It’s Not What I Had in Mind (Message Center)

This project is



I’ve been wanting something that I could keep on my desk or hang on the wall that I could pin notes to. In my mind I envisioned an ornate oval frame that was either in white, or I could spray paint white. In the frame area I would cover a piece of corkboard with a natural colored fabric or some sort of print. That is what I had in my mind!

Now, what did “I”come up with?
Something completely different but it is oh so thrifty!!

I purchased this tray at Hobby Lobby during their after Christmas sales this past year. I am sure I paid less than a dollar for it because I had no idea what I would use it for. Almost a year later, I finally know – or at least I think I do.

Using my current 40% off coupon from Hobby Lobby I purchased a can of Rust-o-leum White spray paint designed for plastic and gave it a good base coat.
 
Once it was completely dry I went over it with a coat of Antique White from Rust-o-leum because the white was just a bit too stark for the room I was putting it in.
I didn’t take pictures because I didn’t really know what I was doing so everything was trial and error and picture taking didn’t really cross my mind once I got started – sorry.
I cut a piece of scrap burlap a little larger than the tray opening and I used gel medium to glue down the burlap. I was really pleased with how well it molded to the tray.
I then cut a piece of cardboard the size of the inside of the tray and covered it with foam batting and then wrapped a piece of natural colored material around that and secured it on the back with…. can you guess??? No! I used duct tape! lol
I hot glued my cardboard to the inside of the tray; glued some leaf ribbon around the tray; made some roses and glued them on…

and voila! I have my little message center. 
My message center doesn’t hang on the wall like I had originally envisioned either. My son built me a little ledge from barn wood for it to sit on along with my Thrifty Lamp. I gave it a swipe of white paint to give it a whitewashed look.

Definitely not what I had in mind but I sure do like it!
How about you?
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