Felt Tray

When I was getting ready for my group show last year, I thought I wanted to have some kind of small tray to put my business card -- but I couldn't find anything that perfectly fits my card size (2 1/8" x 2 1/8"). So I quickly made this "Felt Tray" from scratch. It's quite simple yet pretty sturdy (thanks to the cardboard support that I put inside) - I was very happy with the way it turned out. Here is how to make the Felt Tray:

Prepare 4 Sides

(1) To prepare four sides of the tray, cut eight trapezoid shapes from the felt using the pattern A.

(2) Cut four trapezoid shapes from the cardboard using the pattern A'. These cardboard pieces will be used to reenforce the felt tray. (Tip : Use thinner cardboard - not a corrugated kind. Try cereal box)

(3) Sandwich one piece of the cardboard from (2) with two felt trapezoids. Using all-purpose thread, blanket stitch around all four corners. (See illustration below) Repeat the same process to make all four side pieces. Set them aside.

Make Bottom Piece

(4) Cut two squares from the felt using the pattern B.

(5) Cut one square from the cardboard using the pattern B'.

(4) Sandwich the square cardboard from (5) with the two felt squares. Blanket stitch all around the four corners using all-purpose thread. See illustration below:

Construct Felt Tray: connect four sides to bottom

Take the bottom piece and one of the side pieces. Blanket stitch to connect the bottom piece and the shortest side of the side piece. Repeat this process until all four sides are connected to the bottom. See illustration below.

Construct Felt Tray: connect all four sides

Whipstitch stitch to connect all four sides to form a tray.

Optional: If desired, attach a decorative label or small charm of your choice to one corner of the tray to personalize it.