My name is Tracy, but you can call me Martha: My New Napkin Bowl

I have a Google Doc entitled "Blog Ideas." It's my scrapbook of projects I'd like to try, crafts I want to make, gifts I want to sew, recipes I want to try, etc. Perhaps if there were about 28 hours in a day I might be able to get around to all my inspiration links and photos in, oh... say... about 9 or 10 years.

When I came across this link from Traci at Beneath My Heart, I knew I had to make my own fruit bowl. How wonderfully shabby chic, country-home is this?

Wooden Fruit Bowl from Beneath My Heart

I happen to already have a fruit bowl I love, but I figured it was too cute to pass up and after all, wooden bowl- shouldn't be too hard to find, spray paint- just a couple bucks, one Sunday afternoon- I've got that... piece of cake! If only I knew that I have 0 spray painting skills!

I found almost an identical wooden fruit stand (the tag said "compote") for $4.50 at a local flea markety-antique store. (I felt that I overpaid seeing as how Traci paid just $3.50 for hers.)

I followed Traci's tip and rubbed all the edges with a candlestick. It worked so well! My painting skills on the other hand... not so much. Here is photo documentation of why you should always allow enough time for two.... or three coats:

Not pretty! Apparently the key to spray painting is a series of short, sweeping blasts of paint about 6-8" away from the surface. Not a constant hose of paint that gets closer... and closer... and closer to the surface. Fortunately for me an extra coat was all it took. Here is the final product, which now holds my napkins, after sanding the edges a bit to add a rustic flair:

Cute, right??

Get Your Craft On! Tuesday @ Today's Creative Blog