Etched Cutting Boards

Text and images by Amy Christie for Design Mom. Tree illustrations by Eloise Renouf.

As I mentioned yesterday, I’ve created a 3 part series of cool gifts you can make with a wood-burning or etching tool. Today’s project: cutting boards! (Find the first project here.) When the holiday season rolls around, I often wish I had a whole new collection of platters to set my table with, so I knew these would make great gifts! Just think, with a few strokes of a heat tool, wooden cutting boards can go from lacking to lovely.

As you whip up a couple of these as gifts for friends and family, be sure to buy extras for yourself! Serving ware never looked this good.

The technique is the same as it was for the spoons I shared yesterday, however the density of these cutting boards was different, more solid. The etching process changed for each board, but, as you can see, the result is the same.

Adding a simple design really personalizes something store-bought.

Ready for round two? Let’s go!

Supplies:

- etching tool, the same one I used for the etched spoons
- cutting boards, any size, shape, design. Note, I found etching on dark wood is nearly impossible to see. But if you have your heart set on a dark-toned board, give it a try.
- phrase in your favorite font, inspiration designs

To add a word or phrase, type it up in your favorite font and print it out. Transfer the lettering onto the cutting board using transfer paper or by simply rubbing a pencil on the backside and then tracing around the letters. You could use a family name (wouldn’t that make a neat wedding gift?), a holiday message or a favorite word or phrase.

Maybe a more graphic design is your style. I repeated triangles around the outside of this little handled board after being inspired by this image.

Outlining works but filling them in is also a really cool effect.

Doodles works just as well. I was inspired by these tree sketches by Eloise Renouf and drew them on the board surface free hand, then burned them in place. Please note, if you have plans to sell these boards, you’ll need to create or commission original illustrations.

THIS WOULD ALSO BE GREAT FOR:

- A personalized wedding gift.
- A house warming gift.
- A birthday gift for a foodie.
- A Mother’s Day gift.