DIY – Gold and Marble Trinket Tray

An Easy Peasy DIY Marble & Gold Trinket Tray

I was busily binning items the other day as I tried desperately to sort out the make-shift play room – one of my pet hates, as you might well know – when I happened upon a small wooden toy tray which the kids had discarded.

It was one of those ones where the wooden toys came packaged in the tray, but had a cellophane wrapper rather than a lid, so although you could store the play parts back in the box, it was far to likely they’d just be tipped out all over the floor again.

So, I’ve since moved the little toys to a handy tuppaware box with a lid, just to keep them nice and tidy.

Anyway, I’m digressing.

I looked at the little wooden tray for a moment and thought I might be able to use it for something else.

And then, for the first time ever, I had a bit of a ‘Blue Peter’ moment and decided it was time to get crafty!

If you know me well, this doesn’t happen often, so I embraced the moment and knew exactly what I wanted to make.

It was going to be my new makeup/jewellery trinket tray.

And I already knew how I wanted it to look.

So, over that next week I bought in or ordered the items I required to make my masterpiece.

From Amazon I ordered some marble effect contact paper, and I picked up some gold metallic spray paint in a local store. This was all I required, so I set to work.

The first thing I did was to measure out the required amount of contact paper to line the tray.

Contact paper comes with gridlines on the reverse, so this was pretty easy to do. But I did use a ruler as a bit of an added help, where the grid lines had been replaced with words. Then I just cut out the area required according to the marked lines.

This was then set aside until later.

Next it was time to spray the tray. Something I was particularly excited about! Being a non-crafter, I haven’t had much opportunity to do this, so it was hard not to start spraying everything in sight as it was so much fun!

It was also ever so quick and easy.

I made sure I had covered a surface in a protective sheet (you could use old newspaper, a child’s messy mat etc) and then set the tray down. I used the spray according to the instructions on the side of the can, which now off the top of my head and thinking back, was to spray as evenly and steadily as possible from a certain distance away. This I suppose was easier said than done, as you obviously have to move the can to get into all the areas you need to cover, but it seemed to work. Some areas looked as though they had drips where I’d sprayed a little too much or a little closely, but once dried, I found this wasn’t noticeable.

Once the top of the tray had dried, I turned it over and sprayed the bottom and checked to see if everywhere had adequate coverage.

After the tray had dried, it was time to add the contact paper.

I made sure to line it up with the base of the tray, and carefully just peeled back a small section of the contact paper protective backing.

I did find it tended to bubble quite a lot if I went too fast, so I found slow and steady was best. I inched back the backing paper slowly as I stuck down the top to the base of the tray, making sure to push out any bubbling which did appear.

Then, that was it!

My new gold and marble trinket tray was ready!

Easy huh!

I then decided I wanted to try and spray a vase too. Ideally my vase would have been pure white, but I made do with a cream one I had lying about the house.

I marked on the vase where I wanted the paint by sectioning off some of it with Frog Tape and paper.

Then, it was time to spray again.

I am absolutely in love with my little tray, and it has already been a really handy addition to my dressing table.

So, for the price of just a spray can and some paper, it’s such a quick and easy way to repurpose old or unwanted items around the house, and give them a whole new lease of life.

The only thing I’m looking out for now is some of those sticky clear rubber dots which can be added under the tray as non-slip feet. If anyone knows where I can pick those up I’d be very grateful indeed.

So, I’m not saying this is a full on masterpiece or anything like that, as I’m pretty sure it’s not, and there’s certainly room for improvement, but coming from a pretty non-creative type, the type that usually just goes out and buys things like this, for once I’ve actually made the most of something I already had.

It’s something I can call my own and be proud of.

And anyway, everyone has to start somewhere don’t they??

love steph

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marble tray

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18 Comments

  1. 22nd March 2016 / 2:47 pm

    I blooming LOVE spraying things! The only trouble is, once you start you can’t seem to stop!! I want to spray everything in sight!! Loving your new look blog hun — really fab 🙂 Thanks for linking up with us #HomeEtc

  2. 21st March 2016 / 6:58 pm

    Looks fab and so simple too!! Great ideas and love that it can be done to create such a stylish effect! Thanks for linking up 🙂 Jess xx

    #HomeEtc

  3. 19th March 2016 / 10:00 pm

    Well you say you’re not a crafter but this looks very crafty to me, love it! Well done for having a go and I hope it’s inspired you to turn your hand to other projects because you’re really good at them X #HomeEtc

    • 21st March 2016 / 4:42 pm

      Aww thank you. Yes, I might have to have a go at something else now too. Something easy again though. Hahaha. Xxx

  4. 18th March 2016 / 6:04 pm

    It looks fab, what a clever little project
    #homeetc

  5. 16th March 2016 / 5:34 pm

    Your tray and vase look great. It’s a fab upcycling project. Contact paper is fiddly stuff isn’t it? We used the same marble effect on the kitchen floor in our Barbie house and it ended up using pins to pop the bubbles! #homeetc

    • 21st March 2016 / 4:50 pm

      Oh I love the pins idea!! And for a Barbie house too! I must say I didn’t realise how tricky it would be!! But hey, more learnings for next time!! Hehe. Xxx

  6. 16th March 2016 / 12:31 pm

    As someone who isn’t hugely confident with home DIY projects, the tray looks like something I could actually attempt 🙂

    • 21st March 2016 / 4:51 pm

      Oh yes, it was pretty easy with no real tools involved. You must try it! Xxx

  7. 16th March 2016 / 9:45 am

    Marble contact paper! What a brilliant idea! Love the finished item. #HomeEtc

  8. 16th March 2016 / 9:39 am

    I love this! Such a simple DIY but really pretty and effective. I love marble contact paper – I’ve used it for so many different things, it’s great, and so cheap. The pot looks fab too – it completely transforms it! #HomeEtc

    • 21st March 2016 / 4:53 pm

      I’m still learning but I must say I was quite chuffed and really enjoyed myself too. Now just to find more things to spray and stick on!! ?? xx

  9. 16th March 2016 / 9:23 am

    Both the pieces look amazing. You are braver than me with spray paint but maybe a project for sunny summer days. Very stylish pieces. Thank you for sharing.

  10. 15th March 2016 / 9:57 am

    Love this, Steph!!! Crafts that you’re actually proud to have in the house are the best!!! I’ve used spray paint a lot and still can’t get it right. I always end up with runs or bits that aren’t quite covered properly. You … are already a master, you clever thing x

  11. 14th March 2016 / 9:07 pm

    What great ideas Steph, both the tray and the pot look amazing! I’m nervous of spraying things in case I get it everywhere, or it goes wrong, but you’ve inspired me to have a go! x

    • 14th March 2016 / 9:18 pm

      Aww thanks so much lovely. As my first attempt I’m pretty chuffed. Not totally sure about the case, I did it more to test it out, but I’m quite happy with the little tray. Seriously though, I wanted to spray the whole house! It’s quite addictive! (Or was that just the fumes?!?! ??) Yes, yes, you must give it s go. It’s too easy not to!! Xxx


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