A few years ago, I bought a stack of five old trays at a flea market. Five of them for 2.00. Why would I buy a stack of old, rusted metal trays. I asked myself that question too, although I knew I would find some use for them. This past weekend I decided to try a project using some of them. I three of them, spray painted two of them antique gold and one of them white. I did not have to use much spray paint. The paint covered them beautifully. The trays are lightweight metal.

A year of so ago, I had purchased two packs of magnets at Michaels. Two different sizes. For this project, I used the smaller ones. Little round button magnets with 30 magnets in a pack.


I found these uniquely created, dimensional stickers at Michaels, by Martha Stewart. I took my hot glue gun and glued a magnet onto the back of five of the flowers. I hot glued white sheer ribbon bows to the two top sides of the sprayed metal tray. Because the trays are lightweight, the ribbons hold it perfectly.


The magnets work beautifully and this will serve as a message board for my friend on her birthday. Total cost...6.00.
I hope she can find some place to hang it in her home.


These magnets will not hold any heavy objects, but easily hold any memos, appt. cards, or papers of any kind. I took a card and stamped my birthday message to her, added a butterfly and I was finished. I might just hang it on her front door the actual day of her birthday.




Project #2...I took the same magnets...



...hot glued them onto these dimensional stickers that I found in the dollar bin at Michaels. I hot glued magnets onto the back of these stickers(after adding a touch of glitter to each one).

I put the magnets onto the white spray painted tray. I added a brown and white polka dotted ribbon that I had on a roll of ribbon from Michaels.

I created another stamped birthday card and will give this to another friend. Simple, and quite inexpensive gifts for some of my friends. A way to let them know I am thinking about them for almost the same price as mailing them a card.


Another project...I was given these zucchinis from my SIL's garden. She had an abundance of them and I was thrilled to get some. I decided to try a new zucchini bread recipe. Each year I make my old, tried and try recipes, and always try a new one too. The one I tried this time was from Recipezaar. It was by MizzNezz, "My Best Zucchini Bread" #21171

I love using freshly shredded zucchini. It looks so pretty in the mixing bowl. I will definitely make this recipe again. It has applesauce and orange juice in it which gives it a new and different flavor. I think it is delicious! Very moist.

With the second antique gold sprayed tray, I added a paper lace doily and some of my freshly baked zucchini muffins to create another simple gift.

I know in light of all that you have going as you start out your week, you certainly were not thinking about ways to use your old rusted trays. But...just incase you ever need a DIY project, this may work for you. You might even want to create one for a child, with the many fun stickers geared for children.