Faux Zinc Tray Tutorial

In case you missed it, here’s a re-post of my latest ‘Pinspiration’ project that I originally shared on Heather’s blog, Setting for Four.

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I have seen many tutorials on how to make paper mache letters look like zinc, but I was especially intrigued by this post that claimed you could easily create a zinc finish with just two paint colours.

Source: House Stuff Works via Claire on Pinterest

I’ve tested it out and I’m thrilled to tell you that yes, it really is that simple!

I started with a wooden tray from Goodwill that was just waiting for its next life. I bought it at the same time as this tray that already received a “Cinderella makeover.”

Since the tray was originally green I decided to spray paint it with gray primer before giving it the faux zinc treatment.

(Looking better already!)

Once the primer dried (one of the good things about our crazy hot weather this summer), I painted the tray with one coat of black acrylic paint.

Then, it was time for the magic!

 

With an old paintbrush, I dry-brushed on white pearl paint. FYI: I bought this paint at Michaels with a 40% off coupon but I have also seen it at Walmart.

While painting, I concentrated more paint on the edges and corners and applied the paint in long strokes.

Once I was happy with the coverage, I went back and added more paint in different directions to the center of the tray.

 

Rather than add too much, I decided to stop here and live with it for a while. I can always add more in the future.

The amount of black paint left showing is completely up to you and how you want your piece to look.

Two steps and two bottles of paint! That’s it!

My finished tray will make a cute home for my smallest tea tin succulent planter . . .

or a lovely turquoise trio borrowed from my mantel.

See that ribbed bottle? It’s an upcycled soya sauce bottle! I poured acrylic paint into it and swirled it around until the sides were covered. The streaky finish was a complete fluke and I love it!

 

{Black paint + white pearl paint = faux zinc}

 

If you liked that, I’d love for you to check out some more of my Pinterest-inspired creations. Here are three more ‘Pinspiration’ projects to get you started!

Thanks for reading (or, if you already checked this out on Setting For Four and you’re still with me, re-reading!) and have a great day!

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I link up at: Serenity Now, I {Heart} Naptime, Under The Table And Dreaming, Nifty Thrifty Things, Simply Klassic Home, Home Stories A to Z, Craftomaniac, Skip To My Lou, Not JUST A Housewife, A Bowl Full Of Lemons, Alderberry Hill, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, A Diamond In The Stuff, Creatively Living, The Winthrop Chronicles, Clean & Scentsible, Oopsey Daisy, Lil’ Luna, Someday Crafts, Live.Laugh.Rowe, The 36th Avenue, aka design, House of Hepworths, 52 Mantels, Thrifty Decorating, Crafty Scrappy Happy, How To Nest For Less, Tatertots & Jello, The Grant Life, It’s Overflowing, Lolly Jane, Too Much Time, Six Sisters’ Stuff, Positively Splendid, My {Re}purposed Life, Unrefined By Design, Dragonfly Designs, Just Us Four, Liz Marie Blog, Every Creative Endeavor and The Crafted Sparrow