Happy Friday, friends. If you read my post from yesterday, you know how happy I am that it is finally Friday. TGIF.
I have a really fun post for you today. Last night while I was taking a break from studying, I decided to do a little DIY project. I have been meaning to make a vanity tray for some time and I finally made it happen.
1 lucite box frame- size of your choice, I used 8.5 x 11" ($5.99)
an exacto knife and/or paper cutter (I used both) ($2-3)
a pencil
a thin marker/pen
spray adhesive ($4.99)
Polyurethane Spray ($7.99)
1 piece of glitter scrapbook paper, 12 x 12" ($1.99)
spray paint (optional) ($3.99)
Total cost of supplies: $27.00
Okay, that seems really expensive if you have to buy all these items at once. I have a pretty large stock of craft supplies so I had most of these items already and I use them on various projects all the time.
My cost of supplies: $4.50 because I used a Hobby Lobby coupon!
*All of these items can be found at your local craft store, except for polyurethane spray, which can be found at your local hardware store. I actually had all of these items already except for the glitter paper and the actual box tray.
When I went to Hobby Lobby this week, I had no idea how I was going to do this. I had somewhat of a vision with the clear tray, but that was about it. I spent about an hour at the store, I filled my basket with a bunch of supplies to decorate the tray, and then I ended up putting back a bunch of items before I checked out! Once I started thinking of ideas, I couldn't stop! I still have like five more ideas for some cute trays!
In good time, in good time.
You can never have too many trays. And they make great gifts! I thought that making the tray's surface glittery would be a great way to go. I debated using actual glitter, glitter paint, and I spent a good chunk of time on the paper isle. This glitter paper is indeed scrapbook paper, but it is the really thick kind. There was so much to choose from, but I loved how chunky and bright this paper was.
Sidenote: I planned to spray paint the sides of the tray gold, but when I got home I realized that I had used the entire can on a previous project. Oops. I still like the way it turned out, though.
If you're wondering, these 'tray's are actually picture frames. Or I like to call them 90s shadows boxes because my house used to be filled with these things. When you open them there is a cardboard box on the inside, that would be used to hang said shadow box/ pictures. Just take this out, it isn't important. This is what the tray will look like once the box is taken out of it:
Steps:
1. Cut your paper. This is kind of time consuming because you want the glitter paper to fit perfectly in the tray so that it looks like it's all one piece. A pair of scissors won't do here.
I began by marking measurements on the paper, but I didn't feel like it was accurate, so I ended up just tracing the tray onto the back of the glitter paper with a pencil NOT A PEN!
After it was traced in pencil, I then traced the lines in marker, so that they were more visible. My paper cutter is 10" so this paper was too large to use the paper cutter. I used an exacto knife to cut parts of the paper and then when the became smaller, I used the paper cutter.
Note:
*Make sure you always cut the glitter paper on the BACK. If you try cutting it on the glitter side, it will be a mess and your paper will have rough edges.
*Make sure to put thick paper or old fabric underneath the paper when you cut it with the exacto knife! Otherwise you might cut the surface you are working on.
Once you get your glitter paper to the precise size it needs to be (it takes a few tries), you will use the adhesive spray. I chose to use this rather than any other type of glue or modge podge because it is so much neater at getting the job done. I didn't want to have to worry about using paint brushes, bubbling and wrinkling paper, or waiting for it to dry!
With the adhesive spray, you want to spray some lines on the back of the glitter paper in a very quick and neat manner. The thing about adhesive spray is once it gets on something, it is never coming off. And it dries very quickly.
*Spray onto the back of the paper NOT onto the tray. You don't want to chance getting residue onto the sides of the tray!
*Do not spray the paper liberally. A little goes a long way. I sprayed horizontal lines across the paper to make sure it had even coverage.
*This stuff dries QUICK. Act FAST!
As soon as you spray the adhesive, immediately put it onto the inside of the tray. Press down the paper with your fingers and it will stick. It dries in seconds and it sticks very well, so that is really all you have to do.
After it dries, spray on a coat or two of the polyurethane spray. This will give a clear coat over the glitter and give it a nice glossy finish.
*Do this in a very well venilated area or outside. It is very strong and has a lot of chemicals in it.
*Do not use around children or if you are pregnant.
Let it sit for 5-10 minutes and you are done!
Enjoy your lovely tray and dress it up with some accessories!
My bathroom always seems to be a mess, so I decided to use it to organize some of my cosmetics and jewelry.
There are so many ways you can use these trays and they make fantastic gifts!
I hope you enjoyed today's DIY post. Tune in next week for another DIY post and be on the watch for more DIY tray projects in the future!
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