DIY Slate Cheese Serving Tray

Hello Pizzazzerie readers!  Thanks so much for having me!  I’m ilene from Come on, ilene! and I’m flattered to be a guest today.  I started my blog after my wedding as an outlet for all my creative energies and to document all the random projects I’m working on.  Sites like Pizzazzerie have given me so many ideas! I’m honored to be guest posting today!
slate cheese serving tray diy
The project I am sharing with you today is a slate cheese serving tray.  My friend S has this gorgeous cheese platter that she got at Crate and Barrel. It’s just a flat piece of slate with some felt padding on the bottom.  It made the cheeses she was serving look so beautiful!  Because I eat lots of cheese (my love for cheese expounded upon here) and often serve it when we host dinner parties,  I really wanted one, too! So I decided to make one! This is so easy, I feel embarrassed writing a guest post about it because its so simple!  It literally took me 15 seconds to make.  And cost of this gorgeous cheese tray? $1.69.
All you need are two things: One 12×12″ piece of slate and some self-adhesive felt pads (the kind you stick on the bottom of furniture so that it doesn’t scratch your floors):
diy slate cheese tray

I already had the felt pads so all I needed to do was head to the nearest Home Depot’s outdoor flooring section.  They had a huge selection where I picked out this gray slate one for $1.69.  One thing to note is that I noticed the slate comes in different thicknesses. I picked out one that was thinner than the others because it really made a huge difference in weight and I didn’t want one that was too heavy. I also picked a piece that was pretty flat across the top and without any cracks/crevices. When you get home, give it a thorough washing because there was a lot of dirt caked on.  I thought about sealing the top of the slate but but all the stone sealants I found were toxic, so I left it as it is.

Then all you have to do is stick the adhesive pads onto the bottom of the slate piece:

slate diy tutorial cheese tray

And you’re done!  See?  So easy!!!  I think the tray really makes the spread look so fancy:

cheese tray tutorial

You can also write down the name of the cheeses you are serving with chalk, it’s a great way to label what you are serving for your guests:

gru

*handwash, do not put in the dishwasher

Thanks for having me! Check out Come on, ilene! for more baking, sewing, woodworking, wedding and craft ideas!  I hope you will find something that will inspire you!

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29 Comments

  1. Perfect! I am having a wine and cheese party next weekend and this will be perfect! I’m on my way to Lowes now to pick up my slate! Thanks for the great idea!

  2. What a fabulous and easy DIY! This makes me want to rush out to get my slate, and host a wine and cheese party! Would make an excellent gift!

  3. LOVE this idea! I as well love cheese (nom nom!) and usually serve it to my guests before dinner. Perfect idea!! It certainly doesnt look like it costs less than $2 .. job well done :)

  4. Thanks for having me guest post on your site!! I’m honored to write for it!

  5. I use granite remants for this as well. Not sure if slate is the same as granite but if you put it in the freezer for a while, it keeps your cheese cold in the blazing sun!

  6. Seana Nightingale says:

    Fantastic idea! You could also find those little plastic feet (I haven’t seen them in the store, but I would imagine Home Depot would have them too) and glue on with an industrial strength adhesive so that washing it wouldn’t remove the felt or foam pads.

    You can also set these (or granite as mentioned above) on bricks and set sterno under them to keep appetizers warm!

  7. Seana Nightingale says:

    Oh, and BTW, I saw this same thing (which is where I got the idea of the plastic feet) at the Tyler Florence retail shop and they sell for a LOT more than what it would cost to make your own!

  8. Lovely idea! I’ve been eyeing the platter at Crate & Barrel, but I’d definitely be down to DIY. Does Home Depot just sell the slate by the small block like this?

  9. Lovely idea! I’ve been eyeing the platter at Crate & Barrel, but I’d definitely be down to DIY. Does Home Depot just sell the slate by the small block like this?

  10. Lovely idea! I’ve been eyeing the platter at Crate & Barrel, but I’d definitely be down to DIY. Does Home Depot just sell the slate by the small block like this?

  11. Lovely idea! I’ve been eyeing the platter at Crate & Barrel, but I’d definitely be down to DIY. Does Home Depot just sell the slate by the small block like this?

  12. how food-safe is this? I’d like to make one as well, but an online company that specializes in them says that their products are treated and sealed to make them food-safe.

    1. Hi! Thanks for your comment. Great question and I’m going to be honest that I’m not entirely positive but what I would do to be sure it’s food-safe is cut parchment squares to lay the cheese on so you’re 100% sure. Hope this helps!

    2. Sissi Ayer says:

      I have been researching this and we are using slate as gifts for Christmas. Wash well first, let dry and coat with olive oil as this oil is food safe. Soapstone chalk is also food safe and works better than regular chalk for writing on the oiled surface. Remember that slate should not be cut on but used as a presentation plate. Good luck!

  13. Pat McDowell says:

    I have saved roofing slate from a civil war era home that eventually was demolished. I made 22 cheese trays with handles out of old drawer pulls. Concrete drills easily go through the slate.I used rubber stoppers for legs.Great
    xmas gifts.

  14. Pat McDowell says:

    I want my granite to have an unfinished edge. How do you break the granite in a controlled fashion? What do you use to drill holes if you want to put handles on the tray?

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