Repurposing: From Thrift Store Drawer to Serving Tray

 

Mr. Chocolate laughed at me when we were talking about the need for a serving tray to bring things from the kitchen to the patio. We've been eating outside since the weather's been nice. The reason he laughed is I said "Oh I'll go to the Jimmy Carter store" (aka the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store store) and look for something I can use. He said "Well, I was thinking of Amazon, but OK". Pffffftttttt.

I was originally thinking I'd use a cabinet door but they were all beveled and I wanted something flat. Right next to those were other things salvaged from the cabinets and they had a couple of shallow drawers. I said to myself "Self, even better because it has sides so things won't slide off" and the lady nearby looked at me like "There there dear" since I said it to myself out loud. 

Supplies:

• Shallow Drawer
• Handles
• No Prep Acrylic Paint (Waverly) and Sealer
• Dollar Tree Wallpaper Sheets

This is the drawer I got for $5! And they threw in the handles for free when I said what I planned to make! I want to go back because I saw this very cool large ornate frame I hope is still there. 

It came with the slides on so I removed them and being a good Maker, set them aside until my brain comes up with something to do with them or I'll donate them back because you never know what people are looking for.

I painted the bottom black with Craft Smart multi surface paint. 

Then, I painted the rest with Waverly No-Prep Acrylic paint in Truffle. The drawer was already lined with contact paper which I left on until I was done painting.

The contact paper pulled up easily leaving clean lines for my own lining. 

You know those Dollar Tree Wallpaper sheets? Enter those. I tried to line up the patterns since I had to use more than one sheet and let's face it, stuff's going on top of it so yes, the little seam shows but who cares!

Here's the tray fully lined. 

I don't seal every project but this one I did. I used the corresponding Waverly sealer which goes on milky and dries clear. The recommendation is to let it dry for 24 hours which I did, then buffed with a soft lint free cloth.

I used E-6000  glue to attach the handles. I'm not intending to carry really heavy things on this so I think that'll suffice. 

And now, Mr. Chocolate is a believer! 

For the Cost of a Donation: Upcycled Cabinet Door Tray

I dragged Mr. Chocolate to a flea market last month. It was held at an architectural salvage place in Seattle called Second Use. While the flea market didn't yield any treasures, a stroll through the Second Use Warehouse did. 

Of course Mr. Chocolate looked at the two cabinet doors and me like we were nuts. I'm used to it. He now loves the tray I made from one of the doors. All for the cost of a $5 donation to Habitat for Humanity. Two good things in one! 

This is what I started out with. I liked the panels and the way this door was framed. I mean I immediately saw a tray!  So I painted it with a white bisque acrylic paint. I didn't care about full coverage because I knew the look I was going for and it wouldn't matter. 

Back Side of Door

After my first coat was dry, I went over it with a coat of Espresso acrylic paint. Again, I didn't care that it was all streaky. In fact that was better. 

Then, using my tried and true glue crackle technique, I slathered on a thick coat of cheap white glue, let it dry until tacky, then went back over top with another coat of the Bisque White and watched the magic crackle process happen. 

Crackle Step 1 : Cover With Glue

One of my New Year's resolutions was to use things in my stash that I hadn't because I was hanging on to them for some irrational reason. So I pulled out a stencil that I'd never used and added some leaves using  Martha Stewart acrylic paint: Grey Wolf: 

To finish, I added a pair of door handles I picked up at Target ( the screws weren't long enough for the thickness of the door so I just glued on using extra strong glue) . 

The cup is one I painted at a paint your own pottery place. 

Not so crazy now am I Mr. Chocolate?