If you prefer expensive kitchen textiles and decorative items, you’re obviously in the wrong place. I don’t want to be rude, but seriously, expensive is so not cool.
Enter my eezy-peezy DIY project:
DISPLAY STANDS
I “borrowed” this extremely adorable and creative idea from Kate, The Centsational Girl. Her blog is all about life’s fabulous-ness and home decorating……..for less. I totally dig that about her ~ I wish she’d come and rescue my drab house!
Anyway, thanks to Kate and this post, I was inspired to create my own display/dessert stands.
First, you need to visit your local thrift store. There is a Goodwill exactly 3.8 miles from my house. I’ve been to this establishment many times. I have a frequent customer card. Unfortunately, I never remember to take it with me. Fortunately, I shop on Wednesdays and get everything half-off. Saaah-weeet!
This particular Goodwill store has a very large home goods sections. In fact, there are two aisles of mixed glassware, plates, saucers, and other miscellaneous items. I picked up several different sizes of plates, as well as stem-ware and candlesticks for added height and stability. During my recent GA (Goodwill Adventure), I found a ceramic pillar holder about four-inches in diameter and four-inches-tall that I put under an over-sized round platter. The platter was really large, so it was important the base was extra sturdy.
Once you have a variety of thrifted items, you will need three more “ingredients” to complete your DIY creation: primer, paint, and silicone. I found all three at the Home Depot, pronounce Dee-Pot, cuz I’m cool like that.
I describe this DIY project as fun, cute, creative, and cheap. Including the GA items and paint supplies, I spent less than $35.00. I splurged a bit by purchasing multiple colors of paint because I plan to use different colors with tablescapes at future get-togethers. Besides, plain and boring monotone colors don’t cut the mustard.
aqua, red, white, purple, pink, orange, and black
Once you’ve got your collection of materials, the rest is eeezy-peezy.
Remove any price tags and hand-wash each item with soap and water. Rinse and dry completely.
I found a package of large writing boards in the garage. I placed one of the boards on the bed of Husband’s gooseneck trailer and that provided a clean work surface to paint these display stands. I promised Husband I would keep his beloved (and rusted) trailer clean with this paper. It makes for easy clean-up too.
Who needs a Craft Room when you have paper boards, wood scraps, and a gooseneck trailer?!
Who needs props or a fancy studio when you have half-ton hay bales and a step stool?!
Prep the surface by spraying an even coat of primer on all exposed areas.
Wait at least 30 minutes.
Then, apply a second coat.
When the primer is dry, arrange items on a hay bale then stand on a step stool to snap a cool shot with a horse trailor in the background.
Consider yourself uber-cool.
Once the primer is dry, liberally apply your selected paint color.
Hold the can of spray paint a few inches from the surface and use long, even strokes. I paint the surface from left-to-right, then up-and-down. If you like geography, pretend you’re painting the four compass points: from North to South, then East to West.
That’s your social studies lesson for the day.
Wait an hour and apply a second coat. Let dry for several hours, preferably overnight.
Unless you live in Texas where it’s 3,409 degrees with a breeze ~ I call it Living In A Hairdryer ~ and your items will dry in less than an hour.
When the pieces are dry, you’re ready to assemble into display stands.
Apply a liberal amount of silicone sealant to the edge of the glassware or flat edge of a candlestick.
Carefully arrange in the center of the plate.
Wait at least 30 minutes to one hour before testing the silicone seal. When it’s completely dry, you can do the Lift Test.
VIOLA!
Congratulations, you can now make your own creative, cute, and oh-so-cheap display stands for cakes, cupcakes, cookies, dips, whatever you want!
I call this the Halloween Collection.
Make your own set and send me photos at nicole.m.hutchison (at) gmail.com. I can’t wait to see your creations!
Happy Thrift Hunting and Spray Painting!
When you are ready to use these display stands, be sure to use a sheet of wax or parchment paper, or one of those lacey-fancy paper sheets under any food items. It is NOT a smart idea to have food come into direct contact with paint. Just sayin’.
Toodles, Y’all!!!!!
