Make Your Own Chevron Coffee Table Tray!

As I mentioned before, I'm in a bit of a blue phase. Unfortunately, it seems that the rest of the decorating world is not. I have an insanely difficult time finding blue accessories for my living room! (Maybe I should take that as a sign...) But not to be deterred, I've resorted to making my own blue accent pieces.

Several months back, I purchased this tray for $5 from a garage sale:

It was originally red, and I painted it orange. (I had some pillows of a similar color I wanted to match.) But when I realized the pillows didn't match my living room, I was left with a tray that didn't look right, either. 

After months of staring at it with disgust, I finally got around to redoing it. I had some leftover high-gloss royal blue paint from another project, which, on top of the orange (I was in no mood to prime), came out closer to navy. The high-gloss looks great, almost like a lacquered finish, which is all over the place these days.

For the middle of the tray, I bought some blue-and-white chevron scrapbooking paper. I wanted a pattern in the middle, but the size of my tray meant I'd have to buy a million sheets to achieve a seamless look if I chose something crazy like a floral. But chevron? It's just the same thing over and over and over again, making it super easy to match up and keep the flow of the pattern going. 

To apply the paper, I used high-gloss Mod-Podge, and to avoid wrinkles, applied the bottom layer first, pressed down the paper, and waited several minutes for it to dry. Then I applied the top layer of gloss. Of course, a few wrinkles/bubbles are pretty much unavoidable; I fixed these by poking a sewing needle into the bubble, then pressing out the air and applying a little more Mod-Podge. Voila, a classy-looking tray for about $10!

Quick & Easy Craft: Antique Key Necklace

I've been hitting up garage sales—or going garaging, as my grandma calls it—my entire life. As kids, if my sister and I spotted a flash of pink from the curb, we'd race each other to the sale, hoping to beat the other to the bin of Barbies. (We weren't allowed to run, so we raced across the lawn with this weird, straight-armed speed walk.) My competitive Barbie shopping days are over, but I still enjoy the thrill of the garage-sale hunt. I recently found a big box of antique keys, which, after a little bargaining, I snagged for $9.

The detailing on the keys is beautiful. There's a Master key with a lion engraved on the face, and several three-holed keys from Reading Hardware Company, founded here in Pennsylvania in 1851. Then there are the Russwin keys, featuring an intricate scroll pattern. I wanted to showcase my treasures, so I made them into a necklace. In keeping with the  hardware theme, I attached the keys to short piece of hammered chain. Then to soften the look (and give the necklace length, without lots of weight), I added knotted twine to either side. 

What you need
9 antique keys of varying sizes
9 split rings
4 eyeglasses connectors  (like this)
6-8 inches of chain 
4 feet of twine 
E-6000 glue 
Clasp  

Put it all together

1. Attach the keys to the chain, using the split rings as connectors. Start in the center of the chain, placing the largest key in the middle, then work your way out toward the edges. (I skipped one chain link between each key.)
2. Attach an eyeglasses connector to either end of the chain.
3. Cut the twine into two equal pieces. (You can trim the twine segments if you want the necklace to be shorter.) String them through the rubber loops of the eyeglasses connectors already attached to the chain. Then, tie a loose knot in the center of each double-stranded piece of twine. Make sure the knot falls in roughly the same place on both pieces.
4. String one loose end of each twine segment through the rubber portion of an eyeglasses connector. Then, use E-6000 glue to connect the loose ends of each piece of twine. (Allow to dry overnight.) Add a clasp, or simply use the metal hooks of each eyeglasses connector as a clasp.

Quick & Easy Craft: Tiered Teacup Dessert Tray

        

I'm embarrassed to admit that my flatware is cheap and pink-handled. Most of dishes are vintage thrift-store finds, and I don't own a single cloth napkin. In other words, I'm a sad excuse for a hostess. For years, I've used my kitchen skills as a crutch, convinced that presentation doesn't matter, as long as my food tastes delicious. But, recently, I took a long, hard look at my 1982 Bud Light insulated mug, and realized: It's time to ditch the dorm-room dishes. I started with big-girl tumblers, Williams Sonoma plates, and a trio of cake stands—but I still need a tiered serving stand for smaller desserts. So I decided to make one.


     Bite-size desserts—truffles, mini cheesecakes, cookies—have a playful quality that I wanted to capture in my serving stand. My inspiration: two Bailey's Irish Cream cups I found at a thrift store. The whimsical, winking faces have an Alice-in-Wonderland feel, which I complemented with three quirky plates—one colorful and floral, another scallop-edged and white, and finally, a dainty tea plate. (I bought them at Christmas Tree Shop and T.J. Maxx for $7 total.) 

Tiered Teacup Dessert Tray

What you need
1 large plate
1 medium plate
1 small plate
Two teacups 
E-6000 glue


Put it all together

1. Apply a liberal coating of glue to the bottom of one teacup. Adhere it to the center of the large place, wiping away any excess glue that squeezes out. Allow to dry for at least an hour.
2. Squeeze glue along the rim of the first teacup. Firmly place the medium plate on top, making sure it is centered and level. Wipe away any glue that drips onto the teacup. Allow to dry for at least an hour.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with the second teacup and the small plate. Let dry overnight. 

Quick & Easy Craft: Monogrammed Plates

Laura is the name; LAR are the initials. Clever parents.

I went to an SEC school where two things ruled: football and monograms. I never quite figured out the whole football thing—sorry, Peyton—but I did adopt the Southern tradition of slapping my initials on everything from my towels to my sheets. I’ve since run out of textiles to monogram, so the natural next step was wall art. You know, in case my cat anyone forgets who’s in charge around here. 

Monogrammed Plates

What you need 
Three 9” plates* 
1 sheet cardstock scrapbook paper 
Pencil 
Ruler 
X-ACTO knife 
Foam brush 
Mod Podge (glossy) 
3 spring wire plate hangers 

 * I picked up mine at Marshall’s for $4 each. Discount home stores are the perfect place to find unique but affordable plates. Or, for a more eclectic look, buy three mismatched plates at a thrift store. 

Put it all together 

1. Use the pencil and ruler to draw a straight line across the paper, three inches from the bottom. 
2. Search Google Images for “monogrammed letters.” You’ll find charts depicting every letter of the alphabet; choose a style you like. Use the image as a guide to draw your initials in pencil on the cardstock. The bottoms of the letters should align with the edge of the paper, the tops with the line you drew.
3. Carefully cut out the letters with the X-ACTO knife. Erase any pencil markings.
4. Using the foam brush, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the center of your first plate. Position one of the letters on the plate's center, then apply a coat of Mod Podge to the surface of and around the letter. To avoid brush lines, use a circular motion when applying the Mod Podge. Repeat with the other two plates.
5. After your plates dry, apply another layer of Mod Podge if any of the letters’ edges are not completely sealed. 
6. Stretch the spring hangers onto the backs of the plates, and find a spot on your wall to display them!