
Hi everyone! Hope your day is getting off to a great start. I wanted to post this quick idea for you this morning before we’re off and running.
Do you have a drop spot in your house? Most of us struggle, I think, with keeping all of the odds and ends that come out of pockets or purses handy, but tidy at the same time. With our kitchen torn out, we REALLY don’t have a great spot to put all that flotsam. I found these small trays at a junk store; I’m not sure what they would’ve been used for back in the day because they’re so diminutive. But I decided to give ’em a paint treatment so they could become a perfect spot for dropping keys, sunglasses or phones.
I simply sprayed the trays cream, then used the same pencil transfer technique I’ve used TONS before (like on our flower box, growth chart, soup bowls, and eye chart tray).
Painted Trays for Emptying Your Pockets
Nap Rating = 1/2 nap for each tray (not including dry time)
Tools & Materials
- Metal tray
- Sand paper
- Spray paint
- Printer
- Pencil
- Painter’s tape
- Sharpie
Steps
- Lightly sand your tray if it has chipped paint or rust on it. Wipe it with a damp towel and let dry.
- Spray paint your tray and let dry overnight.
- Find silhouette images online (I used Google Images) and print them out.
- Using a pencil, color the back of the graphic.
- Turn the graphic right side up again, and center it on the tray. Use a little painter’s tape to secure it.
- With a pencil, trace the outline of the silhouette. The pencil on the back of the paper will transfer to the tray.
- Remove the paper, and using the Sharpie, fill the graphic in.
- Spray the tray with sealer.
That’s it! Until next time…

I LOVE this! It's so perfect. Now if I could only find the perfect trays….
istaistaista.blogspot.com
So cute! I especially like the eyeglasses one.
Thanks for visiting! I know…it might be one of those projects that's hard to replicate because of the weird size of trays. Sorry about that!
Thanks so much! Have a great weekend!
Love the trays! So cute!
What a lovely simple but attractive idea. Love it.
These are great! Love the graphic quality of them and that they're so functional!
Thanks for your sweet comment!
Thank you, Julia…have a wonderful week!
Thx for stopping by, Mellisa!
I was just thinking of making one of these! When I get home my stuff goes all over the house – I love that yours are for certain objects – even more organized!
Thx, Kelly! Have a wonderful week!
Cool! We always have stuff all over our house!
Love these! Such a great idea.
Thank you, Bonnie! Have a great evening!
Same here! Now if my family would comply with using the trays we'd be all set! 😉
These trays are so cute! I love the simplicity of them and the vintage feel. Nice post, if these were in my foyer it may be a lot more organized (looking….it never really will be organized). Thanks Val!
Those are so cute ~ what a great Christmas gift idea! I'm featuring them in this week's Power of Paint Party!
Great idea and very cute! I need to do this for my husband ASAP. I need a mail tray too. Thanks for sharing!
Thank YOU for visiting and leaving some comment love! Have a great evening!
Thanks, Becca! Have a wonderful evening.
Oh that's awesome, Maryann! Thank you!!
So much easier than I thought they would be! Great project and super cute silhouettes you chose. 🙂
Thanks, Amy! It was super-simple. Have a wonderful evening!
Great idea! I like the designs you chose. Pinned it 🙂
<3 Christina @ I Gotta Create!
Wildly Original link party is open
Thank you, Christina! Have a great day!
Such a cute idea Val! I love these.
Thank you, Krista!! Have a wonderful Sunday.
Oh my gosh I need to try this. These trays are so useful, I never thought of customising them before
Wow! These are great. What an easy technique! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment! Have a great week!
I'm glad you liked 'em! Thx for visiting!
love love love these thanks again for linking up!
Certainly my pleasure! Thanks for the feature!
Well these could not be any cuter, and I love that they are practical, too! Can't wait for the rest of the details. Glad I found your post at The Shabby Nest Frugal Friday link party! I look forward to following you.
– Tasha (Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body- http://www.trappeddesigner.blogspot.com)
Thx, Tasha! Love your blog name, btw…too funny.
Wow. These are the cutest!!! How did you get your lines so STRAIGHT?? I could have sworn this involved something die-cut!
Gorgeous.
xo
lynn
Thx, Lynn! If I had taken a close-up of these, you would see they are hand-painted, for SURE. 🙂