I love finding things to makeover and this ho-hum tray at the thrift store caught my eye one day. At about $5, it was an easy target for a makeover. And stripes, I love them! So, I decided to take this tray and stripe it in black and white, one of my fave combinations. Black and white is so classic and elegant and you can put it most anywhere.
Here’s that plain ole’ wooden tray that I found at the thrift store. You can find these anywhere for just a few bucks. It’s wood, but sort of rough looking. I started by spraying it with a couple of coats of my fave off-white spray paint, Rustoleum Heirloom White. It’s a great Satin finish off-white spray paint.
Once it was good and dry, I taped it off with FrogTape®, spacing it as evenly as I could. Math is not my strong suit, but I made the stripes fairly even for a uniform look. Then, I just took a small flat craft brush and used satin wall paint in black mixed with the Webster’s chalk paint powder to make sure it would stick to the spray paint. I think it will be fine since this tray probably will be used more decoratively than actual use.
I painted it with 2 coats of black paint and then pulled off the FrogTape® immediately while it was still wet. It was crisp for the most part, but I did go back with a cotton swab and touch up any black or white specks that needed retouching. With FrogTape®, it really works great for crisp lines, but sometimes on surfaces that are a little rough or uneven, there is a bit of bleed, as was the case with this rough finish tray. But, that’s OK, it doesn’t have to be perfect.
I added a pretty vinyl word in the middle, using my Silhouette machine to cut it out. If you don’t have a machine to do this, you could always just buy a stencil of letters and use that too.
I chose HOME in gold to go on my tray. It says all I want it to say. Home is everything!
After the paint touchups, I took it back outside and sprayed it all down with a Gloss Valspar clear sealer. This should help keep it from chipping along the way.
Then, inside I went to the foyer where it looks right at home on my foyer table. I love the black and white accent with my damask lamp shade that I did years ago and my zebra black and white runner.
Along with some fresh potted red tulips, this is a welcoming spring accent for my foyer. I’m ready for spring, aren’t you?!
I tucked the potted tulips in an urn I’ve had for ages, added some green reindeer moss and it’s ready to go.
There’s nothing better than red tulips for spring. So pretty and fresh!
And that’s my Spring welcome to my home this year. I love this tray and can’t wait to use it in other areas too. It will be fun to play with and use as an accessory around the house. Black and white is so crisp and classic.
So, that’s my Frogtape® project this month, hope this got you inspired once again with the POWER of paint and how you can virtually change anything with paint. My fave home improvement weapon, paint does wonders for everything.
Disclosure: I am a Brand Ambassador for FrogTape® and receive compensation for completing projects for Frogtape®. All opinions, projects, and ideas are based on my own experience.
Just lovely!
Nice tray. The tulips give me spring fever 🙂
Anything you put your hand to turns out beautifully!!! If we weren’t such close friends, I’d be intimidated by you! Love you! Vic
Very pretty! where did you get the square preserved boxwood wreath?
HI, Jeanne, that preserved boxwood wreath came from Wayfair.com.
Oh how pretty! The tulips and the tray and the boxwood wreath all say “spring” and “welcome home.”
Happy day to you Rhoda!
Beautiful! I need to find some trays that I can do this with and make some for gifts. Would be perfect with a nice quick bread or snack for a friend. Thanks for the wonderful ideas, Rhoda!
Adorable.
This is so adorable and easy to make! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks for sharing your gorgeously spring-y vignette!. I love striped trays, too, and made one in antique white and a country-style blue. Stripes always look so crisp and clean!
This project is right up my alley, black+white=love! I really like how you propped it up rather than using it flat for accessories. Lovely vignette!
You are the queen of beautifying uninteresting objects! I would have never even seen that tray or thought about painting it black and white stripes. But if I had seen one like you beautified in the store, I would have grabbed it up so fast your head would spin! Wish I had that talent! Love the beautiful red tulips with the black, white and green. Makes it all pop! Love it!
Super, super cute Rhoda!!! Love the beautiful vignette too!
This is so cute Rhoda! I love the stripes and the gold! Thanks for the inspiration. I’m pinning.
Leslie
Love this project. Where do I find the Webster’s Chalk Paint?
Yes, indeedy, you have certainly inspired me to pull out the frog tape and do something similar! A black and white tray would go perfectly in my kitchen! 🙂 The vignette you’ve created in your hallway is awesome! Pinning!
Rhoda, thanks for the inspiration! I’ve done some fun things with old trays myself, but I’ve never thought about stripes. They are so classic but also lots of fun–a winning combination! Seeing your black and white stripes makes me think that blue and white might be fun for a nautical look.
I’d forgotten about your damask lampshade. I’m going to look back at that post; I have a lampshade that needs a makeover! 🙂
Great project Rhoda. I too love black and white and stripes are always timeless.
I love the tray! And where did you get your boxwood wreath?? I have been looking everywhere for one!
Sarah
That wreath is from Wayfair.com.
Hi Rhoda…
I just found a very similar tray at a yard sale… hmmm… hmmm… YOU are giving me ideas!. This post shouts SPRING!
Which Silhoette machine do you have? Do you love?
HI, Gail, it’s the Cameo and I do like it although I’m not all that great with it yet. I need to practice more.