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5 Ways to Upcycle Melissa & Doug Wooden Trays

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5 Ways to Upcycle Melissa & Doug Wooden Trays

March 14, 2024

It’s Global Recycling Day on March 18! To celebrate, we want to share some of the creative and clever ways Melissa & Doug customers have upcycled our products. Upcycling is the act of taking something no longer in use and giving it longer life with a new function.

5 Ways to Upcycle Melissa & Doug Wooden Trays

Girl playing with Melissa & Doug wooden box

Melissa & Doug is all about inspiring imaginations — and our fans sure do know how to show off their creativity. Check out these ideas for some crafty upcycling inspiration that we came across online!

1. Wooden Tray Organizer

We’re known for our wooden toys – and wooden trays! The sturdy trays are used to house everything from rubber stamps to wooden beads to magnets and play food. Even after your child has moved on from playing with their toys, these trays make great organizers, for anywhere in your home. Amanda at Cultivate Create demonstrates how to transform the wooden trays into storage for jewelry and hair accessories, a handy spice rack, and so much more! 

Over at the Crazy Craft Lady, there’s an inspiring round-up of other clever ways to upcycle Melissa & Doug trays. Succulent garden, anyone

2. Illuminated Photo Night Light 

One Melissa & Doug wooden box, a photo of your choice, and a battery-operated tea light help this family-friendly DIY craft turn a favorite moment into a useful night-light for around the house.

3. Chalkboard and Whiteboard

With the proper application of chalkboard paint, you could turn a wooden Melissa & Doug box into a travel blackboard! If you’d rather go whiteboard instead, purchase a roll of self-adhesive whiteboard paper and apply it to the underside of the wooden box for an instant mini whiteboard on the go.

4. Wooden Art Canvas

Girl painting Melissa & Doug wooden tray

This upcycling project is about as easy as it gets! Step 1: Get a wooden Melissa & Doug box. Step 2: Turn it over and paint something on the back!

Upcycled Melissa & Doug wooden tray on wall as picture frame

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5. Hand-painted Marble Wall Box

Arguably the most attractive of all these upcycle projects, this post shows the endless aesthetic potential of repurposing a simple wooden package from Melissa & Doug: Create a real statement piece with just some paints and glue to craft a stunning hand-painted marble wall box!

Read more about our sustainability efforts at Melissa & Doug.

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For more great toy-themed content, click through the links below:

Shop Melissa & Doug Toys That Come in Wooden Boxes

Shop Melissa & Doug Crafts & Stamp Kits

Explore Melissa & Doug’s Living Playfully Blog

Use the Melissa & Doug Gift Finder