Fantastic~Shabby Chic~ Decoupaged~ Serving Tray Tutorial~ make for under $2.00

SHABBY CHIC~ OH SO FABULOUS~ SERVING TRAY

A trip to the Thrift Store clears my mind, and starts the creative wheels turning! 

 Here is a Crazy, Shabby Chic, Fabulous Serving Tray, 

SURE to be a conversation piece at your next party!

Materials needed:

• Tray~ I got mine at the thrift store for $1.00... but they can be purchased unfinished at the craft store
• Calendar/Heavy Duty Scrapbook Paper
• Cream Acrylic Paint or color of YOUR choice!
• Scissors & Paper Cutter
• Mod Podge
• Paint Brush
• Tool to remove air bubbles
• Fine Grain Sandpaper
• Krylon Matte Acrylic Spray

 When I went to the Thrift Store, I did find my tray already stained, but unstained is fine too... you are going to be painting your tray with your Acrylic Paint! When you are painting the tray, you will want to paint with the grain of the wood, in thick even strokes. Usually, I use 2 coats of paint for good coverage. If you want your paint to dry more quickly, use a hair dryer on low heat between coats.

A dear friend of mine gave me an old calendar, KNOWING that I would put it to some Crazy~ Creative use. NOW is a great time to find calendars since they are marked down! Sure enough, I knew this calendar would look fabulous decoupaged into the base of my Thrift Store tray. Using a pair of scissors, and then a paper cutter, I cut out the pieces I wanted to use. Squares of your favorite 'heavier weight' scrapbook papers will work fine also. After I had chosen all the pieces that I wanted to use in my tray base, 

I laid them out, and took a picture~ 

just so I would remember how I wanted to place them when decoupaging!

I then applied a good coat of Mod Podge to the underside of the calendar squares and laid them in place. I then applied another coat of Mod Podge to the surface of the paper.   Using a wooden tool I began pushing out the air bubbles... BE GENTLE as it is easy to push holes in your paper. For stubborn air bubbles, I applied some Mod Podge to my fingers and gently pushed the remaining bubbles out.

Once all pieces were in place, I coated the entire surface of the tray base with another coat of Mod Podge. Keep in mind, you want to brush in one direction so that you do not have any 'odd' brush strokes once the Mod Podge is dried. I used a damp rag around the edges of the tray to remove the Mod Podge from the wood part of the tray. I gave ONE more coat of Mod Podge to keep the surface protected when using the tray.

Once the tray was completely dried, I used a piece of fine grain sand paper to remove some paint from the handles and the corners of the tray to give it that Shabby Chic look! Less is best! Once you have achieved the look you desire, use Krylon Matte Spray to coat your tray. Follow the directions on the bottle. 

 I usually use 2 coats of the Matte Spray for SUPER PROTECTION! :)

This tray is going to look Shabby Chic~ Fabulous with a Fab Dip/Chip combo at my next party. I loved this idea so much, that I ran to the Thrift Store again last week and um.... another project awaits me!

Hope you will find this to be a fun project that you can try. 

 It is easy, inexpensive, and OH SO CHIC!

Would LOVE to see your projects. Feel free to message me, and I would love to include YOUR idea on my next blog.

Living, Laughing and LOVING my life,

Patti

Next FALL FAB INSTALLMENT: a FALL/FANTASTIC FAB EASY WREATH!

When people walk up the steps to my front door, my desire is for them to see my LOVE of FALL, and to immediately feel a FALL welcome as they announce their arrival.  I created a Fall Fab, Easy Wreath that ANYONE can recreate! NOW is the time to create your wreath, as most fall décor is marked down anywhere from 40-60% and THEN, with some online coupon searching, I always look at the Michaels online page for their current sales and coupons! I also always purchase the Sunday newspaper for the Michaels coupons! 
Searching, maximizes your savings!!! 
P.S. if you are a teacher or military, ask Michaels if they offer a discount.  I get a 15% discount at all times as a school teacher! 


http://www.michaels.com/

 I found my coupons, and headed off to Michaels.  I spent just $18.00 making this gorgeous wreath, which will be good for years to come, and is very individualized...

with the letter “E” for Easton!  :)

The supplies I used are as follows:

Grapevine Wreath

Pumpkin/ Beaded 5 ft garland

Small decorative Gourds

A bunch of Sunflowers

Green Wire Ribbon

The letter “E”

Krylon Glitter Blast Paint

Americana Gold Paint 

Krylon Matte finish Spray

Glue gun and sticks

http://www.krylon.com/ 

I started by using the Krylon Glitter Blast on all of the floral and decorative components, except for the letter and the ribbon.   After the objects had dried, I laid the Pumpkin/Beaded garland 
on the wreath and hot glued into place.

 

Then on the left side of the wreath, I began hot gluing the glittered leaves and then hot glued the sunflowers on top.  I glued and spaced the leaves and flowers out along the top left to bottom center part of the wreath.  I then hot glued in any 
extra leaves that I had left over.

