stain or paint your DIY wood trivet. To stain, apply a small amount with a foam brush and wipe it off with a paper towel or rag.
4. Paint the edges with a metallic accent if you’d like.
5. Paint on a sealer such as outdoor Mod Podge.
6. Add felt gliders to the bottom.
Your DIY wood trivet is complete. Who will you be making it for? Will you be staining, painting, stenciling? Comment below!
DIY Wood Trivet
Materials
Instructions
1. Glue together groups of three tumbling blocks on the long, thinner side.
Create nine groups of three.
2. Let it set. Glue together the groups of three in a basketweave pattern. You may find it easier to glue if you squeeze some on a palette and brush it on with a paint brush.
Create a basketweave pattern by gluing it as follows. Top row: vertical, horizontal, vertical. Middle row: horizontal, vertical, horizontal. Bottom row: vertical, horizontal, vertical. Allow the glue to dry completely.
3. Stain or paint your DIY wood trivet. To stain, apply a small amount with a foam brush and wipe it off with a paper towel or rag.
4. Paint the edges with a metallic accent if you'd like.
5. Paint on a sealer such as outdoor Mod Podge.
6. Add felt gliders to the bottom.
Notes
Note: the idea of sealing it is that it should be wipeable, not really washable. If you miss a tiny spot, your wood will get wet. I recommend finishing it but not putting it in the dishwasher or otherwise letting it get soaked - even if you use Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge.
