Antique-Finished Tray | i should be mopping the floor
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Antique-Finished Tray

This Antique-Finished Tray post & its shop have been compensated by 
Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. 
#LoveAmericanHome #cbias #CollectiveBias

This antique-finished tray was fun to put together...it's made from a wooden canvas and cabinet drawer pulls. With a fun little paint technique, it looks right at home in my kitchen now. It's perfect to organize kitchen goodies and for entertaining...especially in the busy fall entertaining season.

Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique.

Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique.

Do you decorate with trays? I just love how they can, literally, tie a lot of random goodies together...for a pretty vignette. I also love to stack dishes and silverware on trays like this when we entertain. They're great for organizing, too. I have a lot of things on my bar area and they were in need of a good tidying up. This worked out perfectly.



Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint techniqueAntique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique
This finish is a layered chalk-style paint, hemp oil, and milk paint for an antique look.

Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique
This product started out with a large wooden canvas. 
These can be found at craft stores or even with a simple online search. 
I used two drawer pulls as my handles for the tray.  


Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique
I used two different kinds of paint to complete this. The first layer is a dark red chalk paint. This will be the color that peeks through my top layer of aqua-ish blue. I love this type of canvas because they're totally sanded and ready to go. 


Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique.
I only did one layer of the chalk paint. Coverage isn't really important with the chalk paint...it's purely a "show through" layer and will just be a part of the weathering process. After the chalk paint dried, I added a layer of hemp oil to the entire piece. While it's normally used to finish a piece, hemp oil can also be used between layers to cause a reactive finish to the final coat. 


Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique.
I mixed up a custom color of milk paint with some colors I already had on hand. After the hemp oil was soaked in, I painted the milk paint on, kind of thick. When you're looking for paint to react (in this case, to the hemp oil), only one coat will work. A second coat could kind of botch up a reaction. 

Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique.
The hemp oil caused the milk paint to loosen and pull up easily for a fun weathered look. I sanded to pull even more off of the piece. I didn't add anything else to this antique-finished tray, paint wise. I didn't want to seal it, but allow it to age even more with the wear and tear I put on it. 


Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique.
 I measured out and marked where my drawer pulls would go.

Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique.
I predrilled the holes for the drawer pulls where I marked them.

Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique.
The hardware went in easily with the predrilled holes.
I left the bottom the red color (I added a second coat), just for an unexpected touch! 


Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique.
I'm liking the vintage finish with the dark drawer pulls. 
It's ready for its stuff!

Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique.
The tray is great to serve off of...or just to style with pretties.
These kind of pieces are great for seasonal decor...
they're easy to switch out with each holiday.

Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique.
I love adding layers of items to trays like these...in the kitchen, it's perfect for favorite cookbooks. And I love adding a fall-fragranced candle to spaces like these! American Home™ by Yankee Candle® has some of the best fragrances this season...my faves are Creamy Pumpkin Cupcake and Homemade Pumpkin Pie. They're completely making my house all kinds of fallish, y'all. I just love a good candle, y'all. And the American Home™ by Yankee Candle® brand does not disappoint.


Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique.
I lit this Homemade Pumpkin Pie one the other afternoon and my son thought I had been baking (may need to use that trick a little more often). I've loved Yankee Candle® brand since college and this line of American Home™ by Yankee Candle® is just as fabulous as ever!

When I entertain, I love to layer scents throughout the house. From the food cooking in the kitchen, to nice hand soaps in bathrooms, to a lovely fall candle...I think scent plays a big part of setting the mood for an evening or holiday meal. My mother always entertained that way, and I love doing the same. Using a Homemade Pumpkin Pie fragrance will help the house smell like a pie is still in the oven...even when I just picked up a pre-made one at the store to save time (wink)!


Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique.
The American Home™ by Yankee Candle® brand fragrances are perfect alongside holiday desserts. These candles are high quality, rich fragrances that last a long time. They also have a clean burn from the first time they're lit to the last. Be sure to follow the user instructions to a tee when using American Home™ by Yankee Candle® brand products.


Always burn your candle on a heat resistant surface, keep it out of drafts and NEVER leave it unattended while lit. Make sure the candle wicks are cut 1/8 of an inch to ensure your flame isn’t too large. Each time you burn your candle, allow the entire top layer to become a fragrant pool of liquid wax and you’ll get the biggest, boldest fragrance possible (that's where the good stuff is at!).
When only ½" of the wax remains, it’s time to let your candle go. I often place an almost-empty candle jar in the freezer. It makes the remaining wax just pop right out. Then I can reuse the jar for something else.

Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique.
I love that I can grab these candles at my local Walmart, while I'm there for groceries.
They have a great selection...check it out here.

Antique-Finished Tray | Step-by-step tutorial for how to make a decorative tray from a canvas, drawer pulls and layered paint technique.
What would you use a tray like this for?





13 comments:

  1. Oh I love this! Umm, honestly I am not sure what I would put on a tray like that! The first thing that came to mind was to use it to carry food upstairs to surprise my hubby with breakfast. We could use it to store extra plates & cutlery for big family dinners as well.
    Do you think the kids would be able to help make it or is it a little too hard for them?

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    1. Thanks so much, Heather! Yes, I think your kids could help for sure...especially with the painting. You may need to do the hardware part, but they could totally get in on the fun! xoxo

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  2. I love how the tray turned out at the end. I did not really think that those red and blue paints would combine together so well to create the perfect weathered look. I could totally see making one of these to put on my husband's nightstand. It would look great Holding his books.

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  3. What a genius idea- I always see the fabric canvas, but not the all wood ones- I'll have to keep my eye out and try this project for holiday hot cocoa serving! #client

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  4. Okay, I absolutely LOVE this!!! I'm always looking for fun and pretty decorative trays and I can never find ones that I love or that are the right size. I look in Home Goods every time I go!! This is such a fun DIY project, I need to try it! I love the distressed look and the way the paint looks dry. Gorgeous colors together - never would have thought of this combo! Amazing! -Jennifer

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  5. Thank you so much for this tutorial! I LOVE the way your tray turned out! I've seen similar trays and pieces in home decor stores and they want an arm and a leg for them. I'm excited to try my hand at making my own!

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  6. WOW, this is an awesome DIY idea. I love trays like this to serve breakfast or to use as home decorations on around our house. And, I love the smell of a good candle. Thanks, I'll have to check these out.

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  7. You are SO handy! I never would have thought that I could make a beautiful tray like that on my own. The colors you chose are beautiful and perfect for fall. I will need to check out those candles! #client

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  8. Oh I love this idea. I have always wanted to buy on of these trays but instead I think I will make one to match our decor. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  9. Wow, I love it! And I love how beautiful it looks and how easy it is to do. These kind of DIY's make me actually want to give them a try! I would use my tray for my coffee and books and set it on an Ottoman in the living room. So cute!

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  11. Well done! Nice handle choice :)

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  12. Hi Kristi,
    Sorry for the late notice, but I wanted to pop by and let you know that I am featuring your awesome tray at Shoestring Elegance and the What to do Weekends party. Thanks for sharing with us!
    Theresa.

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