Tray made from picture frame and vintage drawer handles.

picture-frame-tray

Materials:

  • one deep picture frame
  • two drawer pills
  • paint (base color, crackle glaze, lighter color for topcoat)
  • wallpaper or scrapbook paper

This tray is made from a picture frame and some old drawer pulls. I covered the bottom with some old wallpaper from a house I lived in as a child. My mom saved a roll of it  for sentimental reasons and has been carting it around for forty years. I decided if she loved it enough to hang onto it for that long I should do something with it. I remember the night she and my dad hung the wallpaper so I’m sure she will too when she sees it.

paint-frame1 after-paint-dries-apply-coat-of-crackle-medium paint-on-top-color

Step 1.

If you want a crackle finish you will need to apply a coat of paint that you want for the base coat. Let it dry then apply a coat of crackle glaze. Let it dry and then apply the color you’ve chosen for your top coat.

cut-a-thin-board-to-fit-inside-frame-or-use-frame-back-piece1

Step 2.

If your frame has a sturdy backing you can use that but if not you will need to cut one to fit from a thin piece of wood of fiber board. I get mine at Lowes but they sell it at any craft or lumber store.  Cut a piece of wallpaper or whatever you decide to use.  You can glue it on now or wait until you glue  the backing  inside the frame.


apply-a-thin-thread-of-glue-along-edge press-board-into-glue-covered-edge weigh-it-down-with-something-heavy-until-glue-dries

Step 3.

Apply glue to the edge of frame as shown.  Press your backing onto the glued edge and weigh it down with something heavy while it dries.

apply-a-coat-of-glue place-piece-of-wallpaper-onto-glue-covered-surface gold-trim-around-edge1

Step 4.

Apply glue to tray bottom and them press wallpaper onto the glue. Smooth it down and after it dries trim edges with a razor blade. I added some gold braid trim to the edge of mine because I wanted to bring out the gold in the wallpaper.

add-handles-to-both-sides-of-tray

Step 5.

Add drawer handles to both sides of tray.

About Elaine Kazinec

I have never met anyone who can't make wonderful things for their homes, friends, and family, only those who think they can't. The purpose of this blog is to show everyone how really simple most projects for the home are to make. When my husband and I bought our first home we were short on cash so I learned to be long on creativity. I have been told that I can make something wonderful out of nothing and that is true. You can too! Some of my favorite things are items that I found in someone's junk pile. I am going to show you how easy it really is. I hope you find the courage to jump in and attempt some of these projects. You will be amazed at how talented you really are.