Antiqe Distress White Wooden Tray {Shabby Chic} - DIY

Looking around in our living room, I realized that I need to put a wooden tray on the glass coffee table. I have about 4 glass jars filled with shells and other trinkets that I have collected and they are sits on the glass table top right now. I immediately think it needs something made out of 'wood' just to give balance between the  coffee table top glass and the glass jars on top and break the two glass elements  by putting a 'wooden tray'. I can only think to try to do it myself; it only needs a cut to size ply wood which I can get from Home Depot and mouldings for the border of the tray and I know they are available at Michaels. I was not sure if it is going to work but after explaining the whole nine yards to my lovely hubby he agreed to help and do it together. I must say that I am happy with the result the only thing is that it needs a little larger.

The shabby chic looking tray can also be used to put perfume bottles.

And is pretty to put jewelries.

What you need;

* Ply wood cut to the desired size. {You can get a better quality wood in Michaels; I saw similar wood over there but it is a little more costly} Mine came from Home Depot.

* Skinny mouldings {measures all of the 4 sides of your tray to determine how many mouldings you need. It is available in Michaels.

* Super Glue; mine is Loctite Super Glue Liquid.

* Hand saw (belongs to my husband)

* Wicker White Folk Art Acrylic Paint

* Raw Umber or Burnt Umber Folk Art Acrylic Paint

* 2 Foam brushes

* Plastic container for paint.

Step by step;

1. Cut to size your ply wood for the base of tray.

2. Glue 2  of skinny mouldings. Place them mirror image or back to back to make it long one moulding.

3. Next cut them to the size of 4 sides of your tray. Remember to cut each corner in 90 degree angle so each corner will fit two mouldings together.

4. Once you finished making the 4 sides of mouldings; next glue the 4 sides of mouldings on the tray. Without the right cutting tool; the angle will not be perfect. I did not have the right tool to make a perfect angle but it is still good enough and the gap can filled with a wood filler.

4. After the glue and the wood filler dries; using foam brush  paint 2 coats the entire tray including inside and the outer side mouldings with burnt umber. You can use Folk Art brand {I happened to have an artist acrylic paint}

5. When it dries {about 1 hour or you can use hair dryer to speed up the process} squeeze the white paint on the plastic container {be sure the plastic container is clean from any paint before and I suggest using a new foam brush for the next step.} Take the foam brush and deep in to the white paint {do not dilute it with water and the brush has to be dried} start paint with one gentle stroke from left to right. When the paint seems does not comes out; deep the brush on to the paint and repeat the process again. You will see a streak of white paint start to form. Again do not go back and forth as it will scrape the bottom layer of paint and can cause the paint to mix. You do not want them to mix; you want the first layer to only appear slightly. Do it as many strokes as you want until you get the right result. {see below picture}

Note: I forget to take picture of the actual tray when painting it so I demonstrated the above illustration with another piece of plywood.

6. As for the outer part of the moulding tray; just sweep with one stroke on the entire moulding from one side to another. Do not press hard as you want to see the pattern and be able to see the first layer of the burnt umber paint through the white paint.

Thank you for stopping by !