| | Make a decorative tray to show off your favorite vintage fabrics. | An intricately crocheted doily or a lacy monogrammed handkerchief—these are the kinds of family keepsakes that often end up gathering dust in the attic. Precious linens can be as hard to incorporate into your decor as they are to give up to a consignment store. But tuck one onto a plain store-bought tray, and you’ve got a pretty, practical solution. While you’re at it, make one for your sisters and mom and spread the memories around in time for the holidays.
TRAY 1
(As shown here)
Metal tray
Cardboard
Pen or pencil
Scissors
Neutral or muted fabric for back panel
Hot-glue gun
Heirloom fabric or lace remnant
Glass, cut to fit the opening of your tray
1. Place your tray on top of a piece of cardboard, and use a pen or pencil to trace the outline. Cut out the piece, and trim as needed to fit into the center of the tray.
2. Lay the piece of cardboard on your back-panel fabric—which should complement the heirloom but be muted enough not to compete with it—and draw around the cardboard with the pencil. Then cut out the fabric, roughly following the outline, but allowing a 1/2-inch edge all around.
3. Use hot glue to secure the fabric to the cardboard. Allow to dry. Wrap the edges around, tucking them at the corners as if you were wrapping a package, and secure with the glue.
4. Place the fabric backing you just made into the tray. Center the decorative fabric or lace remnant on top of your panel.
5. Top the tray with the piece of glass (any hardware store will cut it for you).
6. Allow an approximately 1-inch edge to wrap around corners.
TRAY 2
(From the magazine)
Spray paint
2 door or cabinet handles
Frame, preferably at least 11 x 14 inches
4 screws (to fit your handles)
Drill
Drill bit (that corresponds to the screw size)
Fabric for back panel
Pen or pencil
Scissors
Decorative fabric or lace remnant
1. Spray-paint the handles to match your frame and allow to dry completely.
2. Mark your holes for drilling: Place the screws through the holes of one handle and position it on one side of the frame. Press screws slightly to make indentations. Repeat on the opposite side.
3. Predrill shallow holes into the frame. Screw each handle in place.
4. Remove the cardboard backing from your frame and turn it facedown (with the glass intact) on a clean work surface.
5. Place the backing onto your back-panel fabric, trace it with a pen or pencil, and cut out.
6. Place the fabric remnant onto the center of the glass, right side facing down. Lay the cut piece of fabric on top.
7. Replace the backing of the frame. |
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