#diyentertaining

[shonnyc]

Outdoor Entertaining Ideas Stylecaster Edible Table Runner Take your outdoor entertaining game to the next level with Stylecaster's genius edible table runner ideas. Your guests will be in awe and your stomach will thank you later.

[salvagescheme]

DIY Party Prop: Chalkboard Serving Trays For Christmas and Other Times

Tray Songz, forgot about Tray, Doctor Tray…Thought of far too many unrelated hip hop references that have no place being in the post title, much like these references do in this post. Nonetheless, the trays are fun, expertly crafted, and appropriate for social gatherings, like the songs [some could argue].

I found some three dollar a piece trays at a local resale shop, and immediately envisioned them in Tiffany blue, so I purchased them and brought them home for a fix-up.

I got lucky with the resale shop find, but I maintain that thrift stores are a good place to start. You can also find similar wood trays for about $10 each at a place like Target.  

As I mentioned before, I chose Tiffany blue as the main tray color, but also wanted to paint the base with my leftover chalkboard paint so I could be adorable/disgusting and label things or write messages when I passed around drinks or appetizers. Consequently, I did a lot of taping, but the process in total (excluding dry breaks) still only took about 45 minutes for both. See below for photo instructions:

As you have probably inferred from the photo evidence, the painting steps involve drying in between (and again, please adhere to what the paint labels say, if you are impatient like myself you will get drips and chips and such). 

After it's all painted, it should look like this: 

While these are lovely as is, I decided to add one final addition. Since I'm never letting go of my love for metallic accents, I took the Sharpies I used in the previous projects and colored the top border of the tray for a shiny pop.

Then, I put stuff in them for the purpose of display, but fully intend to use them whenever I have an impromptu cocktail party, which I will post about shortly so you can throw a similarly last-minute holiday fiesta.

For now, use the tray to bring your significant other breakfast in bed, or better still, bring yourself breakfast in bed, lunch in bed, any meal or snack in bed. 

Enjoy,