Are you ready for an awesome story about how this beautiful yard stick serving tray came to be?
A few weeks ago, a friend told me about this abandoned old farmhouse and the person who owned it told her to go out and take whatever she wanted. The three of us got in her old pick up and drove out to the middle of nowhere to this run down old house. It was a little creepy at first, until we went inside and started digging through the dirt to find the gold. And did we ever find gold!
Here are my finds from that day – an old two drawer chest, a rocking chair, old milk crates, tons of milk bottles, lots of old meter / yard sticks, old newspapers and books, two big old windows, an antique typewriter, an old chair, and a few other things – and we got to take it all for free! How crazy is that?!
Today I made my first project with my found materials. I had this tray around that I had decorated for my daughters birthday party last year, but there is only so much you can do with a bright and colorful tray – I mean, it doesn’t really match my decor!
I tore the paper off, and used some chalk paint (Annie Sloan Antibes Green that I received in my SNAP swag bag) to paint the wood. If you haven’t used chalk paint yet, you must. No sanding, no priming, and so easy! I am in love! I did three thin coats and the coverage was amazing. I probably could have got away with two coats but I missed a couple of spots so I wanted to make sure I had it all covered.
While it was drying, I cut my yardsticks into lengths that equaled the width of my tray. I cut them so they would fit snugly in the tray and not need to be glued in, and that was it. I snipped a sprig of hydrangeas and placed it in one of the old milk bottles that I found and put it on the tray and set it on my living room coffee table, where it is fitting in very nicely!
Chelsea says
OH my gosh! Can you say jackpot? You hit the vintage lottery girl. I love your finds! I can’t wait to see what you do with everything. I’m loving the yardsticks. Awesome!!
Sarah says
I’m in the middle of painting the old chair… haven’t decided about the dresser yet… keep the wood or paint?
Leah says
This is my idea of heaven. How awesome! Enjoy your summer.
Sarah says
Mine too! I hope you enjoy your summer as well 🙂
cori warner says
Wow, what a great junkin’ trip! The tray is really cute, those yardsticks are so hard to find!
Sarah says
I know, I feel like I hit the lottery! Thanks so much for stoppin’ by!
Krista @ the happy housie says
I can’t believe those finds!! I would be so beyond excited… amazing fortune. Wow! This tray is so adorable, what a great use of the yard sticks (though I am sure you have several still to spare… Love it!
Sarah says
Thanks Krista! I was like a kid in a candy store, it was awesome 🙂 Thanks so much for the sweet words!
Jenn says
Super cute Sarah!! I’m still jealous of your awesome find! Thanks so much for sharing at The Inspiration Exchange. Pinned and will be featuring this on Saturday. Have a great weekend!
Jenn
P.S. I was wondering if you are going to Blissdom Canada? I’m debating if I shoud go…
Sarah says
Thanks Jenn!
I don’t know, I was debating it, but I heard SheKnows is better then Blissdom… I would love to go to a Canadian one though!
Ruth @ Living Well Spending Less says
Oh my goodness, Sarah! This is perfection!! I’ve never seen a yard stick turned into a beautiful serving tray!! I love the color you chose too!
My readers would love to see how you made this! I’d love it if you linked this up over at Living Well Spending Less for Thrifty Thursday this week! http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/category/thrifty-thursday/
Sarah says
Thanks so much Ruth! Glad you loved it 🙂
Jenna says
this is quite crafty and adorable!
Sarah says
Thanks Jenna! I love how it turned out!
Tanya says
Not only are all of your finds fabulous but this tray turned out so beautiful!!
xo, Tanya
twelveOeight
Meegan says
Oh wow! I wish we could shop together sometime! You hit the motherload! Your tray looks incredible! Pinning.
Danielle says
What treasures you found! Lucky Duck. I simply love your tray and would love you to share it at my link party: http://www.findingsilverpennies.com/2013/07/silver-pennies-sundays-features-and.html It ends tonight at midnight but another one will go live on Sunday morning. x
Jill Flory says
I have long dreamed of having that kind of opportunity! Oh I would be in heaven if I had the chance to go through a house that had such cool stuff in it – and take what I wanted for free! I’m drooling over that dresser and the typewriter! Oh you lucky lucky thing!
Heidi @ Happiness is Homemade says
I’m DYING over your haul! Gah, ah-mazing! I’m seriously in major envy of that typewriter – I’ve wanted one like that for ages! I’ve always wondered how/where people manage to score a whole bunch of old yardsticks at once, but this stash seriously takes the cake. Your tray is great!
Laura@live-love-scrap says
Wow- love that tray! I can’t believe you got all that stuff for free! Golly- someday I hope to get to go through an old house like that!
kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor says
Holy Moly!! I’m now on the hunt to find friends with old abandoned farm houses. What a SCORE!! That’s just awesome. The tray is adorable!!
Julie says
Lovely finds Sarah! Love everything!!
Debbie says
Would love to see what you have done with the rest! 🙂 What a gold mine you had the pleasure of getting into! 🙂 🙂
Sarah says
Do you know what’s awful?! I haven’t done anything with it! I gave the rocking chair to a friend and the rest is STILL sitting in my shed! I really need to do something about that! I do use the small dresser for a display table during parties, but that’s it!