Hello amazing Friends!! Thank you for all the positive feedback on my DIY Rolling Umbrella Base on Tuesday! It is working out great so far!
Today I’ve got a fun little upcycle for y’all. I shared a peek of today’s project on Tuesday…this $2 thrift store frame and these spindles:
The frame was small but nice and deep, perfect for a little tray!
I had painted the frame last week, but was undecided on what I would use as the bottom of my new tray. Then on Saturday, I stopped by a couple of yard sales late in the day and came across one that had wood scraps and a “Make Offer” sign, so I grabbed these narrow pieces for a dollar:
I was hoping they might work for the bottom of my tray, and they ended up being just perfect!
They were the exact width I needed as well…
I painted them with a coat of Behr’s Bit of Sugar DIY chalk paint to start. Then I decided to mix it up a bit and and add some blue, so I gave them both a a quick spray with spray paint…
That way I wouldn’t need to seal them with anything. The blue is Rustoleum’s Robin Egg Blue.
To hold them in place, I cut a piece of hardboard with my miter saw:
(My miter saw slides up to 12″ so I can easily cut anything up to a foot long.)
I painted it and screwed it to the bottom, and it holds my new tray bottom in place perfectly, and I’m so glad I added the pops of blue in there!
And what about the spindles? They were part of a magazine rack I dismantled last year. I originally thought I would cut the ends off of the spindles to use as the feet, but they were too tall, so one more cut on each end with my miter saw, and I had perfect feet:
A little wood glue to hold them in place…
And they worked out great!
The handles are from Hobby Lobby and finish this little cutie off perfectly:
This tray isn’t very big, but works great for a bathroom to hold toiletries, jewelry, or makeup.
This is our downstairs guest bath. See the before and after of this space HERE.
Total out-of-pocket for this project was $8. Not too shabby. 🙂
I’ve been busy in our back yard working on pulling our deck space together. This is the outdoor loveseat that went with the two chairs I already redid (and shared HERE) for our side porch:
I decided to use it on our back deck and will be back Tuesday sharing how it looks now!
UPDATE: See how this and a couple of other older pieces got refreshed for our deck space HERE now!
Hoping for sunny skies for all the Fathers to enjoy this weekend! 🙂
XOXO,
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Mary Kaiser says
How cute! I have to get to some garage sales to find some great things like you find. I have not gone to a garage sale in years. I love how that try turned out. I always look forward to your post because they are so inspiring to me, thanks for that!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Mary! I really love digging though people’s stuff ha ha, so yard sales are a treat…you just never know what treasures you may find. The lady who was selling the wood asked me if I was crafty person. I told her I try lol. XOXO
Christina in SW FL says
Cute, cute, cute! Christy this little tray is going to shine in your booth. Boom. Sold! 🙂 Nice save on the spindles and find on the slats. 🙂 Way to go!
Have a great rest of your week and weekend.
Christy says
Thank you, Christina! I think it will go quickly too! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Tina says
You’re the most creative woman I’ve ever seen. You have quite an eye for seeing what something can be…and I’m pretty convinced your an artistic genius. I enjoy every one of your projects.
Christy says
Wow you are SO sweet! Thank you, Tina!! XOXO
Becky says
That is the cutest little tray EVER! I love it! i’ll take 10, please. : D
Christy says
Ha ha I’d better get busy! Thanks, Becky! Enjoy your weekend!! XOXO
Mia Bryant says
Love the way this turned out :).. You are so creative!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Mia! XO
Nancy says
I love this Christy. You were so smart to paint some of the slats blue. That adds so much interest.
Christy says
Thank you, Nancy! A little blue makes everything better ha ha! Have a great weekend! XOXO
sharon austin says
Oooooooooooooooh my gosh, I LOVE that white & blue tray! If only I lived near your store, you’d never have to worry about going out of business!! LOL
Christy says
Aww you are so sweet, Sharon, thank you! And ha ha… I wish you lived closer too! XO
Tara C says
Hi Christy, Random question…what is the blue/green paint color in your bathroom? Also, I must have missed something in the tray tutorial. Was the picture frame inside something else because otherwise wouldn’t the sides be angled inward?
Christy says
Hi Tara! The bathroom color is Sunken Pool by Behr. And nope…the frame came just like that with straight sides. That’s why I grabbed it! 🙂
Debra Wise says
Great makeover and so creative! How did you attach the painted slats to the hardboard?
Christy says
Thank you, Debra! The slats are nestled in the recess at the back of the frame, flush with the edge of the frame. Then I covered the entire bottom with the hardboard, screwing it into the frame around the edges. Hope that answers your question! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Robyn Wright says
Your creativity astounds me! Mic drop, BOOM!
Christy says
You’re the best, Robyn, thank you!!!! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
I’m always amazed how you make such impressive projects with such unimpressive pieces! The tray is adorable, and even better is knowing how it started out. Always fun to see your transformations, Christy.
Christy says
Thank you, Marcie!! It is just as fun for me to see forgotten pieces come back to life! I don’t think that will ever get old! Thanks for always cheering me on, my friend! XOXO
Marilyn says
So cute! Love that tray!
Christy says
Thank you, Marilyn! XO
Margie says
Oh my,I love this..You are one creative sweet lady ???? I look forward to see what you do next.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Margie! XO
Cherie says
I just LOVE your blog. Look forward to it every week !!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Cherie! I appreciate you following along with me! XO
Ange says
What cute little legs. It would look great on my dresser. I’ll take one. ????
Christy says
It would be perfect for your dresser! 😀 XOXO
Tracey Reynolds says
I’m confused too as the frame you have at beginning of tutorial is not square ? Love this tray 🙂
Christy says
Thanks, Tracey! Perhaps it is just the angle I took the before photo that may be confusing? The original frame is a rectangle (barely…almost a square) and of course so is the finished tray.
Tracey says
Thanks for the reply 🙂
You have made me into an obsessed do it yourselfer lol
I love everything you do and your color choice is perfect, thanks so much for all your time and so much detailed information…:)
Christy says
No problem, and I love hearing that you have been bitten by the DIY bug!! Isn’t it the best feeling to stand back and admire what you’ve created with your own hands and a little imagination?! Thank you SO much for your kind words, Tracey! XOXO
Sheila DelCharco says
Love this little tray so much! Perfect for corralling a bunch of little things!
Christy says
Thanks, Sheila! Absolutely! XO
Julie Briones says
Lovely tray, Christi. I picked up a chair from Goodwill that has lots of spindles and legs. I’m going to use it for parts! 😉 Learned that from you!
Christy says
Thank you, Julie! Ha ha you are a good student lol! Those spindles will find all kinds of new uses! XOXO
Shay says
I love your blog and have made a few trays inspired by you. I was having the same question as the other ladies about the frames looking so different, as the original frame looks to be angled and the finished product interior doesn’t appear angled at all. I just didnt want to miss something, I want to know ALL your secrets!
Christy says
Thank you, Shay! It must be the angle at which I took the photos, but I just added another close-up to clear up any confusion and hope that helps! XO
Naomi S says
That is very cute, Christy! I have tons of old and new frames that I need to either use or pass on so I could put together something like this. Thanks for the idea and tutorial.
Christy says
Thanks, Naomi! Frames are something I always come home with, so I too have a huge stack of them. I need to have a tray-making marathon with them one day lol! XO