Celebrate Eid With Easy Customized Snack Trays

Eid al-Fitr is on the horizon, and Muslims are ready to celebrate after Ramadan's month of sacrifice. When you bring your family and friends together for a bountiful feast, steep the party in spirit by making a set of snack trays that spell out "Eid," as seen in a TikTok video from user @susu_homeliving. Filled with sweets and treats or just used ornamentally, this easy (and perhaps upcycled) project will get you in the festive spirit.

You can create this trio of trays with either foam board or corrugated cardboard, as well as scrap paper, a ruler, masking tape, a utility knife, a pencil, scissors, and a glue gun. Pick a color of paint that fits the season, and source some fun trim to cover the cut edges. Topped with paint and trim, you may choose to eschew the snacks and make it pure decoration. If you do plan to use these trays for snacks, however, set aside a roll of wax paper.

To make the trays purely decoration, try adhering them directly to a wall with adhesive strips, or mount them on picture frames for a delicious wall hanging. One large thrifted frame or a grouping of three painted Dollar Tree picture frames (which you can also use to make a chic storage shelf) can become an eye-catching backdrop for your embellished letters. Remove the glass, adhere fabric or decorative paper over the backing of each frame, and affix each letter to the backing. In fact, why not hold the trays in place with removable attachments so that they can serve as both snack holders and decor?

To make your trays, grab your ruler and measure out your letters on scrap paper (this can be a smart way to repurpose paper bags from your grocery store). Make your letters any size you like, but a good measurement for each letter is between 10 and 12 inches long and 4 to 6 inches wide. Sketch capital letters onto the paper, and cut them out with scissors. Trace them onto the board, and cut them out with your utility knife.

To create 2-inch-high sides for each tray, measure your letters' edges, then pencil the dimensions onto your scrap paper. Trace them onto the board, and cut them out. If you're reusing corrugated cardboard, the corrugations can be an advantage when you create the curved side for your "D." When you're marking the side piece, draw it so that the corrugations run perpendicular to the length of the side. This way, you have ready-made creases that will help create an even curve when you bend the cardboard.

Heat up the glue gun, and glue each side vertically to the letter edges. Reinforce the meeting points of each edge piece with glue. The secret to a better glue gun experience is sitting in your medicine cabinet: Coating the tip in petroleum jelly keeps the glue from sticking around the nozzle. Paint all of the surfaces of the letters. When the paint has dried, glue the trim around the edges. Ready the trays for food by cutting a piece of wax paper to slip inside each letter, trimming it as needed. Add treats, and enjoy!