Upcycled Thrift Store Tray

It’s that time again! I’ve paired up today with 19 other talented ladies to bring you a monthly Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Challenge. Each month we will create a new home decor piece from an item(s) we’ve found at a thrift store, yard sale, resale shop etc. There is no budget or specific theme so we are free to let our creativity run wild! This month I’m bringing you this beautiful upcycled thrift store tray. You can check out last month’s challenge where I made this Bathroom Organizer as well as see everyone else’s awesome upcycles.

Meet the Hosts

Thrift Store DecorUpcycle Challenge

Amanda | The Kolb Corner      Chelc| Inside the Fox Den
Erlene | My Pinterventures     Kim | Made in a Day     Sara | Twelve on Main
Debra | Shoppe No. 5      Shirley | Intelligent Domestications
Marie | DIY Adulation     Lindsay | Crazy Organized   Michelle | Our Crafty Mom
Julie | Live From Julie’s House     Dru | Polka Dot Poplars
Maureen | Red Cottage Chronicles     Pili | Sweet Things     Channell | Hobnail House
Colleen | Life on Kaydeross Creek     Ann | Duct Tape and Denim
Paula | Virginia Sweet Pea     Sherry | Savvy Apron     Stacy | Anastasia Vintage

You can also follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!


 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

 

[bctt tweet=”A beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or for parties! #upcycled #diy” username=”diyadulation”]

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Materials

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Step 1

Paint your entire tray with white latex paint.

Tip:

  • Because of the material of mine, I didn’t sand or prime it first. If you are using a tray made of a harder wood or one that is lacquered, you will want to do this first.

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Step 2

Once your paint is dry, use your tray to measure out your contact paper. Remember that you want to make it smaller than the footprint of your tray so that it will fit on the inside of the tray.

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Step 3

Pull back the edge of the backing on your contact paper (but do not completely remove it) and press the exposed edge of the paper to the inside of your tray. Smooth the rest onto your tray by peeling the backing off a little at a time and smoothing into place.

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Step 4

Seal the bottom of your tray with Mod Podge.

Note:

  • I used the gloss version on this but it you are going for a different style, you may want to use Matte instead. It simply depends on your tastes.

Step 5

Using fine grit sandpaper, lightly sand the corners, edges, and sides of your tray to give it a distressed look.

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Step 6

Drill 2 holes on either side of the tray roughly 3 inches apart. Make sure that the drill bit you choose makes a hole big enough for your rope to fit through.

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Step 7

Thread your rope through the holes and knot each end.

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Step 8

Trim off any excess at the end on the knots.

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

This upcycled thrift store tray turned out so much different than I expected but in the best way possible. There’s a really good chance that my family members are getting decorative trays for Christmas because I want to make more so bad! Before you go, don’t miss the projects from my fellow bloggers below. You can also find previous months’ hops on our Recycled Crafts page.


 

Be sure to check out all of the other creative upcycle projects my fellow bloggers have come up with!