Hello amazing friends!! Up for a makeover today? Always, right?? Me too!
I shared a preview of today’s makeover on Thursday. It’s this tray table I found at the thrift store for $10:
When I bought it, it was flattened and taped together like this:
I really had no idea what it was exactly, I just knew it had a nice sized tray with it. The stand was just a bonus!
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I use and love.
Here it is after a little love:
No I didn’t just paint it white and call it a day…I painstakingly added a random number pattern to the top!
Fun, huh? And by painstakingly, I mean it really was a pain, but that was purely my own fault. Look what I did to myself!
Can you see the numbers in there? No? I could hardly either!
I used my silhouette and this black and white contact paper to make a “stencil” with this number pattern I created in photoshop elements. Now I used this same paper for this cute “You Rock” rocker and thought I had learned my lesson, but clearly I had a bout of crafter’s amnesia because I WENT RIGHT AHEAD AND USED IT AGAIN!
I had to feel my way to paint the numbers in ha ha!
There you go…now you can see them!
I used acrylic craft paint by Delta and a small brush to fill in the “stencil”. I try to brush away from the edges as much as possible, then pulled the contact paper off as soon as I put on my second coat of black paint.
I did a very similar treatment to a square tray (See that HERE.) a couple of years ago, and saved the pattern on my computer, so I just added more numbers to make a rectangular pattern to fit this tray.
I uploaded it to my Silhouette Cameo, and cut it out. I shared how I upload and cut my own designs on my silhouette HERE. I used a 12 X 24″ mat for this project since my tray was 20 inches wide.
I always love the contrast of black typography against white. This is my favorite white of late, Behr’s Bit of Sugar made into DIY chalk paint. (Recipe HERE.)
And what about that broken strap? I cut it off and now there is only one, but it is super sturdy and works great.
The tray just lifts off when needed…
So handy, right?
Once the black paint was completely dry, I lightly sanded with 220 grit sandpaper across the surface to smooth it out…
Then I waxed with Annie Sloan’s Clear Soft Wax to protect it.
Of course I sanded and waxed the rest of it as well…
I hope y’all enjoyed this cutie!
If you liked this makeover, you’ll enjoy this one too:
See what I did with this stool HERE.
I’ll be back on Thursday with my Furniture Fixer Upper Girls sharing how I updated this hutch:
See y’all then!
UPDATE: See how I transformed this hutch into a real cottage cutie HERE now!
XO,
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Mary Kaiser says
I love the table/tray. Turned out amazing. What a great piece, you could use that anywhere. Looking forward to seeing what you do to the hutch on Thursday. I am sure it will be amazing and beautiful!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! There really are so many places you could use a little table like this…makes me tempted to keep it, but alas…can’t keep them all! See you Thursday, my friend! 🙂 XOXO
Mat says
Hello Christy,
Very nice makeover as usual. I love the idea of numbers in differents sizes and fonts !
I’m a huge fan of your work and, as a french blogger myself,you are my reference for the quality of your photos.
Light is always wonderful and you know how to magnify the result of your work with the decor.
Do you have ever think to do a post about this? I would like to know a little more about the “behind the stage” like the material you use and how to compose a good backdrop for a good furniture photography.
I’m so jealous 😉 of the wonderful doors used as backdrop in you former house! They were so pretty
Have a good day.
Mat
Christy says
Thank you so much, Mat! I appreciate your very kind words! I have never thought to put together a post about photography, but I do love to photograph in front of a large window or door. I love how the light bounces around my subject. And yes, I do miss those pretty doors at our last house! XOXO
Christina in SW FL says
Super cute makeover Christy! This will not last long in your booth. Boom. Gone. 🙂
Have a great rest of your week my friend!!
Christy says
Thank you, Christina! Let’s hope it goes quickly and takes some other pieces with it lol! XOXO
JamieK says
Love Love it all! Can never have too many trays! I love words and numbers so much! Just seems to make a body feel good all over ????. Beautiful! ❤️
Christy says
Thank you, Jamie! I feel the exact same way about words and numbers…love them on just about anything!! XOXO
Cecilia says
Yikes on trying to paint the numbers but it turned out so cute! Great look for the tray!
