Decoupaged tray with photos
Two words: Mod Podge
Mod Podge miracle
This little project is a simple, inexpensive idea to be used in your own home or as a gift. The tray pictured is on my own kitchen counter, but I actually made one for each of my four siblings and their families.
Since my family is a bit large for full-blown Christmas shopping, my siblings and I decided a few years ago to quit buying gifts for each other, spouses, and grown children. However, we do still send each other a little something, usually–wine, pictures, cookies, wine…You get the idea. You can’t go wrong with the wine thing, but I wanted to do something a bit different.
I bought a bunch of these simple, golden trays at Old Time Pottery. I believe they were $7 each. After finding the trays, all I had to do was gather pictures of each, individual family, arrange them in some pleasing sort of way, and go to town with the Mod Podge. This decoupage medium acts as a glue and sealer. This whole bottle cost $6 and contains enough Mod Podge to glue and seal a small house. Add a $.39 foam brush, and you are set to go.
First, clean the tray and arrange pictures, postcards, dried flowers, pretty paper, etc. on your tray. Overlapping is fine and adds a nice touch, as long as the objects do not become too bulky. I decided to only use pictures, with no other embellishments but later wished I had added more. Just because I like more.
Next, carefully coat the back of each picture or object with a coat of Mod Podge. You will want to cover the entire surface of the back of the object. Place objects back on the tray, one by one in desired format, working from bottom layer out.
Allow objects to dry for a few minutes. Then, coat the entire surface with a generous, but not too thick, coat of Mod Podge. (It goes on milky but dries clear.) Let dry several minutes. Depending upon how the tray (in this case) will be used, add additional coats, to protect the surface. These trays have three coats of the medium.
Don’t get stuck on the tray idea. Make a memory box, plaque, plate, shelf, table top, etc. Use your own creativity to make something unique–for yourself or for someone else!
Forgive the flash!
