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Spring is the season when nature awakens from her winter sleep and celebrates new life. The trees are sprouting green leaves, the flowers are blooming and all around nature seems to be dancing to a different tune.
It is also the time when we get out into nature to appreciate the explosion of colors we see all around us. What better way than to relax, sitting outside with a cup of tea, taking in nature and appreciating the abundance of smells stemming from the flowers.
Inspired by the French countryside, this craft is the ideal way to add a touch of elegance to your tea time. Serving tea in this tray will make you feel as if you have been transported to a place far off. Imagine yourself sitting under a tree, sipping on lavender tea…
The tray in the example is big enough for two mugs, but it can easily be adjusted to accommodate any size tray. So, without further ado, grab the necessary tools and start crafting, because spring will be here before you know it.
Materials:
natural wooden tray sized 5.6″ x 8.4″
suitable floral design cut from decoupage paper
acrylic paint in the following colors: royal blue and mother of pearl rose
Modge Podge
Dala bronze antique rub
Kaisercraft bronze ink glimmer mist
Pratley Kraftex Pratliglo polymer coating
quick-drying clear matt spray varnish
fine-grit sanding paper
paintbrush
standard scissors
soft damp cloth
old sponge ~ use one that was inside a medicine bottle
three small plastic bowls
Instructions for making the project:
1. In one of the plastic bowls, mix one third royal blue paint with two thirds of the mother of pearl rose paint.
2. Use the paintbrush to add a layer of mixed paint to the tray and allow to dry thoroughly. Do not paint the outer bottom of the tray.
3. Cut the floral design from the paper and measure to see that the cut-out would fit on the inner bottom of the tray.
4. Apply Modge Podge to the back of the cut-out. Carefully place the cut-out on the inner bottom of the tray. Dip your finger into the bottle of Modge Podge and apply some Modge Podger to the front of the cut-out. Working from the middle of the cut-out, and from the inside towards the outside, rub out all the air bubbles and excess Modge Podge from the back of the cut-out. Be careful not to stretch or tear the cut-out. Regularly dip your finger into the bottle of Modge Podge to keep it wet while rubbing, as this will prevent the cut-out from tearing.
5. Gently wipe off any excess Modge Podge with a soft damp cloth and allow the tray to dry thoroughly.
6. Now start ageing the tray:
a. Cut a small piece from the sponge and use it to add an uneven wash to certain parts of the tray with the mother of pearl rose paint. Allow to dry thoroughly.
b. Squeeze some of the Dala bronze antique rub into a plastic bowl. Cut another small piece from the sponge and use it to add an uneven wash to certain parts of the tray. Gently wipe some antique rub over the floral cut-out to add an aged look to the design too.
c. Spray some of the ink mist into a plastic bowl. Cut another small piece from the sponge and use it to add an uneven wash to certain parts of the tray and the floral cut-out.
d. Sand off the paint in some areas ~ concentrate on the areas where one would expect wear and tear to take place in the everyday handling of the tray.
7. Spray the tray with the varnish and allow to dry thoroughly. Remember not to spray the outer bottom of the tray.
8. Follow the given product instructions to mix the polymer coating. Place the tray on a level surface and pour the mix into the inner bottom of the tray.
9. Cover the tray with a dust cover, such as a cardboard box, and allow to dry for 72 hours.
Benetta Strydom
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