I've had many requests over the years for a set of painted TV trays but I never stopped and took the time to actually make it happen.
This time....I did.
My client ordered both a gumball machine AND this TV tray as a Christmas gift for her daughter. I really feel the TV trays, individually or as a set, would make great Christmas gifts for not only kids but parents and grandparents too! They are very easy to personalize and embellish....using paints, stencils, transfers, patterns.....etc. Here's my spin on a TV tray fit for a princess!
I used Slick Stick over the surface since the wood had an extremely slick factory applied surface. I painted a single coat and let it dry for 2 hours. I repeated the coat and let it dry overnight per the Slick Stick instructions.
Slick Stick...if you haven't noticed already....is a lifesaver in the furniture/craft painting world!
I then coated with a single coat of Fluff...my favorite Dixie Belle white.
Next...I used one of my many homemade patterns for the central feature and traced it with a pencil. I discussed these patterns and how to make your own on live video here.
I can't tell you how many of these I've made and how handy they are!
https://youtu.be/woK1thWaDEI
I then used painters' tape in preparation for my stripes. I burnished the stripes edges with Fluff....and then filled in the stripes using Caviar...making sure not to paint inside the traced out center feature area.
Next, I painted the center feature area using Soft Pink.....and let dry....before using a Finishing Pad to softly sand and knock back the chalk mineral paint feel to a buttery smooth finish.
I used a new damask stencil that will hopefully be released this October with my Fluff white to create the regal pattern in the center feature.
I then used Posh Pigments in Silver by Posh Chalk and infused them a small amount of Top Coat in Gloss. I stirred just seconds until creamy smooth! I used this gorgeous liquid silver to frame out the center feature as well as trimmed out the underside of the outer ridge of the tray.
Finally, I drew the name of the princess in pencil first....and followed over my pencil line with Caviar and a small artist brush. If you are wanting more instruction to paint your own hand-lettered signs (or tv table), I taught a class about this very topic. Learn more HERE...
After I allowed all paint to dry....I top coated with a single and very thin layer of Top Coat in Satin.
I did this prior to using my Jardin de Roses design transfer from Hokus Pokus with the gorgeous roses in shades of pinks and grays.
Hokus Pokus transfers are simply gorgeous and leave very little halo effect around the transfer....partly because they are very thin.
I find the release from the transfer backing is much easier when applying to a dry layer of topcoat than to dry chalk paint. So....
top coat and dry
place transfer in position and rub
gently pull back transfer backing while rubbing to release
burnish transfer with a DB finishing pad
top coat to seal
I finished off the tray with three thin layers of Clear Coat in Satin for its durability and water-repellent ability. This will allow it to be used for years to come and maintain its beautiful finish.
I hope this blog has your wheels turning.....thinking of all the people you know that would be thrilled to receive these painted tv trays as gifts!
Personalized hand-painted gift ideas
And listen...if tv trays aren't your thing, this idea can be done on just about ANY flat surface...for a few more examples, see this kid's stool or this dress-up cart or this military trunk.
(pssst....click any of these pictures to get the full blog details)
Shop: Painted TV Trays
The products listed here are what I used for this painted TV tray! Dixie Belle Paint company offers amazing products that will make all of your projects successful no matter what your skill level! Just click on any of the products shown below! You can also find my favorite products and tools in my Amazon influencer list here.
Here's how it works...these products are attached to my name. When you purchase by clicking from my blog.....then Dixie Belle offers a kickback to me for referring you! It doesn't cost you any more to use my links....and the support helps me to bring you new projects! So I thank you in advance!!!
See you next week!
XOXO,
Tracey
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