Butler's Tray

Here is a quick project I found to do after shopping my own inventory.  I didn't even have to leave the house for this one.

This is a very large tray that was black when I bought it at the flea market.  I sprayed it with Rustoleum Canyon Black to freshen it up.  Now I had a blank slate to work with.  I used one of my grainsack stencils from Maison de Stencils.  This is the same stencil I used on the French Book Cart.  However, the entire stencil would not fit on the tray so I improvised by using two other inexpensive alphabet stencils I purchased at the craft store a while back.  For the corners I used an Anna Griffin embossing stencil.   Then I used painters tape to do my border lines.  Now let me tell you.  I have painted many a piece of furniture and then taken mailing tape to the piece and tried to achieve this same look.  You know how sticky mailing tape is.  The painters tape lifted not only my paint but the layer beneath it revealing a goldish color. 

 So I decided this was meant to be and I took more tape and lifted off more black paint.  Not it's a shabby black tray.  I'll seal it with a clear coat, but if it happens to chip more, it will fit right in with the look it already has.

 I did the lettering and stenciling with ivory acrylic paint and then went back over it with gleam gold.  That's also an acrylic paint you can find in the craft paints.  I had this little stand I found a long time ago and the two are a match made in heaven.  Now if you like a more refined look without the chippiness, check out the french book cart here.  It had a much more pristine look.  That was one of my favorite pieces and it sold immediately.

Hope you're getting your projects ready for the upcoming Hot Summer Fun link party.  It starts a week from today.

I'm partying at...


Mondays          Le Chateau des Fleurs        The Graphics Fairy     Between Naps on the Porch
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage    A Stroll Thru Life
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style         Ivy and Elephants        Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild      
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday    Fishtail Cottage
                                     Rustic Restorations Homespun Happenings
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity   Rooted in Thyme
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors

Sundays           It's Overflowing