I found this wooden silverware tray at a thrift store YEARS ago and it has been setting in my "Hey, let's repurpose that" pile forever.
Y'all got one of those piles in your garage, right?
I loved the red color on the sides!!! It was just screaming Christmas to me, but I couldn't figure out what exactly to do with it until now.
I decided to set it up on its end and make a shadowbox out of it.
BTW, am I the only one that thinks it odd that back in the 40's or 50's when this was made they only had 4 places for silverware to reside (3 long ones on the bottom and 1 on top). Almost all silverware trays I find on Amazon nowadays have at least five spaces. Do we have more silverware pieces now than our grandparents did?
And before I forget, it's Thrift Store Decor Team day, so when you are done with this project hop on down to the bottom to see the other thrift store makeovers our team has done.
(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. You can read my full disclosure policy here.)
Christmas Shadowbox from Thrifted Silverware Tray
Supplies:
- Wooden silverware tray
- Scrapbooking paper, wallpaper samples or wrapping paper
- Doodads for inside the shadowbox - in my case, bottlebrush trees and a small Santa sleigh
- Flaked Buffalo Snow
- Paper cutter or scissors
- Spray Adhesive - I used Gorilla Heavy Duty Spray Adhesive
- Glue Gun or Bottled Glue - I used Gorilla Clear Glue
Instructions:
Cut your scrapbooking paper down to the correct size.
The scrapbooking paper I used was found on Amazon and I have to say I liked the quality of the paper. It's nice and thick with cute patterns. Sometimes it's a gamble to buy something site unseen, but I think I won the gamble this time.
The easiest way to precisely cut paper is with a paper cutter made for this purpose, although scissors would work also if you have a steady hand. I do not.
Spray adhesive on the back side of the scrapbooking paper and apply the paper to your cubbies.
I chose to use 3 different patterns.
Glue your trees to the bottom.
If you want a little snow I have a tip for you:
- Move to Alaska.
- If that is not possible, use faux snow.
- Spray a light layer of adhesive and immediately throw some snow on it.
- Let that dry a few minutes, tip box over and very lightly shake off any snow that didn't stick.
- And then, spray another layer of adhesive right on top of the 1st layer of snow and apply more snow.
- After letting dry, you can then tip box over and lightly shake off any left over flakes.
- That should give you a nice little base of snow.
Then glue Santa and his reindeer down.
I kept going back and forth whether to glue a sleigh up here or a little red truck.
Then I thought maybe, just maybe, little red trucks had been a little overdone in the last year or so.
Since Santa never goes out of style, Santa it was.
I know the 1st question I will get asked is where did you buy the cute little Santa and sleigh? I bought a few of them last year at Michael's in the mini fairy garden section. Unfortunately, I do not see it online this year, but Amazon has a similar Santa and sleigh. Or Michael's has a whole line of small Christmas characters, trucks and such that can be used to create different vignettes.
Now let's see what the other Thrift Store Decor Team gals are doing this month:
Pineapple Welcome Sign - Petticoat Junktion
Industrial Makeover On A Wooden Tool Caddy - Sadie Seasongoods
Countdown To Christmas Perpetual Calendar Makeover - My Repurposed Life
Farmhouse Front Door Christmas Basket - Domestically Speaking
Santos Angel Makeover - Our Southern Home
DIY Farmhouse Christmas Tree Basket - My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Silverware Tray Repurpose - House of Hawthornes (that's me)
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Joanne
Nice project! Have a wonderful 🦃 Day!
Pam Kessler
Thank you Joanne! Hope your Thanksgiving is a great one too!
Carolyn Dinger
That really turned out nice. Such cheery colors for our dreary surroundings. Silverware drawer in good shape before you started your project. Have a nice day.
Tania
This is so cute! I have a green silverware tray like this, it would be perfect for this too!!
Pam Kessler
I've never seen a green one before! For some reason all the ones I ever run across are red. I'm jealous!
Tania
It's been hidden away in my craft room holding junk for years, I think it's time it has a new, much more fun purpose! I need to find a Santa sleigh though 😉
Tania
Diane
Miss Pam, Too cute, it is JUST perfect! When I first saw the tray on FB, the red said Christmas to me too!
Pam Kessler
Right? It's just the perfect shade of red too.
Laura L
Move to Alaska! LOLOLOL
Susan
I think back in the day, practical was the way, especially living with children of the Depression, Make due or do without. Don't need anything fancy to get food to the mouth. Cute recycle.
Pam Kessler
I can only ever remember a spoon, a fork and a knife being on the table when I was a kid. We didn't even use fancy salad forks, just the basics 🙂
Wendy Oyler
That is so adorable!
Pam Kessler
Thank you Wendy!
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
Such a cute and festive project, Pam! I love it!
Pam Kessler
Thanks Linda! Hope you're enjoying your fall!
Sarah Ramberg
This is ADORABLE!!! I just love it so much.
Janet D
So cute!! Great idea. Can't wait to see where you put the vintage Santa on his sleigh with the reindeers. I have the same one!
melinda
So cute I will have to find me a wood tray , thanks Pam
Jaxs
So dang charming! Now I just have to find that tray.
Briana from Texas
Your shadow box is so darling!
Kristin salazar
This is super cute and so creative! Your right about more simpler times back in the day and only 4 spaces. My drawer is a double tier. lol
Bev Regs
I absolutely LOVE this !! When I saw it, my first thought was, "Hey, that's my Mothers' from way back, how did Pam get it "!!?? What a very clever and unique idea ~!!
Kathy A
I have a similar silverware box on my kitchen wallhung sideways with small figurines in it. I love what you did with yours. Can never have enough Christmas or BBTs!
Maryann
That turned out so charming - love the vintage flair!
gail Wilson
Pam,
you have me wondering about my silverware tray.... I think it's 5, but I have small and large spoons in the same divider. hmmmm
Anyhoo, I love your Christmas tray. Yay for Santa, I'm glad he won out.
So.Darn.Cute.
pinning!
gail
Sandy
I bought a “biscuit table “ enamel topped kitchen table from a neighbor many years ago. She apologized because the silverware tray had been broken. She said that it was a “bonus” from the furniture store and fit in the drawer of the table. I found one later and replaced it in the drawer..
I believe the family often had their casual meals in the kitchen and keeping basic flatware in that drawer was convenient. There would be no real reason for soup spoons in the casual family meal service.
I think that red was the most common color for those tables. I have seen green and blue , I bet they made yellow too but have not seen one,
Pam Kessler
Oh, that is an excellent explanation! That makes perfect sense!
Alice
I love that silverware tray idea! I want to do it if I find a tray> I am not moving to Alaska. OLOLOl
Nita Vallerga
So Clever. Love it. I can copy and improve on things or add things, but not very good at coming up with ideas.
PJ
Stopped over from Sadie Seasongoods. Love what you did with the silverware drawer. My great grandmother used to keep a glass on the table with spoons in it. I have no idea why, I was just a kid, & that's the way it was. She's of German descent so I don't know if that had any bearing or not