Pinterest Challenge - Tray

It's time for another Pinterest Challenge hosted by Bower Power and Young House Love! I decided it was a good time to finish up a project I'd stalled out on awhile ago based on some pretty pictures I found on Pinterest.

Source: designspongeonline.com via Kristen @ LoveK on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Kristen @ LoveK on Pinterest

Remember a very long time ago when I showed you some items I scored at Goodwill? Well, I finally got around to working on this super gorgeous tray that I picked up.

I actually started working on it months ago. I tried to paint it the lazy way and just went at it with a can of spray paint. That didn't work out so well. The coverage was crappy and I could tell it was going to take a little more effort.

I let the tray sit in the garage for a few months because I was too lazy to sand the tray down and start over. Once I finally got around to it I used a little sample of Valspar paint in the color "Cut Ruby" to repaint the tray. I think it took three coats of paint to get good coverage.

Next step was trying to figure out how to jazz the tray up a little bit. I didn't want it to be too crazy since it's already red and going to be sitting on the coffee table in our living room. I decided to put a little monogram in the center using some scrapbook paper. Loren helped me get things lined up, I did a test print on white paper, then finally went for the gold on the scrapbook sheet.

I couldn't find an exacto knife so I just cut the design out using scissors and tried to be careful. After I was done cutting I busted out the Modge Podge and stuck the paper down right in the center of the tray.

Once the Modge Podge was dry I did spray the entire tray with a layer of clear coat to protect everything but I didn't get a picture. Sort of hard to take a picture of clear spray anyways! :) Here's the finished product on the coffee table:

I already loaded the tray up with some goodies that are normally scattered all over the coffee table. Lots of magazines (I have a subscription problem), the all important TV remote, and some coasters; I think it looks so much neater now that everything is corralled into one spot.

So that's the tale of my Goodwill tray. I'm happy to say that I'm finally done with it. Such a simple thing turned into a super long project. Anyone else ever have that problem? Or have you been completing any Pinterest inspired projects? Let me know in the comments! :)