DOLLAR TREE METAL SERVING TRAY WREATH

I know I told you I'd be back this week with a Thanksgiving tablescape, but my grand plans for doing that over the weekend didn't pan out.  I never, ever decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving, but we started dragging things out over the weekend.  And, it's still a mess!  However, if you need a few tips on how to set a beautiful table, go check out my newest post at Word Slingers here.

Since I'll be setting the table at my Mom and Dad's house on Wednesday, I'll skip on over and share another dollar store craft with you today.

After I came home with a handful of trays and made my chalkboard garland, a lightbulb went off in my head and I remembered seeing this pin from a Show Home a little while back.

Hammers & High Heels

I fell in love with it, but thought it would take forever to round up that many thrifted silver trays to make my own.  Then, I realized that I could use the trays from Dollar Tree!

I knew right away that I wanted my wreath to be a big statement over the mantle this year.  So, using the peacock mirror that normally hangs up there as a guide to get the circle right, I laid out the bottom layer of trays (there were 8), just eyeballing to space them evenly.

Then, I alternated the rectangle and oval trays in a layer on top of the circles to give some variety.  I applied hot glue to the edges of the trays underneath that would be covered up, and then stuck a tray on top between them.

Lastly, I added 6 more round trays in the center, scooting them closer to the center and hot-gluing them to the edges of the layer underneath.

I carefully flipped the entire thing over (if it bends too much when you're handling it the spots with the glue will pop loose).  Then, I squirted more hot glue at all of the meeting points to make everything more secure.

After working through another one with my Dad, we decided that it probably would have been better to make a big cardboard form-like a donut-to use as the base and glue the bottom layer to that.  It would be more secure.  Mine is working out fine as is, so that's just another option if you want to try this out.  We also thought something like Liquid Nails might hold together better, but the hot glue was fine too.  *Update- mine came apart pretty easily after Christmas when storing.  It's not a big deal to glue it back together, but I'll definitely be attaching it to a cardboard ring this time.

To hang it, I used a piece of jute rope and hot glued the ends down, then glued a piece of ribbon over that to make sure it wouldn't come loose.  The wreath really isn't very heavy and this has worked out great.

The size ended up being around 45" in diameter, so not bad for $22 and some hot glue!

To top everything off, I got a wild hair and could envision this thing glowing at night.  So, I used some Frog Tape to secure a 100 ct. string of lights to the back.

The lights aren't quite as bright as I would have liked, but it is a soft, warm glow at night.

I've played around with 4-5 different bows, ultimately not liking any of them.  I'm enjoying it as-is for now, but have a few ideas to dress it up a little bit more when I decorate my mantle (DIY gold painted vases found here).

Here it is all finished up for Christmas:

I have one more metal tray project to show you next week, unless I think of something else to use these for between now and then!

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