After hot gluing the flowers in place, I hot glued the gourds into place, spacing them out amongst the flowers.  Make sure all pieces are firmly in place, and that you have removed all ‘strings’ of hot glue… they do not ‘add’ to the beauty of the finished wreath! :)

I then took my wired ribbon, and tied it around the wreath, knotting it on the bottom right side of the last sunflower.  I tied one bow, and then another bow on top, and then one more bow on top!  This is the EASIEST way to make a pretty bow.  I corner trimmed the edges and then fluffed the bow out to make a nice shape.  A pretty bow with little effort… the wired edged ribbon really makes all the difference!

 

 

 Finally, I took my letter “E” and painted it with the gold paint.  Because of the surface texture of the letter, it usually takes 3 coats of the paint. Make sure as you are brushing your paint on, that you are applying the paint in long even strokes that all move in the same direction. To speed the drying process, I use a hair dryer in between coats.  Make sure you paint all sides and edges, as these will be seen!  When the paint is completely dry, spray with your Krylon matte finish, and allow the letter to dry completely.  I then hot glued the letter in place on the right side of the wreath above the ribbon. 

Once you have completed all of this take a piece of your wired ribbon, as long as you need it to be to hang your wreath properly.  I simply made around the top part of the wreath and hung the wreath from a nail in the top of my door.  And FANTASTISIMO!

Wreath supplies- on sale, Time to create- minimal, Fun creating- too much, Final Results when hung on door- PRICELESS.  

Hope you will take this idea and run with it.  The wreath is FAST, FUN, and FALL FABULOUS!  Hope you are enjoying your Fall Season…

Living, Loving and Laughing,

Patti

My CRAZY INSOMNIA and a POSITIVE "CRAFTY" Message!

"Now I lay me down not to sleep.

I just get tangled in the sheets.

I swim in sweat three inches deep.

I just lay back and claim defeat...

Lids down, I count sheep.

I count heartbeats.

The only thing that counts is that

I won't sleep...My mind is racing,

filled with lists of things to do

and things I've done.

Another sleepless night's begun..."

"Who Needs Sleep?" ~Song By Barenaked Ladies

I have battled the 'insomnia monster' for years.  It is a struggle that I have fought with, cried about, prayed about, sought medical advice about, and have come to ACCEPT.  I know as I age, that it is only going to continue.   I believe my battle is due to my 'racing, creative mind'.  I am constantly thinking about new projects, things I want to accomplish, and my hopes and dreams!  YEP!  my 'right brained thinking' is something that I LOVE about myself, but it is definitely a contributing factor to my insomnia battle.  Here is a great link to understanding insomnia, and reasons that you may battle insomnia.

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/understanding-insomnia-basic-information

I thought I would find a 'fun', creative way to poke fun at my 'insomnia issue'!  My dear friend Melissa sent me this adorable picture and suggested it would be perfect for the bedroom.  I HAD TO AGREE... here is the link where you can purchase these adorable ZZZZ's along with so many other fantastic products!  And NOW, my rendition!

http://www.lilyandlime.co.uk/

I decided to create my Z's because I believe in the power of positive thinking, and seeing the ZZZ's spelled out in front of me is a very positive 'visual' message!  I also decided to create the Z's to match my bedroom.  I have beautiful 'robin's egg blue' walls, and throughout the bedroom, I have used black and white photos,  and red as my accent colors!  My bedroom is SO relaxing and cozy, and SO ME!

Here are the Materials you will need:

• 3 'Z' letters (I got mine at Michaels)
• Black and White Acrylic Paint
• A paint brush
• A toothbrush
• Matte acrylic sealer (I love Krylon)

I LOVE enamelware, and I found this adorable Black Enamelware Coffee Pot at a garage sale for $1.00.  This pot served as the creative force for painting my letters!  

Too cute and SO easy... here's what you do!

Paint your Z's with your Black acrylic paints.  I am not sure what my Z's were composed of, but thankfully they only needed one coat of the paint.  Be careful not to use too much paint as you may leave globs or drips on your letters where you don't want them.

After the black paint has dried, lay your letters out, and place a dollop of the white paint in your palette.  Dip your toothbrush into the white paint and scrape it lightly against the edge of your palette so there is not 'too much' paint on the toothbrush.  Hold the toothbrush over the letters, and with your pointer finger, pull against the bristles and flick the paint on the letters.  It does not matter if you get a variety of 'flecks' on your letters... that is the beauty of using this technique.

Allow your white paint to thoroughly  dry, and then using your Krylon matte finish sealer, spray one coat.  Allow the first coat to dry and then spray one more coat.  

Allow to dry thoroughly.

I chose to hang the letters where I could see them from my bed.  I hung them on a wall across from my bed under a little black shelf I have hanging.  I measured down from the base board and centered the letters under the shelf.  Luckily the letters had predrilled holes for hanging.  So I hung them, stepped back and said, "I LIKE, LIKE CRAZY"!  

Too cute, and a powerful positive message with three simple letters.

Now I am getting requests from other family  members for their own "personalized" letter messages.  I love it!  This project took under one hour to complete, it is inexpensive, yet SO priceless.

I hope you will go and have fun making your own Z's, and I hope you will experience some great Z's as you lay down to rest!  Sweet Dreams! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ................

Living, Loving, Laughing and getting sleepy! = )

Patti

Here is a great link giving some great tips that I myself have implemented to improve my sleep!

http://www.mysleepingtips.com/