This project was built and designed by Alex from Bevelish Creations. It’s a sleek, three-tier paper tray built entirely from scrap wood, designed to keep paperwork organized while adding a modern, handmade touch to your workspace.
By combining leftover walnut pieces with subtle epoxy accents, Alex shows how workshop scraps can be turned into something both stylish and practical. This is a great weekend build for anyone looking to reduce clutter or experiment with small-scale joinery and design.
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Repurposing Scrap Wood Into a Functional Project
This paper tray unit offers a smart way to reuse offcuts from previous projects. Rather than letting quality hardwood scraps pile up, Alex turns them into something useful and visually appealing.
The project focuses on clean design lines, tight joinery, and subtle bevels that elevate the piece. It also serves as a reminder that great design doesn’t require new lumber—just careful planning and a creative approach.
Flattening, Sizing, and Groove Cuts
The first step involves selecting and preparing walnut offcuts. Each board is jointed and planed to flatten the surfaces and bring them to consistent thickness.
After sizing the pieces, grooves are cut into the tray frames to accept the plywood bottoms. These grooves help align the parts and give the trays a clean, finished look.
Constructing Each Tray with Mitered Corners
Each tray is framed with miter joints for a seamless appearance. The corners are taped and glued using a method that allows even clamping pressure without using bulky tools.
Once three sides are assembled, the plywood bottom is cut and slid into place. The fourth side is then glued on to complete the box. Additional bevels are added along the top and bottom edges to improve the form and tie into the overall design.
Designing a Stable and Stylish Stand
To hold the trays at a backward angle for easier access, Alex constructs a tilted stand using more walnut scraps. These pieces are stabilized with epoxy and then cut into the angled side panels.
For the epoxy fill, Alex uses a green and amber mix that brings warmth and contrast to the dark walnut. The resin is poured into cracks and voids, cured, and then planed flat for a smooth, workable surface.
Cutting Joinery and Edge Treatments
Grooves are cut into the side panels to accept the tray sides, allowing each level to slide in and out securely. Dados and rabbets are also cut to house the bottom and back panels, reinforcing the entire structure.
To hide the plywood edges and give a cleaner profile, thin strips of hardwood are glued to the front-facing edges. These are trimmed flush after drying, offering a simple way to dress up standard plywood.
Final Assembly and Finishing Steps
All parts are assembled using glue and clamps to keep things square. A final sanding brings all surfaces smooth, prepping them for finish.
The finish highlights the natural tones in the walnut and gives the epoxy a slight sheen. Once dry, the trays are inserted into their grooves, creating a clean and compact storage unit that’s both functional and visually striking.
Thoughtful Design That Enhances Usability
The slight backward tilt of the stand is a key ergonomic feature, allowing easy access to documents without tipping the trays. It’s a subtle design choice that makes a big difference in usability.
Alex’s ability to incorporate workshop offcuts and design with intention turns what could’ve been scrap waste into a highly usable and attractive piece for any home or office.
Variations and Personalization Options
This project is easily customizable. Builders can scale the number of tiers up or down, use different hardwoods, or experiment with other epoxy colors for a completely new look.
For those wanting to try new joinery methods, box joints or dowels could replace the miters, and plywood alternatives like MDF or Baltic birch could be used for the bottoms.
A Creative Use of Leftover Materials
This modern paper tray is more than just a functional project—it’s an example of how woodworking can offer smart solutions while minimizing waste. It’s also a compact build that sharpens layout, joinery, and finishing skills in a single weekend.
Whether you’re organizing the office, cleaning up your shop, or just looking to use up scrap lumber, this build is worth a spot on your list.
Learn more about this project here: https://www.bevelishcreations.com/projects/modern-paper-tray.