My friend Laura wrote a book.
It’s called DIY Rustic Modern Metal Crafts.
There are 187 pages full of ideas and projects and metal creations and to say it is inspiring and exhilarating and creative is like saying the sky is blue.
All day long and twice on Sundays.
This, however, is not a project from her book.
It’s a project I made up from the book I may or may not write one day called, “How to Buy Things for Under $5.00 and Make Them Look Like They Belong On Fifth Avenue in New York City.”
I think it just might be a best seller.
I have wanted a galvanized boot tray for a while.
You know, the ones that look like you have a country house and horses and stables and super cute riding gear.
Even if you don’t.
But the one thing I have in abundance here at Thistlewood?
Mud.
And all that mud means people take off their shoes and boots at the door.
If you have searched for boot trays like I have, you know that a galvanized boot tray can run upwards of $75 for a size big enough to hold three or four pairs of boots and that is exactly why I almost had a boot tray come apart when I found this at Wal-Mart.
$4.97.
Yep.
Almost the same price as a really good cup of coffee with whipped cream on top.
The only challenge is that it wasn’t galvanized.
It was plastic.
No worries.
Especially when you can go all Tim Gunn and make it work over on aisle 26 where I found this can of hammered metal spray paint.
And when you take that plastic boot tray and spray paint it….
….the tray ends up looking all high end and fabulous and stable-like.
And when you let it dry and tuck it by the front door and add a pair of boots it ends up looking like this.
One step away from a champion horse breeding farm.
$4.97.
I know….right?
Is it wrong that I hugged myself and told the tray Fifth Avenue was calling?
All day long and twice on Sundays. 🙂
Now if you are a little more adventurous and want to try some real galvanized metal projects, Laura has created a few and wrote a book all about it just for you.
A book has projects like this.
Like these amazing rustic metal planters.
And this washtub side table.
All the projects come with these easy to follow instructions and an entire section featuring the tools you need for the projects.
I’m so incredibly proud of Laura and so honored to call her friend and she inspires me each and every day. So much so that I totally see so many galvanized projects in my future.
Right after I put down my spray paint. 🙂
PS You can order the book on Amazon here.
PPS To celebrate the launch of her book, Laura designed these galvanized metal ornaments based on her sugar house located on her property in the Hudson Valley.
Aren’t they the cutest and they are only $6.95!
I just listed a few in the Painted Fox shop if you are looking for a one-of-a-kind ornament for your tree this year. 🙂
And now I know where I'm getting a cute galvanized tray for our doggie bowls. Thank you!!
This is BRILLIANT Renae!!!! Thank you so much for the idea...going to do the same! PERFECT...Hugs and have a great one : )
Thank you so much friend! You are the queen of creative project ideas - and magical rooms! I am off to go spray paint a few things - as soon as the rain stops!!! Love you friend!
Love ur tray. Keep ur eye out because I've found these trays at Dollar Tree in the aisle where kitchen wares, placemats, etc are located on the bottom shelves! Boot size, heavy plastic and large.
I'm still rooting for that book, KariAnne!!!! Brilliant boot tray idea:)
Rustic metal, what a great idea! :)
Absolutely love it! Love the shape of the tray too- bonus:)
You better write that book! Seems like everything I drool over is way over $4.99! I love your tray!
Oh, the possibilities are endless! If you hear of a hammered-metal-spray paint shortage in western Nebraska in the next few weeks, it may or may not have anything to do with me. ;-) Thanks for the brilliant inspiration, my friend, and congratulations to Laura on her wonderful book!
Great idea…Spray does wonders on lots of things. They have such cool sprays now too. Thanks also for the book you mentioned. Looks like a great book..I love this time of year that everyone can search for the great repurpose ideas..
Stellar! And brilliant as always! You go girl, 'cause I think your phone is ringing and I'm SURE it's 5th ave.....or a publishing house.
Great Project! Thanks so much!
I love anything 'faux metal', lol. And the hammered metallic spray paints . . . love. I used to use them on PVC pipes for drapery rods (for light fabrics). Thanks for the reminder. Sometimes I forget DIY can be as simple as grabbing a can of spray paint!
Who knew plastic could look so good!! : )
Love the tray! I've always wanted one as well. Now it's looking far more possible. Oh and thanks for introducing me to that paint too! I fear there is going to be a ton of faux galvanizing going on around here.
I happen to have a new boot tray that I'm giving the stink eye to; it's just sitting there all rubbery and black and stuff, so I think I will get myself to the WalMart and get that spray paint, because I also would like it if Fifth Avenue called. :) Do I need to prime first? Did you?
Seriously Ka you need your own diy /sitcom!!!!!
It's like you jumped in my head and read my mind. Again! Finally, a place to put my muddy Texas winter boots that looks like a million bucks but costs a whole lot less. Seriously, I was just thinking about how much I needed this last night.
Or a champion beef cattle farm in Southern Indiana!!! Thanks, mine had too low of a lip if you know what I mean.
Sometimes genius is in the simplest of things! I have to wash my trays first, but I am following you to the bank on this one! Thanks!
What a great project! It totally looks authentic! I almost bought a metal tray the other day and your fun project today gave me a great Christmas idea for my own metal tray! Thank you thank you thank you...Ms. Clever One. :) Nancy
You, oh brilliant guru, are our beacon of inspiration of all things affordable!! I love your idea and to think it won't rust!! Perfect!! You rock!!! Big hugs!
What aisle was that again????????? "A" mazing!!!!!! Absolutely worthy of "5th Avenue"!!!!!! (Besides... you DO LIVE in Blue Grass country... and those horses & stables ... well they are in abundance you know!!!! )
Deserving of another ruby in your "Thistle" crown. Great idea!
Hey, I have a couple of those trays...used for puppy bowls! Ha. Sheila
Ooh, this book looks awesome! Thanks for the head's up!
Oh I love the faux galvanized boot tray! I have always wanted one too but they are way to pricey for me. Such a cleaver idea to turn a plastic one into a faux one! You just keep making my projects to try list grow longer and longer!!
I can't wait for the book you WILL someday write!
Love galvanized anything. I'm a total sucker for places like The Tractor Supply Store with it's bounty of galvanized feed tins. Now I need a good source for the round table top- such a cute idea!
I absolutely love this DIY project...thank you for sharing!
I did the exact same thing with one of those trays a few months ago. I use it as a mat for my pets' food and water bowl. It looks so nice in the kitchen. Such a great buy!
Cute. I am just thinking it would stay cute at my house becasue no one ever takes off their shoes and boots where they should....in the mud room! Happy Thanksgiving, Linda
oh Kari Ann , i LOVE you!!! and by the way, i always sing that song when i read your name:).....We have LOTS of boys and cows AND MUDD...and have wanted on of those WAY TO HIGH trays for mudd!!!!! i am making lots for our huge muddy family for CHRISTMAS!!!!!!! Cannot thank you enough , VERY smart girl!!!!!
This boot tray is definitely champion horse breeding farm material:D Love it!
I love your boot tray Karianne and that Charlie Brown-ish Christmas tree is so cute. My favorite look for a mudroom is what I call equestrian chic. Your friend's book and ornie are beautiful.
You are the Whip! Thank you for sharing this and I can't wait to read the book!!
I am SO making one of these trays!!!
How fun that your tray is so low budget because it definitely has a high end look. Versatile too, because I could see one of these in a man cave, teen room and so on. LOVE!