Thrift store tray make over

I found a really neat wooden tray a few weeks ago at the Good Will.  Here she is in her before state.  Not terrible, but definitely room for improvement!  I took this photo after I had taken the metal handles off. I really like the scalloped edge, and thought she had potential, though at the time I wasn't sure what I would do with her.  Whenever that's the case, I head on over to the Graphics Fairy
for some inspiration!  I found this really neat copy of a vintage French label, and I thought the shape and the color would be perfect!  After giving the tray a bath, I then primed her and gave her two coats of American Accents spray paint in aqua.  I am loving this color!  I have already used up the entire can on several projects!  Ahhh!  Better already!  I then distressed her a bit with sandpaper, and added some cute little polka dots along the edge to help accent her curvyness.  I used a special tool made just for painting polka dots.  Wanna see it?

 
Ta da!  A pencil eraser makes perfect polka dots! I just dipped it into a bit of cream craft paint.  After the dots dried, I used Ralph Lauren antiquing glaze in "smoke".  Just wipe or brush it on, and wipe it off.  Whenever I use it, I always think of the old "Karate Kid" movie:  "wax on, wax off"!!  Silly, I know.........     Then I was ready to decoupage.  I wanted an aged look and didn't want the label to look so white, so I used a sepia toned decoupage medium.  Well, it was just alot darker than I wanted, so I mixed just a bit with regular Mod Podge til I got the look I was going for.  I gave her several coats, letting dry between each.  Oh, I almost forgot one step.  I had read somewhere that to avoid bubbles in your paper when decoupaging, first spray with an acrylic sealer.  I did this & let it dry before I decoupaged it to the tray.  Still not sure if it made any difference!

I then spray painted the metal handles a flat black, and once they were dry, I used some Rub N Buff in "antique gold" to give them some character.

Here she is!  I am really happy with how she turned out!  I sold her in my Etsy shop, and I hope the new owner will really enjoy it.  I had lots of fun making it, and now I want to find some more trays to give a face lift to!                    
I am linking up with Trash to Treasure over at Reinvented as well as Beyond the Picket Fence Under $100 Party.