Welcome back, sweet friends! I’m moving right on through my latest thrift store haul and today I’m back sharing what I did with this tray I picked up for $3.25:
I rarely pass up a wooden tray and trays are great sellers for me. I do try to keep them pretty neutral though.
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
This one got a simple makeover:
I started with a base of Cotton and to stick with keeping it simple, I just added a grain sack stripe down the center. I added the main center stripe in a 50/50 mix of Cotton and Vintage Duck Egg first and then let it dry. Then I followed up with the two smaller stripes. I used Frogtape for delicate surfaces for this:
I pulled the tape off immediately after adding the second coat of paint…
I sanded very lightly to smooth the finish and create a few worn areas on the outside and then dry-brushed very lightly over the blue. I used the same brush I used to apply the Cotton, but I brushed most of the paint off onto my drop cloth first:
It broke up the starkness of the blue against the white.
I sealed with Clear Coat in Satin using the blue sponge.
To add feet, I found four wooden knobs in my stash that I stained with Minwax staining cloths first:
I stained them before painting so that if I sanded a bit, darker stained wood would show through instead of natural wood.
I painted them in cotton to match the tray and attached them with wood glue. I sealed them with the Clear Coat in Satin as well.
I stopped by Hobby Lobby last week to pick up my favorite handles for trays but they were sold out. I don’t think it really even needed them anyway!
Sometimes less is more.
And that’s one more piece done woot woot!
If there’s anything you missed, you can catch up below:
Windsor Chair Makeover (& Drop Leaf Table Take Two)
How to Wet Distress (& a $5 Lamp Makeover)
$5 Thrift Store Chest Makeover
Next up is the glass/crystal lamp makeover!
I’ll be back with that on Tuesday!
UPDATE: It’s here!! See how I transformed this lamp HERE now! 🙂
Have a fantastic weekend!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
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Petra says
Gosh I love that shade of blue with Cotton 🙂 . And adding little “feet” really changes up the whole feel of the tray. Beautiful job as always 😀 xo
Christy says
Thank you, Petra! I love this color combination as well! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
WOW, it is beautiful now. Who says that makeover can’t be simple, tsk, yes they can , and this is proof! It is absolutely stunning now!! I love it. Are you selling or keeping it? I love how you staged it, so cute!
Christy says
Right? Sometimes simple just works! Thank so much, Mary! This one will be heading to my shop! XOXO
Pam Walsh says
The tray is gorgeous! I love the way that you added the feet to the tray. Beautiful job once again !
Christy says
Thanks so much, Pam! XOXO
Karen Parker says
Christy, I love the way this tray finished up! The way you dry brushed over the blue stripe was the perfect touch. I have learned so many ways to decorate our home by reading your posts. Thank you for posting them!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Karen! I love that you are finding useful information here!! XOXO
Sheila DelCharco says
I always love it when you do trays! The grain sack stripe is perfect! And I agree. I don’t think it even needs handles!
Christy says
Thank you, Sheila! Yep, I don’t miss the handles at all! XOXO
Denise says
The grain sack stripe adds so much to this piece. Love it.
Christy says
Thank you, Denise! XOXO
Christina in SW FL says
Beautiful, Christy!! So soft and beach-y feeling. The dry brushing over the blue is brilliant. 🙂 This will sell very fast!
Have fun with the lamp and a great weekend!
Christy says
Thank you, Christina! It does make me think of Summer! Enjoy your weekend as well! XOXO
Janice Holt says
How pretty. Love the grain sack strips; they just make it along with the little feet. You have it staged so well also with the horse and bottles.
Christy says
Thank you, Janice! I had fun staging this one with some of my favorites! XOXO
Christine Prowak says
The small knobs as feet, make it, along with the curves of the tray, love it!!
Christy says
Thank you, Christine! I’m so pleased that those knobs worked out so well! XOXO
Gloria Wyssbrod says
Another great job and so many good ideas. Thank you.
Gloria
Christy says
Thank you, Gloria! XOXO
Carla says
I love the stripes! Again, your creativity never ceases to amaze. 😊
Christy says
Aww thank you, Carla! XOXO
Joan Parker says
I (newly) have a booth where I sell my makeovers. My dilemma is always the pricing. Would you share with me (privately) how much you ask for an “after” tray? Thanks in advance.
Christy says
Hi Joan! I usually price my trays in the mid 30s. This one will probably be priced at $36. Hope this helps! XOXO
Kimberly Brunette Smith says
Simply gorgeous! The feet are genius!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Kimberly! XOXO
Tammy Ganci says
Please sell me this tray!!!!!!! I will pay the shipping and handling.
Tammy
Christy says
Hi Tammy! I emailed you. Let me know if you didn’t get it. 🙂
Denise Cox says
I really like this!! If I can find a tray, I’d like to try this. As I’ve told you before, living in such small town, it’s difficult to find decent ‘finds’ in our Goodwill. Good job… 😉
Christy says
Thanks, Denise! Maybe a neighboring town or city has more to offer? A good excuse for a day trip, maybe? XOXO
Glenda Brown says
Beautiful as always.
With the paint, it’s like night and day. The dark has such a heavy look while the light color brightens it up so much. Love your work.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Glenda! XOXO
Virginia says
So adorable!!
