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Thrifty Upcycled Nautical Serving Set

The nautical crafting continues today with the fabulous Katie.  She has a knack for transforming thrifted items and hardware store purchases into chic home decor and serving-ware.  In fact, I can almost guarantee you are going to want to throw a summer shin-dig after checking out the fun project she has to share with you all today.  The closet floor is yours, Katie!

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Hello Thinking Closet Readers! It’s Katie, and I blog over at View From The Fridge. I’m super pumped to be here today. I just love Lauren’s blog, and I’m happy to have the chance to share a fun project with you today while Lauren is busy with her musical debut week!

Since I know Lauren loves the nautical look (hello gorgeous Master Bedroom that I’ve swooned over an embarrassing amount of times), and I know she also loves a good upcycle (who doesn’t?) … my project today involves both!

It’s also an easy project. Easy like you can’t mess it up … even with a house full of crazy neighborhood boys running around to distract you. Easy like you can finish in less than an hour (better known to me as … a nap time project)! Easy like you could complete it while wearing a 5 week old. Easy like … okay you get the picture …  So …

$0.49 Thrifted Cake Pan + Roll of Rope from Hardware Store = ????

Turns out … a cute Nautical Serving Tray (complete with handles) AND a set of cute coasters!

Thrifty Upcycled Nautical Serving Set.  Love that you can whip this up so easily with items from your local thrift and hardware stores.  Now that's my kind of project!

I have an odd obsession with thrifted cake pans. Not to actually use for cake baking (I’m a terrible baker), but for decor purposes. A couple months ago I made these DIY Sailors Mirrors from cake pans, and I’m currently crafting one for use as art in a gallery wall in Baby Ben’s Nursery.

Thrifty Upcycled Nautical Serving Set.  Love that you can whip this up so easily with items from your local thrift and hardware stores.  Now that's my kind of project!

When my husband came home with this rope from the hardware store a couple weeks ago … an idea started forming in my mind. I’m pretty sure he had a yard project in mind for this rope, but my nautical serving set is much more fun … don’t you agree?

Want to make one for your next gathering?

Here’s what you’ll need:

SUPPLIES

Thrifty Nautical Inspired Serving Set

  1. Cake pan (check Goodwill … ours seems to have a very extensive selection of cheap pans).
  2. Rope from the hardware store. Ours is 1/4″ sisal rope. I think it was around $5 for the whole roll.
  3. Drill and drill bit large enough to fit your rope through (I used a 1/4″ bit, and it worked fine).
  4. Hot glue and hot glue gun.
  5. Scrapbook paper.
  6. Mod Podge.
  7. A sealer (we used Polycrylic) if you want to make your tray waterproof.

And here’s how it all goes down …

PROCESS

Thrifty Nautical Inspired Serving Set

  1. Drill four holes in your pan for your handles (two on each side, approximately 4″ from one another).
  2. Thread rope through each hole, and tie a knot on the inside (add a drop of hot glue to knot if desired).
  3. Do this on both sides of pan to form two handles.
  4. Start wrapping the outside of your cake pan in rope! Start on the top by adding plenty of hot glue and simply continue wrapping, adding glue every so often (be generous).
  5. Once you’ve covered the entire outside edge of pan with rope, cut the rope, and glue in place with hot glue.
  6. Now … add some color and pattern to your tray. Once you’ve cut a circle the same size as the inside of your tray out of scrapbook paper, apply a thick layer of Mod Podge to the bottom of your pan.
  7. Press the scrapbook paper circle on top of Mod Podge and apply another top coat of Mod Podge. Once dry, this will create a glossy finish and secure the paper to the tray. If you want to make sure it’s waterproof, you’ll want to apply a top coat of Polycrylic once the Mod Podge dries.
  8. That’s it … tray is complete!
Thrifty Upcycled Nautical Serving Set.  Love that you can whip this up so easily with items from your local thrift and hardware stores.  Now that's my kind of project!
And it works! Drinks are served!

Now … with so much rope still around, I decided to also make coasters. Again … these couldn’t be easier. You’ll just need some felt cut into circles about the desired size of your coasters.

And here’s how to make these:

Thrifty Upcycled Nautical Serving Set.  Love that you can whip this up so easily with items from your local thrift and hardware stores.  Now that's my kind of project!

  1. Add a large ‘dollop’ of hot glue to the center of the felt circle.
  2. Start wrapping the rope around itself in a tight circle and stick in place on the coaster.
  3. Continue wrapping the rope, adding some hot glue as you go (no need to be exact).
  4. When you get to the end, simply add another dollop of glue to the cut end.

Easy, right?!

Thrifty Upcycled Nautical Serving Set.  Love that you can whip this up so easily with items from your local thrift and hardware stores.  Now that's my kind of project!
Finished Set

Thrifty Upcycled Nautical Serving Set.  Love that you can whip this up so easily with items from your local thrift and hardware stores.  Now that's my kind of project!

It also makes a great utensil caddy for a larger party with some painted tin cans:

Thrifty Upcycled Nautical Serving Set.  Love that you can whip this up so easily with items from your local thrift and hardware stores.  Now that's my kind of project!
Also serves as a utensil caddy.

Anyone up for happy hour?

Thrifty Upcycled Nautical Serving Set.  Love that you can whip this up so easily with items from your local thrift and hardware stores.  Now that's my kind of project!

WRAP UP

Thanks so much to Lauren for having me here today. I hope this past week has been a crazy and busy, but AWESOME and EXCITING week for Lauren and her musical. I can’t wait to hear about it!

As for you, lovely Thinking Closet readers, I’d be thrilled if you wanted to stop by View From The Fridge and say “hello” when you get a minute. I blog about crafts, DIY, kids stuff, and other random thoughts that pop into my mind!

Or … you can also connect with me here:

Facebook / Google+ / Twitter / Pinterest / Bloglovin’

Have a wonderful weekend!

~Katie

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18 Comments

  1. Never thought to use a cake pan for a tray! The nautical look is so easy as you described, and I checked out your nautical mirror. Super cute!

  2. Very lovely, I had no idea it was a cake tin at first! It looks especially good with the cutlery tins. Not that it doesn’t look great as a tray too…I’l stop talking now!

  3. Looks like I’ve just added another project to my must-do list! Thanks for sharing this adorable project with us, Katie – and thanks Lauren, as always, for sending some inspiration our way!

  4. This is a great source of inspiration! Before I even finished reading, my head was churning out different ideas for making my own tray… like using a 13×9. I have a Goodwill trip planned for next weekend, so I will have to add “cake pan” to my list. I am the only person that makes a list for Goodwill? lol Great post! thanks for sharing.

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