Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Lay Your Hands On Me

I found this tray at the DI awhile back--the very definition of hideous, but it was only $2 and I knew it had potential.One of the spots in my house that is always in need of a little decor is the dining room table, but my family hates it when I put stuff there because it's always in their way. It's only a matter of days until whatever it is ends up shoved into a corner of the kitchen somewhere, never to be displayed again. I thought that maybe the tray would solve that...if it could all be lifted off together when needed, then placed back....Well, we'll see how it goes.

Here is the after:Painted, sanded, stained (I love the dirty, I-just-pulled-this-out-of-my-Grandma's-barn look of it) then mod podged a piece of scrap fabric into the bottom of it. Collection of odds and ends that I had around the house and a few hours later I had a whole new centerpiece for no money.

Here is a view that includes the painting above it. This is a piece I found out in the garage a few months ago literally collecting dust--and cobwebs--that Jacob had painted for a class in college. I trimmed it and framed it and I think it's perfect above the table.

9 Witty comments go here:

tawnya said...

It IS perfect above the table. It looks great!

Rebecca Irvine said...

Love the painting and the tray - especially the way you decorated the inside of the tray. Good job.

Mother of the Wild Boys said...

Must you be so disgustingly talented? ;)

ShazBraz said...

ummm...sorry? thank you?...

Sarah Sidwell said...

I'm still alittle heartbroken we didn't get to craft all summer long. Between you surgeries and my move. Looks great! I really wanted to learn from your decor style. I guess I still can if you keep posting.

Lacy@uphillandsmiling said...

Again, you are amazing!! :) You said you painted, sanded, and stained the tray... What did you stain it with? just a clear coat? or another color?

Bon Jovi? me likey!

tawnya said...

Most likely Thompson Twins...

ShazBraz said...

On this particular project, I used Liquitex acrylic wood stain. I found some in both brown and black a few years ago on clearance in an art supply store and cleaned them out. i've never been able to find it again, so I think they don't make it anymore. You can buy stain from pretty much anywhere, though...including small crafty bottles at michaels on up to big quart sized cans at walmart or home depot. Honestly, though, half the time I just use watered down craft paint. it gives a slightly different finish and dries faster (therefore is a little harder to work with) but it is the cheapest option. when I was all finished, I covered the whole tray with a coat of mod podge. on this tray, the original finish was kind of slick, so I should have sanded it before I started, but I didn't. When I went to wipe off the stain, big chunks of my fresh white paint came off too. It turned out that I liked the way it looked, so I left it, but I mod podged on top of it to seal it the way it is and keep further paint from peeling off. clear as mud?

As for the song, I do tend to lean slightly more thompson twins then bon jovi, but I like them both! ;)

Shafferprincess said...

Ooh - I likey! :)