Turn an old kitchen tray into a useful and colourful chalkboard.
Resene upcycling for good with Sarah Herring - Project 61
Finished project
You will need: Sandpaper, testpot brushes, detail brushes, painters’ masking tape and scissors, Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat, Resene Chalkboard Paint or Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen paint in your choice of colour (this works as your blackboard surface): Sarah chose Resene Indian Ink. Resene testpots in your choice of colours: Sarah chose Resene Irresistible, Resene Spray, Resene Bright Spark, Resene Trinidad.
Top tip: This chalkboard could become a to-do list, chore chart for the kids or a welcome sign for a party! Simply wipe it clean with a wet cloth and use it for any purpose you like. It’s a fun way to introduce a pop of bright colour into your home.
Step 1: Give the old kitchen tray a light sand with sandpaper, wipe clean and then apply one coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat using a testpot brush. Sarah didn’t need to paint the underside as her try is designed to be hung against a wall. If you are planning to use the tray as a tray you could prime and paint the underside also.
Step 2: Apply your chosen chalkboard colour in 2-3 coats. You can use Resene Chalkboard Paint or Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen paint.
Step 3: Choose four bright testpots to create a carnival-style striped theme. Sarah chose Resene Irresistible, Resene Spray, Resene Bright Spark and Resene Trinidad. Sarah applied two coats of Resene Irresistible as her first colour over the entire outside of the tray.
Step 4: Once dry mask out and paint stripes to create a frame effect. Sarah did this one colour at a time using Resene Trinidad, Resene Bright Spark and then Resene Spray. It’s best to use a detail brush for these stripes as they are quite narrow. Take your time with each section and make sure the paint on the previous colour is dry before you mask and paint a new one.
Step 5: Once fully dry, use white chalk to turn the tray into a menu board for the kitchen – starting with Taco Tuesday!
Upcycling for Good
You can find a huge range of treasures, from ornaments and picture frames, to furniture and toys at your local Salvation Army store that you can easily upcycle with a little Resene paint and some imagination.
"Our Family Stores are full of treasures generously donated by members of the public. We value these donations and try our hardest to re-purpose and sell as much as possible. We’re all about re-using and recycling, so teaming up with Resene on Upcycling for Good was a perfect match. Resene’s products and tips are a natural fit with our pre-loved furniture and accessories, which are usually great quality but could sometimes do with a lick of paint to ensure they fly off the shelves.
Each year, nationally, our stores save 16,000 tonnes from landfill. This initiative increases the value of the donated product, improves the range of goods for our customers, and furthers The Salvation Army’s mission and Resene’s community activity.” Gareth Marshall, The Salvation Army's National Family Store Manager.