Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Plaid®. All opinions are my own.

As a member of the Plaid Creators team this year, I’ve had so many fun opportunities to step out of my comfort zone and explore a variety of new craft and DIY techniques and products. I’m having so much fun! This month’s challenge involved finding a thrift store item to transform using my favorite trend as inspiration. I had a few ideas in mind, but ultimately what I came up with was this Feather Mod Podge Thrift Store Tray Makeover.

It’s no secret that I love feathers, and I love that they are a trend in home decor. Take a look at my blog header and you’ll see that I am seriously a fan. So when our challenge involved incorporating a trend, I thought about feathers, and specifically remembered this gold feather tray from Wayfair (affiliate link) that I’ve always loved. While I didn’t try to duplicate it, it served as a source of inspiration for this project. The most difficult thing for me was heading blindly into the thrift store with no idea what my “canvas” would end up being, but I knew I wanted to find something I could use as a tray. Luckily, I knew as soon as I saw this cute wooden tray/bread basket thingamajig (I’m calling it a tray but I’m really not sure what it’s intended purpose is), it would be perfect. And bonus, it was only $3!

Here are the supplies I used for this project:

• Mod Podge Gloss Formula
• Mod Podge Brush Set
• FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk Ultra Matte Paint in White Adirondack
• Plaid Paint Brush
• Wood Filler
• Putty Knife
• Sanding Block
• Feather Gift Wrap (found at HomeGoods)
• Craft Knife
• Scissors

Of course you could use this technique with any paper you choose if feathers aren’t your thing. If you’re not familiar with Mod Podge, let me just tell you about this crafting must-have. (Seriously, it’s a staple in any craft room.) It’s an all-in-one glue, sealer, and finish for decoupage projects and everyday crafting. Decoupage is the art of cut and paste, and you can cover virtually any surface with paper or fabric cut-outs. Mod Podge comes in a bazillion different formulas (ok I’m just rounding up, but there are many), so there’s definitely a formula specifically designed for pretty much any application you want to use it for. Wondering which formula to use? Here’s a helpful guide. I opted to use the Gloss formula for this project because it’s one of my favorites.

Mod Podge Thrift Store Tray Makeover Tutorial

Step 1

My first order of business was smoothing out the carving on the surface of the tray, because I wanted an even surface to work with when I adhered my feather paper. I used wood filler and a putty knife to fill in all of the carvings.

Step 2

After the wood filler had dried, I sanded it smooth.

Step 3

Next, I made sure the entire tray was clean and free of dust and debris, and I painted it with FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Ultra Matte Paint in White Adirondack. I ended up applying three coats, lightly sanding in between.

Step 4

Next, I measured and cut my feather gift wrap to fit the bottom portion of my tray. (A craft/utility knife might come in handy for this part. I started with scissors though.)

Step 5

Then, I applied a coat of Mod Podge on the part of my tray where I wanted the feather paper to be applied, and also to the back of my paper. I tried to work quickly as it does dry relatively fast.

I absolutely love this decoupage brush set, and the furniture brushes will come in handy for future projects as well.

I mainly used the 1 1/4″ brush.

Step 6

I carefully adhered my feather paper onto the layer of Mod Podge, and used a rubber scraper to smooth out any bumps or bubbles. I allowed 20 minutes drying time.

Step 7

Next, I applied a layer of Mod Podge on top of my feather paper to seal it.

With Mod Podge, the possibilities are seriously endless. Now, I have a cute decorative tray to hold odds and ends. It’s currently in my “mom cave” hanging out on my great-grandmother’s old coffee table. This tray makes such a fun addition to the room.

And here’s a final look at the before and after.

For more ideas and inspiration, be sure to follow Plaid on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Be sure to check out the other Plaid Creators’ Mod Podge Projects!
Upcycled Window Makeover – The Cards We Drew
Decoupage Planter – Petticoat Junktion
Serving Tray Set – The Pretty Life Girls
Princess Dress Nightstand Redo – Made to be a Momma
Babanees Inspired Stool – One Artsy Mama
Vintage Floral Ladder Shelves – Flamingo Toes
Positively Splendid – Mod Podge Chargers
Restoration Hardware Book Set – Cherished Bliss

For more blog posts, check out my project gallery here!

You can also connect with me here:

Thanks for visiting!

-Erin