5 Steps and Under $5: Make your own vanity tray
photos: marissa for we heart this
My dresser was becoming a mess with all of the beauty and hair products fighting for space. I’d seen vanity trays for sale on various design sites and had fallen in love. But why buy when you can DIY?
Today, I’m sharing a step-by-step guide to make your own customized vanity tray. This is a quick and easy project with a personalized touch and gorgeous results.
Supplies:
• Silver or gold tray (I picked mine up at the Dollar Store!)
• Scrapbook paper (or wrapping paper or whatever other design you love!)
• Scissors or Box cutter
• Pencil
• Mod Podge
• Sponge or sponge brush
• Hard surface or cutting board
Directions:
1. Prep the tray by wiping it down with a paper towel. Next, lay the tray on top of your paper of choice and trace. You will want the paper to be cut to fit on the inset of the tray.
2. Using the box cutter, cut along the lines that you traced.
3. Spread a layer of Mod Podge on the inset of the tray. Don’t worry if it gets on the sides; it dries clear!
4. Lay the paper inside the tray. Be careful to match up the edges and smooth out any air bubbles.
5. Spread another layer of Mod Podge on top. Make sure to get along the edges to effectively seal the paper in place. The added layer will also help protect the paper from product spills.
6. Allow the tray to dry for several hours, and then you’re ready to go. Just add your prettiest products, or group your daily essentials, onto the tray and admire your work.
Not bad – just 20 minutes and you have an upgraded and personalized twist on a classic bedroom piece!
we heartsters — have you eyed the vanity trays in the decor mags? Will you give this a try to organize your beauty products?
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marissa
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ohh! I love this idea. It looks so pretty and is so easy to make! Thanks for the inspiration :)
That is so cute! And I love any craft that I can start and finish in under half an hour (I have so many projects that are halfway done). And it would be so helpful for keeping my markup contained to one part of the bathroom counter.
So cute! I definitely need this. Great tutorial @marissa!
I echo the above: cute!! I have very curious kitties, so having a lot of stuff out on my vanity is a no-go (unless I feel like fishing my brushes out from under the bed every morning), but I can see this as a great customizable present. And how great to upgrade the “it has potential” vanity trays I see all over my local thrift store!
So cute.. My problem is that I would need a lot of trays! I love the way they look.. so pretty.. Great lesson for sure, @marissa!
Proof that you don’t have to spend a fortune to add a special touch to your daily life. This is adorable, @marissa !
Brilliant idea and it seems pretty easy to make. My mom will surely love this. Thanks for the sharing and keep it up!
I love this adorable idea, @marissa. us girls always need something to display our cute stuff on :)
Yay – I love home decorating DIY’s – especially ones that I know I can actually do AND actually use. I have some really fabulous, leftover paper for lining drawers that would be perfect for this. Thanks for the idea!
I LOVE this! In grade school we had to carry cigar boxes to hold our supplies (nothing else was permitted). My most savvy mother used “Contact” self-adhesive paper and covered them in a lovely pattern, as you did, even including a mirror on the inside of the lid. I admire clever women! I’ll be hitting the dollar store soon!