Do you ever find yourself in the middle of a store aisle…ahem, at HomeGoods and find that certain decor piece and automatically think to yourself the many ways you can use it for? That’s what happened when I found this large black & gold metal tray. I’ve said it before – I just LOVE the many uses of a decor item!
Let’s take a look on how I created two (2) DIY ways to use a metal tray that can be used when entertaining indoors or outdoors!
DIY #1
Floating Candle + Flower Petals Centerpiece
The early evening hours of summer months are the perfect times to dress your table with a beautiful and simple floating candle centerpiece. For more visual impact, add flower petals. Dining by the light of candles placed on the table gives a warm and serenity feel, while the setting sun casts a glow on the water filled tray.
The look of this centerpiece is fresh, modern, and creates an enchanting ambiance if used indoors and has outdoor charm as the evening sky darkens to dusk.
DIY #2
DIY Indoor & Outdoor Tabletop Fire Pit for S’mores
Typically, s’mores are enjoyed more in the fall season because lighting up the fire pit can release a lot of heat and unless you experience cooler summer evenings, the use of a fire pit in the summer months are not as frequent. However, s’mores can still be enjoyed (especially if you don’t own a fire pit) by creating a DIY indoor and outdoor tabletop fire pit. Why not host an impromptu outdoor summer party and create a s’mores bar by using your DIY tabletop fire pit that kids and adults alike, will love! Keep reading to see what you will need and how you can put this easy DIY together.
To create this two-step tabletop fire pit, I simply added three, 2.6 ounce cans of Sterno cooking fuel and nestled medium-sized landscaping rocks in between and all around the cans to conceal them. When selecting your metal tray, be sure it is heat resistant.
What You Need:
- Long Low Metal container
- Stones/Rocks
- Sterno cans
- Marshmallows
- Graham Crackers (honey or chocolate flavored) or your favorite flavored Cookie
- Chocolate bars
- Marshmallow sticks
- Optional: Nutella, peanut butter, sliced bananas, chopped nuts, toasted coconut, raisins
- Trays/Bowls to hold your food items
How to Assemble Tabletop Fire Pit:
- Add Sterno cans and place equally apart
- Add a bed of stones/rocks into the metal tray
- Arrange your trays and/or bowls on your table and either create a self-serve buffet style or use mason jars filled with the contents to create individual s’more containers
Now let’s have a party and have some backyard fun!
-Photos by Rose Angel Lopez
Editor’s note: I did do some research to see if using Sterno cans for direct heating is safe and what I found is make sure the can you use is marked “ethanol” and NOT “methanol”. However, I would suggest you do your own research if you have any concerns.
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