Turning a Small Wood Crate into a Cute Petite Serving Tray

Hi everyone!

Today I wanted to share with you one of my latest creations, a project that I completed for DecoArt.

As a designer for DecoArt, they submitted a challenge for those of us who wanted to participate.

The challenge was a "mystery box". Everyone would receive the same exact supplies,

but it was totally up to us to decide what to do with them!  It was a "mystery", as we had no idea just what they would be sending us!

Of course I find it hard to turn down DecoArt projects;

(disclosure:  I do receive compensation and products for participating.  The opinions I share are totally my own.)

The opportunity to create and do what I love is just too irresistible!

But, I was afraid that maybe I had bitten off more than I could chew, with our upcoming move.  Well, the project ended up turning into a blessing in disguise, what with our moving fiasco.

Not only did it help take my mind off from things, but I had fun in the process!

I will show you a peek of the finished piece, then share with you what items I had to work with!

I guess you could say my theme was

cute, cottagey and colorful!

 Ok, so here is what was in the mystery box............

 This small shadow box like wooden crate, and the acrylic paint that you see below, as well as decoupage medium.

It was totally up to us what to create, we were given free reign, we just had to use all of the supplies in the box.  Now those are the kinds of projects that I love!

We could use additional items or supplies.

 When I am waiting for inspiration to strike,what works for me is to just look at an item or supplies for a little while, and usually an idea will come.  The first thought was a cute little serving tray!

I just love trays, and have created many over the years, so I could hardly wait to begin.

So, off to the craft store I went, and came home with this pretty pair of iron drawer pulls, some small wooden dowel finial covers (that would become "feet" for the tray), pretty scrapbooking paper......

 and piece of clear glass, which I had cut at my local lumber yard.

 I really wanted to keep the handles their original color of aqua (love aqua!!), but decided to paint them black and distress to show a bit of the aqua below.

I then painted the cute little feet this bright and cheery green.

 I was more than happy to see they included this beautiful shade of aquamarine in the box,so I painted the underside and outside of the box in that.

 Since the pink paint in the mystery box was much brighter of a look than I was going for, I mixed it with the white paint, til I achieved this pretty light pink.

 Then after a bit of distressing around the edges, I began the fun part: decoupaging!

 I found the neatest scrapbooking paper that looks like a distressed barnwood with gorgeous roses, in pinks and aquas.  Perfect!

I cut the strips just a bit narrower than each slat, to fit the inside bottom, and around the outer sides as well.

 I loved mixing the patterns for a coordinating but not "matchy-matchy" look!

 Then I glued the cute little feet to the bottom at each corner.

 I placed the glass inside, added the handles (handy hubby drilled the holes for me), and, viola!!

 A cute, cottagey colorful petite serving tray!

 I think the tray also would be cute in a bathroom to attractively store pretty bottles of lotion, shower gel, etc.

 Or it could be used on a dresser in a bedroom to corral jewelry, photos, and display mementos.

I hope my tray project has helped you to see outside of the mystery box!

Thanks so much for your visit, have a great week!