Painted & Re-Purposed Vintage Everlast Forged Aluminum Tray
July 08, 2014
I had the day off from work today and planned to garden and work on projects.
This was the scene at our bird feeder at 5:00 a.m. this morning. Two does were helping themselves to sunflower seeds. The poor deer on the right has a bum leg and actually walks on three legs.
I have sprayed my flowers occasionally with Liquid Fence deer repellent this year but not last night, and with all the rain we have been having, I should have sprayed almost every day.
So besides sunflower seeds at the bird feeders, the deer feasted on sweet potato vines, calibrachoa and creeping zinnias planted in two barrels in the back yard.
This poor sweet potato vine was also yanked out of the barrel. I was really pretty lucky though, as this could have been much worse.
I went to a greenhouse and bought some half-priced annuals, scaveola, verbena, and nemesia. I was given two free heliotrope and a four pack of herbs. They look a little spindly of course from life in a small container in a hot greenhouse, far too long.
So here on July 8th, are the newly planted annuals in one of the barrels. Actually, the new additions and partially eaten plants don't look much smaller than the crimson fountain grass in the bucket that was planted in late May and has hardly progressed in our rainy and cool summer. The deer didn't eat it or the alyssums in the barrels. Still hoping to post my garden tour by the end of July or as soon as the summer perennials are in full bloom.
One of the projects I worked on today started with this vintage Everlast forged hammered aluminum tray. This stuff is readily available in my area and cheap too.
Hammered aluminum serving pieces were popular wedding gifts from the 1930's to the 1950's. Some people call it "Poor Man's Silver". I don't collect hammered aluminum but I got this piece free from my neighbors.
First I painted just the top side of the divided tray with Annie Sloane "Old White" Chalk Paint. Here is coat one drying.
After coat two dried, I used a wet paper towel to "wet sand" the raised portions and some of the edges of the tray.
Next I applied a coat of clear wax and then a coat of a mixture of dark and clear waxes. When the tray was dry, I buffed it to a shine.
I think the painted tray makes a great earring and ring holder. Chalk paint worked very well on the aluminum.
I also worked on a couple of other projects that I will share later in the week.
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Deer can sure do some damage...glad it wasn't worse! I had one munching on my lilacs this year. The tray re-do turned great! Thanks so much for your sweet comments on my blog today!
ReplyDeleteIt came out great! I knew it would ... great job!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing deer, but they sure can do some damage to your pretty gardens. Your tray turned out very pretty!
ReplyDelete~Cindy
Hi Carlene,
ReplyDeleteWhat a site to see the deer eating away. Cute but not so cute LOL! Love the tray very pretty.
Kris
I like that little tray! So cute.
ReplyDeleteI haven't ever seen a deer around here munching on anything... our biggest problem is wild-hog-- rooting up the back pasture!
looking forward to seeing your garden tour.
The chalk paint really looks great on that hammered stuff. It makes the hammering pop out! Great idea to paint it.
ReplyDeleteIt's always nice to see deer-but not when they are having a feast in your garden! :( What a creative way to re-purpose that hammered tray! I love it!
ReplyDeleteLove how the tray turned out. We have lots of deer around here but so far they haven't gotten into any of my flower beds or garden, but they do love the apple tree when the apples are ready!
ReplyDeleteIt's a good thing the deer just had time for a little snack and not a full-course dinner! Your new jewelry holder is a pretty spot to keep your valuables.
ReplyDelete