DIY Rainbow Cheese Board

1. Start by drawing your desired rainbow shape in pencil on your piece of plywood. I traced the lid of a stock pot to get the arch just right, then sketched a cloud on either side of the rainbow. Once you’re happy with the shape, go over it again with the pencil so you know exactly where you need to cut.
2. Using a jigsaw (and safety glasses!), carefully cut along the line. Pro tip: always cut inward into corners, like the ones in the clouds, to create neat, tight corners.
3. After cutting out the shape, use a piece of sandpaper to fine tune any edges or sand off any errant splinters.
4. Get out that trusty pencil again and sketch out where you want your rainbow stripes to be. I divided my rainbow into six colors (I think I technically left out the I in ROYGBIV, but I won’t tell if you won’t). If you’re someone who doesn’t want to mess around with a jigsaw, just jump in here and sketch your rainbow atop a standard rectangle cutting board-turned-cheese board like this one. https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60233426/
5. Fill your palette with the milk paint—you may need to do a little mixing to get the shades you’re looking for. I added a bit of white to the Gypsy Pink, Pecan and Faded Denim just to brighten the colors up a bit. I also mixed a bit of white and Gypsy Pink into Faded Denim to create the perfect periwinkle purple shade. There’s no exact science to this, just mix until you arrive at the shades that suit you.
6. Grab a paintbrush and start painting. If you’re happy with a slightly sheer, washed look, one coat will be enough. However, if you want a more opaque effect, like I did, you’ll need two coats of paint.
7. Let dry completely.
8. Using a soft rag or paper towel, apply a generous coat of the finishing oil. The oil will deepened the color of the milk paint, so don’t freak out if it looks splotchy when you first apply it. It will all look even again once the whole coat is on.
9. Using a fresh rag, gently wipe away any excess oil. According to the package, the oil can take up to 30 days to fully cure and provide a proper barrier over the paint, but I certainly used mine before the month was up. I just wouldn’t allow any water to come into contact with the cheese board until the oil has completely cured.
10. Top with your favorite cheeses and charming little cloud signs so your guests know what they’re snacking on.