Meg's art tray

It's been ages since I did anything for the Handmade Home Project. (That's a little project where I am going to try to make all the projects in Amanda Soule's lovely book-Handmade Home.) I did make Meg's art tray a long time ago-I just never shared, cause-well, I really didn't feel like I did a good job on it. But it has actually grown on me, and this morning I sanded the edges of my red spray painted tray and I think that makes it look even better.

You're supposed to take your child's artwork (or artwork from old books) and decoupage it to a tray and then you can use that tray for art supplies and so on.

So-I found a couple things I had saved from my child in her younger years. I found a piece of paper with a heart that said I love you Dad and Mom. (She hasn't said I love you in years and years and years. Sad-I know. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!) And I had found a placemat from Eat-n-Park (where we apparently stopped after a day at Idlewild-a young kid friendly amusement park). Also-I found some doodles from my niece, Jessica, and added them to my tray too.

First of all-I found an unattractive tray at Goodwill and brought it home and spray painted it red. I made copies (in case I screwed it up) of the 'artwork', and then cut out the parts I wanted. I watered down some good old fashioned Elmer's glue and with a foam brush adhered the artwork to the tray. Then I went over the whole tray with the watered down glue several times. Then voilá! Meg's art tray.

I have some wrinkles in the paper-but does that really matter? I think not.☺

Here's what the placemat says:

All Kinds Of Feelings

I felt happy when I whet to Idlewild

I felt sad when we didn't get a prize

I felt angry when (we didn't get a prize)

I felt proud when I rode all the big ride

Happy

I may not use this tray much-but it has sentimental value and can be displayed and is easier to find than a sheet of paper!