Upcycled Tray - Bloom Where You Are Planted.

Repurposing a calendar frame - Make a tray!

I purchased a "Bloom Where You are Planted" stencil and really wanted to make something pretty with it. That saying just spoke to me. I was going through a difficult personal time and it just told me that no matter what is going on, you can still grow.

I had a hard time figuring out what to stencil this phrase on. I'll confess, I even called over my crafty neighbor, Amy. I showed her the one thing it fit onto, my wooden calendar frame.

I was commenting that I could display the framed phrase on this calendar frame but what would 'it' be?

She looked at me quizzically. Then she told me that it was a tray! How I didn't see it initially, I don't know!

I didn't want it to be burgundy.  I wanted it to be a pretty navy blue.

I love transforming things with spray paint!

So, I was wandering around Home Depot trying to find an insert.  The backboard that was on the back of this calendar frame was very rough and there was no way it would have looked good if I painted and stenciled on it.

I found inexpensive hardboard.  I love the guys that cut things for you.  And, they do it for free.  I had the exact dimensions with me and he cut the board into three perfectly sized inserts.  The original board cost less than $5.00.  Which I consider a deal since I can make three different inserts!  Below is what one of the inserts looked like.  You'll see later that I spray painted it a pretty cream color.

Below is the stencil.  I used some painter's tape to fasten it to the insert.  I also ended up taping cut up paper bags around the stencil so there wouldn't be any overspray.

And, I covered the little flower on the top right.  I wanted to paint those different colors.

I did use burgundy spray paint on the stencil.  I love it!  I just haven't figured out how to clean the spray paint off the stencil : (.

See how I can slide the insert in.  Like I used to slide in the calendar.

I bought some inexpensive drawer pulls and attached them.  I love the clean look of the silver against the blue.

Below is my finished project!  I am really happy with it!  Did you see the little accent colors I added?  The green for the leaves and the little pink dots.  I used some of the little acrylic paint that I had handy to paint those areas.

I was getting so tired of the calendar frame.  Now, I have totally repurposed it.  I love it when I can recycle/upcycle something that I already have!

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Hey, please do me a favor and pin my project!

If you enjoy being creative and upcycling with spray paint, my favorite spray paint project includes hydrangeas!

Creating Blue Hydrangeas for my living room (in my 100 year old home).