Jacquie's Up-Cycle Nation: Party Tray

This Holiday Season the tray is back as an entertainment must have! 

Mixing vintage ephemera and 1970's practicality, the tray is the "it" item.  One can spend upwards of $50-100 for a new quality tray.  But here I will show you how an ugly vintage tray can become your custom conversation piece in less than 2 hours for under $10.

I scored this wooden tray at Goodwill for $4. Despite the outdated motif, the tray is quality wood, sturdy, and close to the color of the new trays hitting the holiday shelves.



 

The necessary supplies are at the center of every crafter's closet:

Mod Podge, paint brush, sandpaper, black paint, and scrapbook paper.  Using a home printer, add your favorite clip art or images to the paper.

 Begin by sanding the entire tray to remove the varnish layer.  Be certain to sand in the direction of the wood grain.  Add extra pressure to edges for a distressed look.  Wipe off sanding debris with a damp cloth.

To age and darken the tray, mix 1 teaspoon of black acrylic paint with three teaspoons of water.  Brush on the black wash, going with the grain.  Wipe off excess with a dry rag. 

Once the black wash is dry, apply Mod-Podge to the tray bed and adhere the scrapbook paper. Smooth out any air pockets immediately.  After the first layer is dry, apply a second layer of Mod-Podge.  Have fun with the brush strokes to create a patterned sheen. Apply a third layer of Mod-Podge once the second layer is dry.

To further protect the tray design, apply a clear matte polyurethane stain.

 

 

Trays provide a the perfect party cart for wine glasses, snacks, candles or to create a table centerpiece.  The Holidays call for parties- so make sure you're trays are festive and ready for fun! 

 

LOVE & UPCYCLE NATION!

Jacquie Wheeler

Hand of Bela Peck

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Blog Party Sunday -- Show Off Your Handmades

Welcome to our Blog Party Sunday. We would love to have you show us what you are crafting.

You are allowed to add 3 links to your shops or your blog each week.

The rules are simple:
1. Follow our blog
2. Handmade items only.
3. You may list up to 3 items each week.
4. Family friendly items only.

The success of this link party depends on the participants so spread the word to your friends, visit the shops, post about it on your blog, in a forum or on your favorite social networking site, grab the button and put it on your blog or website.
Just click on the Add Your Link button below and add your items.
And if you would like to add a link to the party you can grab this button below.

<a href="http://www.byyourhands.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy110/ByYourHands/blogparty.jpg">, </a>

Giveaway Reminder

In case you missed it,  you have until September 27, 2013 to sign up for a chance to win this wonderful Market Tote that will also make a great travel holder your Kindle,  Nook or Mini Ipad  from Bette at http://www.handmadebybette.com

Go here,  http://byyourhands.blogspot.com/2013/09/its-time-for-another-giveaway.html,   to leave a comment for a chance to win this great bag.

Would you like to sponsor a giveaway? Are you interested in promoting your store or blog. If so, just email us.

We would be happy to send you the details. byyourhandsblog@gmail.com

Today's Featured Shop -- Homemade Scents

Today's featured shop is Homemade Scents.    Michelle has a nice selection of candles and bakery tarts  in her shop to scent your home or for gifts.

PUMPKIN VANILLA CREAM Scented Primitive Halloween Witch Canning Jar Candle

BUTTERY GINGERBREAD Primitive Grubby Holiday Cupcake Scented Wax Tarts Melts- Bowl Fillers

3 Highly Scented - Happy Halloween Witch Votive Decor Candles - Candy Corn, Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin & Apple Maple Bourbon

Primitive Iced CINNAMON BUN Roll Candle, Pan & Rose Hips YUMMY

Be sure and visit Michelle's shop to see all she has to offer.   https://www.etsy.com/shop/HomemadeScents

Witches Stitches – Sheep with Pictures

Last week I posted an idea for making antique looking sheep. I had requests for pictures so I am reposting with pictures.  I am not the best when it comes to photography, but I tried my best.  I am also going to try to insert them where they belong, but if I don’t get them in the right sot, sorry ahead of time. I am sure my 5 year old grandson is more tech savvy than I am.

The holidays are right around the corner and one of the things I enjoy decorating with is anything that looks antique.  I like the prints that are out there that are from the late 1800’s. I especially like sheep.  You can use any animal or item you like, I just like using an image of sheep. I have several small bottle brush trees that I like to put in a display and I like having a few sheep with them. The ones I made are very easy and look like they are 100 years old. Of course I only have one to show you. The others I made in the past are at my daughter’s home.  Before you print your sheep, you can dye some fabric with walnut ink crystals, this will give your fabric an older look. After you dye it make sure you iron it well so it will go through the printer, you can buy the walnut ink crystals on etsy or ebay.

All you have to do is print an image of a sheep onto cotton fabric. The process is very easy. Cut a piece of fabric and a piece of freezer paper the same size as a standard piece of printer paper. Then iron the freezer paper onto the fabric. Now you can feed this through the printer and print whatever you choose onto your fabric. I choose an antique image of a sheep and the word sheep to cover the back slit. .  After I have done this I peel the freezer paper off the back of my sheep image.

 

 

I then sew around the image with a backing piece of the same fabric. I cut around the image. Then cut a slit in the back. This you will cover with your word “sheep” after you are done stuffing it. Make a box pleat in the bottom of the sheep.

 

 

. I can now stuff the piece with sawdust.  After I do this I sew the slit closed and stitch the word over it.  Now sew your box pleat down flat. I now have a fabric sheep that looks great with my antique holiday display. You can make these sheep any size up to 8” x 11”. Make 3, making one larger than the rest. This then looks like a sheep and 2 lambs.  The more you make and sit together the better it looks. I show one in the picture but 3or more always look good.

 

These look very good at the base of an old feather tree. You can add a hanging string loop to the top and use them as an ornament. Add a ribbon to the neck and a tiny bell, the ideas are endless. As I said you can use any image you want. By stuffing it with sawdust, gives it an antique feel and makes it weighted enough to stand on its own.  If you are going to hang them you can just stuff your sheep with fiberfill.

As always if you have any questions please give me a shout. Have a great day.

Faith