Re-purposed Textured Tray

I re-purposed this tray by adding some texture with joint compound. Joint compound is fairly easy to use and allows you to create a multidimensional look. By letting the joint compound begin to harden, then smoothing it down with your hands, you can obtain a surface smooth enough to stand items on with out being unstable. This was an easy project and I think the new look is pretty awesome.

Supplies

Wooden tray

Joint compound

Putty knife

Flat paint or primer in white

Paint glaze

Craft paint in black, vanilla, burnt umber, burnt sienna, metallic pearl and metallic copper

Small paint mixing trays or plastic tubs

Sponge brush

Small Sponge roller

Twine

Glue gun

Several clean cloths

Spray sealer

Sanding block 200 grit or more

Suede rope

Brown ink stamp pad

 

 

Clean tray with mineral spirits, let dry

Apply thin layer of joint compound to the base of the tray with putty knife

Let compound dry for 15 to 20 minutes, or just enough that when you touch the compound it peaks.

 

Tightly wrap some twine around a small sponge roller and attach each end of the twine to the sponge with hot glue.

Roll sponge wrapped in twine over joint compound to create some texture.

 

Once you feel that the compound is beginning to set, which could be about an hour but will depend on the product and temperature, gently smooth down the compound with your fingers and palms until the compound still shows texture but not any harsh ridges. Let dry 24 hours, or per joint compound directions.

 

Lightly sand textured surface and wipe with clean cloth.

Mix a small paint tray of white paint or primer with a few drops of black and a few drops of vanilla craft paint until you have a light gray color.

Apply 2 coats of light gray on the entire project with sponge brush and allow paint to dry.

Add a few more drops of black to the gray paint mixture and mix. Apply a coat of the darker gray to all but the textured base of the tray. Feather the darker gray onto the edges of the textured area. Let dry.

Set aside some of the darker gray paint until later.

Apply 1 coat of sealer to the whole tray and let dry

Light sand textured surface and wipe with clean cloth.

 

Mix 3 parts paint glaze with 1 part each burnt umber, burnt sienna, and metallic copper

Apply 1 coat of brown glaze to texture area with sponge brush wait 5 minutes, and then wipe off excess with dry cloth, using dry cloth to wipe off a little, and a damp cloth to wipe off more.

Apply a second coat and wipe off again. Repeat this process until you start getting a look that you like.

 

Apply a few dabs of black randomly and wipe into grooves of texture and wipe off the excess. Use your dry and damp cloths until you get a look that you like.

 

Tip:  Use a damp cloth and your finger to clean off any excess paint of the sides of the tray.

Mix up a small amount of 1 part each burnt umber, burnt sienna and metallic copper and apply 2 coats to the sides of the tray with a sponge brush. Let dry.

 

Add a few drops of metallic pearl to the remainder of your gray paint mixture and mix well. Dab some of the gray/ pearl metallic paint to the texture area, let dry 3 to 5 minutes and wipe off excess until you get a look you like.

Apply 2 coats of sealer and let dry overnight.

Wrap and glue some suede rope around the handles.

Run a brown ink pad along the edges of the tray for detail, let dry.

You could do texture method to various small furniture pieces, such as the top of an end table or the inside of a picture frame.

Thank you for checking this out!