Working Art

Don’t you love it when a project just happens and you didn’t really plan it?  Well, that’s exactly what happened to me.  The stars lined up, and a project was born.

 

When I was visiting Jordan last October, I bought this tray at a thrift shop for $1.50.  We were putting together a Trick or Tea blog post using Martha Stewart products, and we needed a tray.

 

So that it would go along with our Halloween theme, I painted the rim of the tray black.  We then just temporarily layered some decoupage paper on top of it. Unfortunately, I did a messy job, but we knew the edges would be hidden.

 

The last time you saw it, this is what it looked like.

 

Fast forward three months…….I was in my craft room doing after Christmas organizing, and I came across the tray and also a print that I bought probably 20 years ago.  It is a French street scene by artist Michel Delacroix.  I really liked the print. It still had been rolled up in its tube and was still with us after several moves.  I just never bothered to get it framed.

 

 

I put my creative hat on and decided the two could be combined into something useful.  The print was too large for the tray, and so, I cut the edges to make it small enough.  I used scissors, and the cut wasn’t even.  Then I decoupaged it onto the tray.  I thought it would be a great way to get some good use out of the tray and be able to enjoy the print.

 

In order to disguise the uneven edges, I smudged some black acrylic paint all the way around.  It looks weird in the photos, but in person it looks fine.  I also sprayed on some acrylic sealer before putting it to use.  I knew that would give the tray one more layer of protection from any spills.

 

 

 

I decided I have three way to enjoy the art and the tray.  I can simply prop it up in a little kitchen counter-top vignette.

 

I can place it on a plate holder in a completely different kitchen vignette.

 

And I can actually use it like when I’m having my afternoon cup of tea.  It is now a tray and a print that have a purpose.  I’m so glad I rethought both items and saved them from the Goodwill pile I am creating from my organizing.  And by the way, if you like what I did to this tray, you might also like this one.

 

Take care.

 

Linking to Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday