Trash to Treasure - French Trays

This is my trash to treasure tray project.  I am making these for my upcoming flea.o.logy sale on September 2nd and 3rd.

In the beginning there was a stack of vintage red trays with a printed floral pattern.  I got them from a friend to sell at my flea market.  But no takers.  They were actually sitting in the box to go to a charity store, when this idea hit me and I had to dig them out.

As you see step one was black spray paint.

Step two was finding a French Graphic on  Graphics Fairy

Step three was to trim the paper with graphic to size.

Step four was to decoupage it into place. (I use school glue, like Elmer's, but do not use 'washable' school glue its different, ues it undiluted, with a wet 2 inch paint brush.)

Repeat Step four until you have a nice thick, smooth covering, 3 coats is usually enough. Allow to dry between applications.

Step five, after it is totally dry, you can waterproof it by spraying it with several layers of clear varnish (spray paint)

Caution:  If you don't have thick enough layers of glue, the varnish spray will 'bleed' into the paper around the edges and cause spots.

Here is the final product along with an old tin bread box that has been gathering dust at the antique mall for years.  A new coat of black paint and the same process as the tray and Voila', Frenchy kitchen details !!