Christy says
I know…not sure what I was thinking on that lol. Thanks, Cecilia! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
What a great accent piece, fresh and bright for this gloomy first day of spring.
Crafter’s amnesia, indeed. I think we’ve all been there. Put a big note on the roll to remind yourself not to use it on a white background!
Christy says
Thank you, Marcie! I know…what on earth was I thinking? I need to do that! XOXO
MaryJean says
Christy, that was a great find! Usually, I see TV trays, but not trays like this that you can just pick up from the stand. I’m jealous, I would have kept for myself if I found that. I did pick up a really nice message board that I just posted today. I really happy with the way it turned out.
P.S. The person for my “thrifting” excursions is not one of my grandkids (they’re still a little too young for that), it’s my hubby’s cousin. We used to hang out together all the time before I went back to work. Then our time together got taken up with other things. We never drifted apart, though and now that I’m retired we are picking up where we left off!
Again, great find and I love the lettering even though it was tough to do!
Christy says
Thanks so much, MaryJean! This was a cute TV tray for sure…glad I spied it at the store! So glad you found a thrifting buddy…that really does make it so much more fun! XOXO
MaryJean says
I keep wanting to ask you if you ever painted a lampshade and if you did what did you use? I found a lamp for my grandsons’ room and I like the shade, just not the color.
Christy says
Yes! I have spray painted a shade before and it did great! 🙂
Linda Petersen says
Very cool! I would pass out taking off the stencil????! I would be so nervous hoping it wouldn’t smear everywhere. Love how it looks like you effortlessly created the top! You know how I love all your work ❤. Can’t wait for Thursday’s hutch makeover! XO
Christy says
Thank you so much, Linda! I always hold my breath a bit when removing the stencil, and then let out a big “Whew!” when it’s done ha ha! See you Thursday, my friend! XOXO
Bonnie says
Wow all I saw was an ugly brown ugg, I should have known the lady with a vision would make it sing. Beautiful job!
Christy says
Ha ha thank you, Bonnie! Ahhhh the magic of paint! 🙂 XOXO
Becky says
Gorgeous! I love it! I’ll take 3!!! : ) Maybe I’ll find one tomorrow when we go “treasure hunting”. I can dream, right? Yours came out so pretty in black and white. Love your mind boggling stencil too, haha! You probably need a lemonade break after that one!
Christy says
Ha ha thank you, Becky!! I see tons of TV trays out there, but this one was pretty darn cute…glad I snagged it! Good luck treasure hunting today! XOXO
Carolyn says
I actually think those pieces are two separate items: the legs look like it might have been a luggage holder/rack and the tray part an actual tray, and the thrift store just put them together because they thought they went together. But you put them together in a most creative and functional way. Good job!
Christy says
Thank you, Carolyn! The tray actually has two strips of wood that help it to nestle perfectly on top of the stand, and the finishes are a perfect match so I do believe they are a set. I’m glad I took a chance on them though…they make a fun piece! 🙂
Carolyn says
The straps on the legs is what made me think it was a luggage rack and your photos don’t show the strips of wood under the tray part, so that’s why I thought they were two separate pieces. Yes, you transformed it into a very nice piece!
Christy says
You were right to assume that…the bottom piece really does look exactly like a luggage rack! 🙂
Christine says
You never disappoint! I know that when I click on your “before” photo, I’m going to see something stylish that’s done well. I just love everything you fix up.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Christine! I appreciate that! XOXO
Beth says
Very well done! I, too, have used a printed contact paper medium to cut stencils then realized too late I would be painting “blind”. Lol….BRAVO! Love it!
Christy says
Oh no lol! I could have just recut it using something more visible, but no…I was stubborn or shall I say “committed” to making it work ha ha! Thank you!! XOXO