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Easy DIY Spray Paint Tray Makeover

Lately I’ve been yard saling my little heart out – and lately I’ve also been tackling a lot of one dollar makeovers!  It started with the $1.00 railing makeover, then yesterday’s $1.00 necklace-to-key-chain project and today . . . you guessed it . . . a $1.00 tray re-furbish.  I found this tray at a church rummage sale and loved the shape but not the ugly shiny blue with the shiny gold and the odd little red rubber feet.

After I spray painted our knife block with Krylon chalkboard spray paint, we forgot to store it inside for the winter (along with the remnants of a couple other cans).  While the Tremclad spray paint cans bit the dust, the Krylon seemed fine so I thought I’d experiment on the tray.  I’d rather use the paint than waste it, but was hesitant about using it on something “good”.  Happily, the little tray was a success!

 

 

We’re using the newly-cute tray in the hall, on the useless table, but I haven’t actually finished the chalkboard process (rubbing it with the side of chalk and wiping it off).  While I think it would be a great place to write reminders we’d see before leaving the house (“take the garbage out”), Hubby thinks we’ll just coat our stuff with chalk dust.  I think he might be right because, although no one ever mentions how dusty chalk is, it sure does create a mess.  I don’t doodle as much as I thought I would on the knife block for this reason.  But I have the option.  Chalkboard or not, I love the matte black look.

For now, it’s cute in matte black and the little rubber feet look cute, not weird.  They actually connect the red accents from the kitchen and I love the punch of black in the hallway.  Another $1.00 well spent!

I have found the Krylon chalkboard paint to be durable: no scuffs or dings.  It creates a “tough, slate-like surface” so I didn’t prime first.  I’ll let you know how it stands up to wear and tear.  But I can say, after 9 months, the knife block (despite being stabbed repeatedly when I miss the slots, and being washed often because I am a neat-freak) looks exactly like it did when I first painted.  NO wear!

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13 Comments

  1. Dana@Mid2Mod
    May 17, 2012 / 12:40 pm

    Very cute! The little red feet are adorable.

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      May 17, 2012 / 1:39 pm

      Thanks Dana! A little secret: even though I removed them, I set them beside another project, so one foot has a tiny splash of silver paint. Oops. I turned it to face inward and no one but me (and now you) will be the wiser.

  2. Staci @ My Friend Staci
    May 17, 2012 / 1:28 pm

    Love it! Perhaps you could get the chalk markers like they use a delis and cafes? They create a chalk-like effect but have to be washed off with water. I rarely used my chalkboard (http://myfriendstaci.com/2011/02/11/laundry-list/) for the same reason. Next time I make the attempt, I think I'm gonna pick up one of those markers and see if it makes me more inclined to update my notes-to self!

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      May 17, 2012 / 1:38 pm

      You're genius! I had never thought of that!! What a fabulous idea. THANKS! P.S. Your chalkboard looks great, what a fabulous place to put one.

  3. The A and B Stories
    May 17, 2012 / 6:02 pm

    LOVE this! Just found your blog and it's so great! I'll be taking a look at your other DIY's for sure!

  4. Shauna@Satori Design for Living
    May 17, 2012 / 7:55 pm

    Great idea. I love that brand of chalkboard paint too!

  5. Adding the finishing touch
    May 17, 2012 / 9:10 pm

    I love it! Great idea. I want to make a chalkboard cheese board, I just need to get around to doing it.

  6. Angie@Echoes of Laughter
    May 20, 2012 / 10:58 pm

    Love this project Tanya! The tray looks stunning in black! Happy long weekend! Angie xo

  7. Lesley at Fabulously Flawed
    May 21, 2012 / 3:45 pm

    I love chalkboard paint for project like this! It's very durable and can be used for anything that you want to paint black. And the little red feet and just adorable!

  8. Laura
    May 21, 2012 / 10:05 pm

    This looks great in black! Amazing the difference it made!

  9. Lesley at Fabulously Flawed
    May 24, 2012 / 2:33 pm

    Featured! ♥

  10. Shannon
    May 27, 2012 / 10:16 pm

    I have this tray in all gold…looks great black!!!

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      May 28, 2012 / 12:00 pm

      You and I have an eery number of the same, unusual things. Like the painting from the same artist in Paris. Now this tray. Cue the creepy music . . .

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