Boho Chic Wooden Tray
7 Materials
$20
2 Hours
Easy
I found this awesome wooden tray at an estate sale and snatched it up immediately! What's really cool about this particular tray is the large size. I also love the curvy sides. I thought this would be the perfect piece to use a new transfer that I've been dying to use. I hope you like it!
The finish was pretty rough and flakey so I gave the entire piece a good sanding with a sanding sponge.
The corner joints were a little loose so I put some wood glue in the joints and used a frame clamp to hold the joint tight while the glue dried. These are super handy for pieces like this and a lot lighter and less bulky than the big bar clamps I usually use.
I decided on a beautiful light purple color from American Paint Company called Lilac Mist.
If you've seen any of my work before, you know I LOVE my fine mister spray bottle. I use this to help the paint go on a little thinner which helps give a smoother finish with less brush strokes. Using this method, I gave the entire piece 3 coats of paint being sure to let each coat dry in between.
I decided where I wanted to place my transfer and used some business cards to keep it spaced evenly from the top. I just lined up the center by eye using the middle curve of the tray for reference. If you're working with a larger transfer you can use a delicate painter's tape to hold it in place but that wasn't necessary for this piece.
I have read that you should wait 24 hours for the paint to "cure" before applying the transfer but I only waited about an hour or so. I have also heard that some people like to seal their piece before applying their transfer but I don't do that either. This method worked well for me in the past so this is what I personally do. Applying the transfer is super easy and just takes a little pressure using the wooden transfer tool that comes with it. You simply rub the entire piece and then slowly lift the plastic film making sure nothing is still stuck to the film.
If you see that some of the design didn't transfer properly, simply lay the film back down and rub that area with the transfer tool again.
Next, I lightly distressed the tray with my sanding sponge and then added some gold metallic patina.
The last step was to apply the sealer. I chose semi gloss Polycrylic and applied 3 coats. I want it to be fairly durable since it will be used for serving. I prefer the spray because it's quick, convenient and doesn't leave brush strokes.
All done!! I hope this will inspire you to make over a piece of your own or even use a transfer! For some reason I was super intimidated to use one when I did it for the first time last year but I can honestly say they are very user friendly and so much fun! If you liked this makeover please check out all of my other stuff on Instagram! (Linked below 😊)
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2 of 4 comments
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Cccuuuttteee!
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Brilliant idea! I have a beautiful Mandala stencil that would be perfect. A little more work, but hey I think it would turn out great@
Frequently asked questions
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Where did you get the transfer
is that just an ordinary spray/mister bottle ??