Farmhouse Style DIY Project | Thrift Store Decor

Fun Farmhouse Style DIY Serving Tray

You guys remember that $2 serving tray I bought at the big yard sale? I painted and stenciled it up. The farmhouse style diy serving tray is pretty enough to hang on the wall.

Farmhouse Style DIY Serving Tray

I did hang it on the wall. Actually I hung it on one of the cool doors I use to stage photos…..just so I could get this photo.

Today is Thrift Store Decor Makeover Day and my thrifty friends have some really fun projects for us. Links to all of the projects are after the serving tray tutorial.

If you missed the $2 tray on Monday here it is.

First thing I did was paint the tray white. I left the metal part unpainted…..except where I got a bit of white on the metal…..maybe more than a bit. But that’s okay because it works. Looks like a little dry brushing.

Next I went on the hunt for a stencil. I found this never before used stencil in my stash. The size was perfect for the tray if I left off the top “kitchen” part. The design also looked like it would fit my farmhouse style theme for this project.

Stencil Instructions:

1. Select your paint colors

I selected 3 colors of gray paint for the wording; a dark gray, a light gray, and a metallic silver. You can keep your stencil design from looking flat when you use multiple colors and layer them on the stencil. I poured a small bit of each paint onto a piece of cardboard  (free paint palette).

2.  Place the stencil.

I taped the bottom edge of the stencil to the metal frame of the tray. I also taped the lower half of the stencil on each side. Since the stencil was large and I was only using part of it, the top of the stencil couldn’t be taped down. Sometimes I cut my stencils up but I didn’t want to cut this one. When I started stenciling the “Bakery” word I held the stencil in place with my free hand.

3. Load the stencil brush with paint.

I dipped the brush into the dark gray stencil then dabbed most of the paint off of the brush. You can read my “How to Stencil” instructions here.  The secret to stenciling is a very, very, dry stencil brush. No big blobs of paint and perfect stenciling.

4. Begin Stenciling.

There are many ways to apply the paints using a stencil brush which I prefer over the sponge thingies. For this project I dabbed the paint onto the design. Sometimes I use a swirling motion but I hardly every pounce.

5. Stencil the complete design.

I stenciled the entire design with the dark gray color before adding the shading using the other two colors.

6. Check your work.

I always check my design through the process to see if the paint is dark enough and if I covered all the areas I needed to. The corners and edges of numbers and letters are often missed. You can see in photo 6 that the design is not covered completely with paint. Adds character and depth.

7. Add more colors.

The paint dries really fast and you can usually add the second and third colors as soon as you are finished with the previous color. I used the lightest gray and dabbed paint on the stencil kind of willy nilly not covering the dark gray completely. Next I added the metallic silver color using the same process.

Once you are happy with the painted design (remember you can carefully lift the edges of your stencil to see how things are looking) remove the stencil and wash it and the brush with soap and water or a cleaning agent like Simple Green.

Step 8 shows where I very lightly distressed the whole surface of the painted tray using flexible sandpaper. In step 9 I brushed on two coats of Matte Mod Podge to protect the paint. All Done!

The tray can be used as a serving tray or as wall décor….or both. The project took about an hour. I’m always amazed at how easy and quick it is to transform a thrifty find….or stuff around the house that needs updating. I have a lot of that.

I like the tray as wall décor. It will be heading to my booth at the shop. The price will be very reasonable…..maybe $9-$12. The shop owner gets 10% of every sale, plus booth rent each month.

Farmhouse Style DIY Serving Tray

What do you guys think of the tray? Hang it on the wall or use it?

Time to see what my thrifty friends have for us today. Just click the pink text links below the “before” makeover photo collage.

Iron Look Lamp Makeover from Our Southern Home

Stained Apple Basket from Domestically Speaking

Repurposed Oil Can Pumpkin from House Hawthornes

Farmhouse Style Serving Tray from Petticoat Junktion (you are here)

Halloween Haunted House Decor from Sadie Seasongoods

Repurposed Shutter Magazine Rack from My Repurposed Life

As always thanks for being here and have a great day, Kathy