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    Home » DIY And Crafts

    Repurposed Serving Tray Pumpkin

    Published by Pam Kessler | 504 words. · About 3 minutes to read this article. - 12 Comments

    A few months ago I found this big old forged aluminum serving tray at the thrift store and decided I could do something with it at some point. I just knew it.

    That point has arrived.

    It turns out, these old serving trays are perfect to make repurposed pumpkins with!  Mine happens to be the forged aluminum kind, but you could make one out of just about any big round tray-like thing you find at the thrift store - Tupperware, silverplate, plastic.

    repurposed serving tray pumpkin - a thrift store makeover

    BTW, I made a Boho Succulent Garden from another forged aluminum piece last year. Same concept, different idea.

    repurposing a serving tray into a pumpkin

    (This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. You can read my full disclosure policy here.)

    How To Make A Repurposed Serving Tray Pumpkin

    Supplies:

    • Round serving tray from thrift store
    • Orange spray paint (I used Rust-Oleum's Fire Orange in Satin)
    • E6000 Glue
    • Small Basswood Country Round (Oblong)
    • Wired Twine/Jute
    • Pencil or Wooden Spoon to Wrap Wired Twine Around

    Instructions:

    supplies for repurposing serving tray into fall pumpkin

    Thoroughly clean the tray with soap and water and then spray paint the front of the tray.

    If your tray is slick on the front you may want to run some sanding paper lightly over the tray. Since my tray was the forged aluminum it already had enough "grit" to it in the grooves and design for the paint to adhere to.

    spray painting serving tray

    Use 2-3 very light coats of spray paint. Going too heavy on the spray paint will result in drips and runs and no one wants a drippy, runny pumpkin.

    spray painted hammered metal tray

    Attach your wood slice to the back of the pumpkin using your E6000 glue.

    This particular glue sets up quickly and is not as finicky as super glue (have you ever in your life been able to use a tube of super glue a 2nd time?), so it's my glue of choice.

    gluing stem on DIY pumpkin

    Twirl your wired twine/jute around a wooden spoon or pencil to make it a bit curly and wrap it around the back of the stem.

    making stem for DIY pumpkin

    I also glued a couple inexpensive silk fall leaves to the stem which I didn't mention in the supplies. They were last minute additions and optional.

    repurposed thrift store fall decor

    And you are done!

    Other than watching the paint dry (a favorite past time of mine), the whole project takes just a few minutes.

    repurposed thrift store tray into fall pumpkin decor

    And you know what day it is! No, it's not Pumpkin Day, it's Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday!!! The one day of the month where I get together with a group of bloggers and show off our latest and greatest thrift store makeovers.

    Run on over and see what my friends have done with their recent thrifting finds!

    Black & White Buffalo Checked Ghost Petticoat Junktion

    Upcycled Table Fall Porch Decor My Repurposed Life

    Pumpkin Decor & Cake Dome from a Wooden Bowl Sadie Seasongoods

    Repurposed Serving Tray House of Hawthornes

    Multiple Thrift Store Urn Uses Our Southern Home

    Thrift Store Sweater Pumpkins Domestically Speaking

    thrift store makeovers

    Other Posts You May Enjoy:

    Repurposed Funnel Jack-O'-Lantern (made from a funnel)
    Repurposed Oil Can Pumpkin
    DIY Wood Slice Owl

    « Homemade Apple Hand Pies
    Rustic And Natural Fall Porch Decor »
    275 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. [email protected]

      September 11, 2019 at 6:03 am

      Your repurposed pumpkin is so cute! I'm looking forward to seeing it on display in your home.

      Reply
    2. Deb

      September 11, 2019 at 6:21 am

      My 79 year old sister etched a design onto an aluminum tray like yours when she was in high school. It was one of my mom’s favorite trays. I like your pumpkin design!

      Reply
    3. Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces

      September 11, 2019 at 9:13 am

      This is very cute, Pam!

      Reply
      • Peggy

        November 29, 2022 at 1:23 am

        You ruined it!!!

        Reply
    4. Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage

      September 11, 2019 at 10:08 am

      Super cute Pam.
      Have a great rest of the week.
      Kris

      Reply
    5. Gail Wilson

      September 11, 2019 at 12:51 pm

      Pam!

      What a cute way to repurpose that metal serving tray. I think I need to get me some of that wired twine! It's so cute when it's curled.

      Pinning !!

      gail

      Reply
    6. Jennifer

      September 11, 2019 at 2:44 pm

      Would this paint be removable? I hate the thought of permanently destroying a cool mid-century metal piece,

      Reply
    7. Sarah Ramberg

      September 12, 2019 at 6:30 am

      I'm equally in love with and creeped out by how similar our projects were this month - down to the wired twine curly qs! ARE YOU IN MY HOUSE WATCHING ME??

      Ha! But I absolutely love it, Pam. Pumpkin all the things!

      Reply
    8. Maryann

      September 12, 2019 at 12:59 pm

      Cute, cute, cute!!! Can't have too many pumpkins!

      Reply
    9. Katie Murphy

      September 12, 2019 at 1:30 pm

      I have come to expect darling , innovative ideas from you, but spray painting a metal tray with twine curly-Q's and calling it a pumpkin just breaks my heart. The only thing different between yours and a childs craft is that you're allowed to use the spray paint. Pityful.

      Reply
    10. Melinda

      September 12, 2019 at 9:36 pm

      Cute idea!
      Could be used all Fall.

      Reply
    11. Christy @ Our southern home

      September 17, 2019 at 6:38 pm

      So stinking cute!! You are just so creative.....each and every month!

      Reply

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