Christy says
Thank you, Virginia! XOXO
Joni Gonzales says
Beautiful as always, Christy! I LOVE the feet!
Christy says
Hi Joni! So good to hear from you, my friend! Thank you! XOXO
Linda says
Hi there, Christy! Just a little confused. The picture of your taped piece doesn’t look like your final striped pattern. How did that turn into three painted stripes? Looks like there would only be two stripes of blue once tape is removed.
Help?
Christy says
Hi Linda! I taped off the center stripe first and then let that dry. Then I taped off the two narrow stripes on either side. That is the picture I shared. I don’t have any super skinny tape that would make it possible to paint all three stripes at once. I hope that clears up any confusion! XOXO
Linda says
Yes, thank you! Absolutely love your work and site.😁
Christy says
Thank you so much! XOXO
Amy G says
Love this tray! Simple and stylish!
Christy says
Thank you, Amy!! XOXO
Brenda says
Great job and beautifully styled.
Christy says
Thanks so much, Brenda! XOXO
Kathy M says
I love getting your emails because I know no matter what you are making over, even when it’s just a tray, it is going to be amazing. You never disappoint.
Christy says
Aww you are so sweet, Kathy!! Thank you!! XOXO
Carole Larsen says
I really want one of your trays; ok I want this one. I love the colors, grain sack stripes, feet EVERYTHING about it. HOWEVER, I live in Michigan. I guess I need to take a vacation to your area someday.
Christy says
Thank you, Carole! I am willing to sell smaller pieces like this one if ya’ll are willing to pay shipping. Someone else already asked about buying this one, but keep that in mind for the future…or yep…come for a visit! 😊 XOXO
Phyllis says
What can I say – as usual – gorgeous. Looking forward to the lamp next week.
Christy says
Aww thank you, Phyllis! I’ll see ya Tuesday! XOXO
cristina kadonsky says
Did the tray have feet or did you purchase and where? Thank you!
Christy says
Hi Cristina! I added the feet, but they were really just wooden knobs I had in my stash. You might be able to find some similar with all the wood cutouts etc at Hobby Lobby or Michaels. XO
Ange Mills says
The new improved tray is sweet. ❤️ The little feet.
Christy says
Thank you, Ange! XOXO
Micah says
Beautiful! I used this same Dixie Belle color combo on a small box ( exactly the same, stripes and everything!) and I really liked it. Amazing makeover as usual!
Christy says
Thanks, Micah! Great minds ha ha…I love this color combo! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
Well Christy, you know i love all of your trays. I will copy you if you tell me how to paint the grain sack lines. 🙂 I haven’t been in the mood to create lately. My daughter has been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and the news has just turned our world upside down. She has a 9 month old little boy and a 5 year old daughter. Please keep her in your prayers. I need to paint to get my mind right. I’m in shock. thank you for sharing. Is there a link for the grain sack tutorial?
Christy says
I am so sorry, dear friend. I will most certainly keep her in my prayers. As a nurse, I cared for many patients who underwent surgery for colon cancer. I pray that there are measures that can be taken to help her as well. ❤️ For the stripes, I tape off the larger stripe in the center first and paint it in. When it’s dry, like you see in the picture I shared in the post, I tape off the two narrow stripes on either side and paint them. I know you won’t feel like creating, but it will be good to keep your mind and hands busy. Big hug. XOXO
Constance Colvin says
Well Christy, another perfectly executed project! I’m curious……do you measure for your stripes or just eyeball it? Thanks ;-D
Christy says
Thank you!! I do measure the first large stripe in the center, then I eyeball the two narrow stripes on either side! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
Another one I totally would have walked past. Now that you’ve given it the Christy touch, it’s glorious!
Christy says
Aww thank you, Marcie! Pretty much anything made from wood gets a second look from me ha ha! XOXO
Jerri says
Very cute. Love the simplicity of it.
Christy says
Thank you, Jerri! Sometimes simple is better! XOXO
Kim says
Love this! I snag trays whenever I see them too-but why are they so scarce? The little feet are perfect!
Christy says
Thank you, Kim! Everyone snaps them up ha ha! XOXO
sharon austin says
Super cute! I NEVER come across wood trays, I don’t know how you always manage to find them, darnit!! And perfect timing, as I was planning to email you to ask what the cloths you use are, I’d like to see if they would work on a piece I have that’s missing just a little bit of stain in one spot.
Thank you!!
Christy says
Thank you, Sharon! I guess I just get lucky, but I thrift A LOT too lol. You might also be able to use those markers for fixing scratches etc on wood pieces…you can find them with the stains. I use them on my wood floors all the time! XOXO
sharon austin says
Yes, I have one light marker, so it’s not dark enough. Those cloth’s you used in walnut look like they might be. 🙂 Thanks!!
Ivory says
Here’s a ‘hi-fi’ from me to you. I also love the stripe and the color you selected. You did an outstanding job. Thanks for sharing.
Christy says
Thanks again, my friend! You know I can’t resist a stripe..such a simple way to add a little something! XOXO
Susan Renaud says
I thank you for showing how to rewire the lamp that you reimagined. This will come in handy when I next visit Habitat and come across something special . And your tray and silverware chest are amazing. Inspirational.
Christy says
You’re welcome, Susan and thank you!! XOXO