art – The Dimestore Gypsy

Hello friends! Happy September! Fall is right around the corner, and I’m excited for all the Fall weather and fun activities. I started decorating my home with Fall decor this weekend. I also got rid of a few decor pieces I no longer wanted. I had this silver tray that I had painted with chalk paint displayed on top of my kitchen hutch. I was replacing it with this big, beautiful metal tray I found at the Goodwill.

How pretty, right? I was about to put the little tray I had in the donation pile and then I got an idea. “What if I decoupage an image to the tray and hang it as an art piece somewhere”? I totally got inspired by the larger tray.

First, I started by scrubbing the chalk paint off the small tray. You can find these trays at your local thrift or even a discount store like Dollar Tree, etc.

Next, I searched online for a moody, vintage still life art photo I liked. I wanted something classic that would look great in the kitchen year-round. I have a thing for pears, so I selected this one and printed to the size I needed. For the small tray I have, an 8 x 10 full page print was perfect. You can use any type of paper you like. I just used my regular printer paper.

I placed the sheet on top of the tray and marked my rounded corners with a pencil. Using my scissors, I cut the corners I had traced so that my image fit perfectly in the center.

Here is where the fun, messy part comes in. I spread a layer of decoupage glue on the tray. You’ll want to use an old paint brush for applying. I placed the image on top of the glue and ran my fingers over to press out the air bubbles. I then added a layer of decoupage glue on top. You will want to spread it rather quickly and lightly, so you don’t mess up your picture. Some air bubbles and wrinkles will form. That is okay. Just work over them as best as you can. It is part of the vintage charm! Mine did have a few wrinkles in the end.

You’ll want to let this completely dry. Once it’s dry, the tray is done! Now you have a new art piece to hang. I used a small pair of command strips to secure it to my kitchen back splash. I think it’s perfect here!

Hope you guys enjoyed this little project and I hope you are inspired to create your own. This would be fun with some spooky images for Halloween, or a photo of just a few pumpkins. The possibilities are endless!

Let me know if you decide to make one. I’d love to see!

Thanks for stopping by,

Hey friends! It took about a year, but I finally got this pantry wall decorated and wanted to share it with you. It’s a mix of thrifted and new decor for the perfect Cottage/French farmhouse vibe. Check it out below!

It took me a few months to collect a few copper molds I liked from resale/thrift stores. I arranged them here on the wall with a few small screws. My favorite is the spoon!

The chalkboard on the other side was a DIY from a year ago that I already had hanging. This is super easy and quick to make. You can find any size chalkboard and staple a ribbon or string to the back to instantly hang.

Another piece I already had hanging is this faux boxwood wreath. It’s the perfect way to add some greenery and warmth to this area. Add a bow and it’s ready to hang.

The last piece to add was my Homestead sign. I had this wall art piece that had an outline of a fish skeleton and was highlighter yellow! It was sitting around collecting dust and I thought it was the perfect size to make this sign. I searched and searched online for a style I liked and decided on this simple clean look.

I used 2 coats of Valspar Satin Ultra White paint to cover the yellow on the board and let it dry for an hour. After that dried, I measured an outside border, then free handed the word homestead with a pencil. Using a small artist paint brush, I traced back over the word with black craft paint. After a few hours of drying, I plotted my underline an est. word & numbers with a pencil. Once I got my placement down, I traced back over it with the black paint and let it dry. This was a little harder to free hand, but I took my time. If you mess up, you can just paint right over it and start again!

This sign didn’t take too long, and I was able to finish it over a weekend. It took one day to paint and then leave for drying overnight. I’m happy with the way it turned out and got the spouse to hang it as soon as possible!

I love mixing old and new together! It brings warmth, depth, & character into my space. Check your local discount stores and thrift shops often for unique & inexpensive decor pieces. I hope this inspires you to mix old and new together in your space!

Thanks for stopping by,

Tag: art

DIY Moody Decoupaged Tray

DIY Wall Decor: Mixing Thrifted and New