So a bunch of you asked to see the how-to for the chevron tray which was the backdrop for my daffs last week. I wasn't sure if I was going to post about it because it didn't turn out as I had hoped but then again, I might as well show you that not all my craft projects are successes.
This is how the tray started out, a mustardy yellow thing from the local Red Cross charity shop. I like yellow but not that kind of yellow.
I took my tray downstairs into the garage for the first part of the makeover which was to spray paint it white. First the surface needed to be keyed so I sanded it and wiped it clean. When spray painting it's best to do many thin coats instead of a couple of thick ones or you'll get a runny result.
After all the coats were finished I noticed I had missed the edges so I got my white posterpaint out and drew along there.
So that was the tray part done and I moved on to the pattern. I've been seeing all these cool chevrons about but there's not much of that around over here so I decided to make my own. I used a piece of paper from a note book and used the lines to get a somewhat even pattern.
Then I proceeded to cut out my chevron template and used it to trace the pattern on to my choice of green paper. This is where things started to go wrong. You see, when I get an idea I want to try it out IMMEDIATELY. No time to think things through and certainly no time to wait until the next day so I could get the right kind of paper so I just went with what I had and it was WAY too thick.
See how it lays there all rigid? Not really ideal for decoupaging which is what I had in mind. Please, when you are at this stage and notice that things aren't really the way they're supposed to be, STOP and consider getting the right paper and doing it properly ANOTHER DAY. But no, I'm afraid that doesn't apply to me.
I went ahead and stuck those stiffies down and got my mini clothes pegs in to help me hold the edges in place. The way you decoupage is that you use the stuff as glue to stick your paper down and then you use the same to finish on top. It's milky whilte when wet but dries clear.
Here's the finished result. It LOOKS nice but once you come up close you realize what a mess it is. There are little gaps between the paper and the tray where the paper just didn't want to adhere properly because it was too stiff and where I used the clothes pegs there are marks. I'm afraid this one's going to be used in the garage in the future. I will use it as a project tray for paint, brushes, rags etc. It seems I will be painting the outside of our house in style later this spring.
32 Comments
Oh Benita, I can see absolutely nothing wrong with the tray. On the contrary, it presents itself quite stylish there, in your kitchen. Thank you for the write up. What do you call that glue that you’ve used? Thanks.
It says Decoupage Finish on my jar. I’ve heard the term decoupage glue too. You can find it in crafts stores.
I think the tray turned out absolutely fabulous! You’re being too hard on yourself, it’s wonderful. 🙂
“Forge Ahead!” That’s my motto too and it’s kicked me in the butt a few times. Then the perfectionist in me comes along and tsk tsk tsks at me until I vow not to do it again. Until the next time. Nice to know I’m not alone. 🙂
I’ll take your word for it that it has flaws but it looks beautiful to me. I love this post because it gives me so many ideas. I wish I could look at an ugly tray & see ahead to its potential, as you did. But even I could manage this kind of craft project–especially with your helpful tips. Thanks!
In the US the gluey-finishing stuff is called Mod Podge. It’s available at crafts stores and some hardware stores.
I don’t have the patience to wait another day either! On the upside, you do have something pretty for your garage. 🙂 It does look really pretty in pictures, though. I’m sorry it didn’t work out the way you intended.
hello,
i was wondering why you didn’t use painters tape and spray paint the pattern? instead of painstakingly piecing together the pattern from little strips of tape, you could do the same thing you did with paper but instead use a really wide tape. plus, on the upside, you could use the little left over triangles for another fun spray painting project.
I’m so glad to know you are occasionally like me – the projects that involve me and glue are the ones that don’t really fly. Must be the Right Now syndrome… But wow it sure looks good!!
And you can wash this as any other dish? Wow.
What is posterpaint – is it like a paint in a stick, if so, it sounds good to have something like this!
I wonder about that too! That’s probably what I should have done but I doubt that I’d be able to find the perfect green. Not much choice in spray paints over here I’m afraid.
Ok, I know I can’t see the imperections but there is such thing as “perfectly imperfect”. Which may be the case here. Possibly?
I really would never have thought about making my own tray like this and find it very inspiring. I LOVE trays and have a collection of them. I need to try this project.
Thanks for the inspiration!
I think you’d need to wipe this clean. It’s not something that should be soaked.
The posterman is like an opaque marker. It’s great for touching up white things. It’s not permanent since it’s water based but with the glue on top it seems to stay put.
You’re right. It’s an absolute scandal. I can’t believe you actually dare to show us this.
😉
Read my lips: i t ‘s a s l o p p y j o b u p c l o s e 🙂
I like that you showed it anyway. It is such a good idea! I have not seen decoupage made like that before, I have only seen tissue/paper pictures glued on, not stripes of solid color.
Would the thicknes of the stripes dissappear if you’d sand it and then decoupage many times?
I tried sanding but it just roughed up the paper in a bad way…
hey benita-
where’s that barstool from in the first picture? i’m in love 🙂
I think it looks great!
great work! so nice and fresh (although the yellow was beautiful too!)
That is so fabulous Benita! Thanks so much for the great idea, I’ll be linking.
I believe you. But then again, we’re already looking at it pretty up close… Anyway, I love it! Just shows how almost anything can be reused and made pretty again.
This is awesome!
They(there’s another one too) used to have backs and were swivel chairs until we had our neighbor help us weld them shut. We found them at an antiques fairs many years ago. Oh, they were blue and grey when we got them.
You so creative! I would probably have just made do with the yellow-ish version (I must confess I quite like that colour).
I wish I’d done something like this for my tray! Instead, I used craft paint, which bubbled and peeled. SIX HOURS later, I had a chevron disaster 🙁
I know when it’s something you’ve made yourself, all you see are the imperfections. But it makes a great backdrop on your counter, or would be a cute serving tray when guests come! The rest of us sure have enjoyed it, anyway. Thanks for sharing!
Wow!!! I t´s so Nice!!!
So fun! I love how it adds a nice pop of color tthe counter 🙂
To me it looks PERFECT!
Love it,
Ciao from Italy!
Suze
I love your project!! I just featured it on my blog! I’m a new follower!
xoxo,Patty.
wwww.mycraftspotlight.com
I’m a new reader catching up on the archives so this comment is late but for the future you could try washing the decoupaged tray. The Mod Podge that we use in the US will come off with warm water and then you can start over. I know because I did some light switch covers and when I was tired of them I washed them and redid them.