A Penny for your Thoughts...or a Tray full!


Check out the different backings from different years ~~ love~~. 
The older one's went into the bottom corner of the penny tray. 


covered in polycrylic

May 23rd is National Lucky Penny Day, btw. Never heard of this prior to stumbling across a Pinterest post on it. Now, I already had these two projects in the works prior to finding out that there was a lucky penny day but had stalled on them. I'm notorious for littering our basement with half completed projects. So, National Lucky Penny Day became Just-Finish-the-Penny-Projects-by-this-Day day. It was a lot of gluing while watching TV, but they are done! (ish....one is short some sealant).

Penny Tray: Dine in or Lap Top Friendly

Balancing pillows on my legs while working on my lap top in bed isn't very effective. A bit too wobbly. This tray was a $2 garage sale score and the inspiration came from Domestically Speaking, click here to see her beautiful version.

I accidentally deleted some of the "during" photos, but here is what I could find. For a better idea of how I "painted" the oak see the tutorial at Domestically Speaking.

The tacky glue worked about 99% of the time, a couple pennies needed regluing...but maybe they didn't get enough glue to begin with...so maybe not the glue's fault.

Project is still being sealed with polycrylic. As you can imagine, it will take several layers to fill up the spaces between the pennies.


BUT, in the meantime, it is functional.




breakfast in bed? 

and after breakfast, no need to get out of bed to blog!



Garden Gazing Ball

I have absolutely no idea why gazing balls exist. 

What is their purpose?

Is it just because they are cute? 

Scare bugs away? 

Or attract bugs? 

Or something to look at in the dreary winter?

Whatever the reason, our garden now has one. 

Thank you Dollar Tree for the small candle votive. All the pennies, and I do mean ALL the pennies
, on this project have the exact same side facing up. Its the newer design for penny backs. After finding a handful of uniquely old ones while gluing pennies on the tray, I kinda became obsessed with that was on the back of the penny. A huge benefit of going with the newer pennies is the shine, no cleaning required.






Since this wasn't going to get sealed, I went with a tougher glue, generously applied. So far no pennies have fallen off. The painters tape helped hold sections in place while the glue set.  




 just noticed my foot photo-bombed...and you can't even see the cute pedi! sheesh


I look forward to seeing the copper age and weather over this next round of seasons. 

Copper and blue pair well. :)



On an entirely different note: the hydrangea above, in the large teapot, nearly lost a battle with a hail storm, followed by snow, followed by days and days and days and days of rain and gloom (weird weather for this time of year). 

BUT, this morning I noticed some tender new leaves bravely sprouting. 

~fingers crossed that the sun stays out and the hydrangea bounces back~
hmmmm, maybe a lucky penny nearby will help? ha ha 




Well, happy Lucky Penny Day. (Whatever that means.)


P.S. Here is that cute pedi that the camera didn't capture. I NEVER get my toes done. It was a mother's day present with my little seven year old princess (who giggled thru the salt scrub ~precious~). While the paint won't last, at least the picture, and more importantly, the memory, will. :)



Comments

  1. Love the penny tray, now I want one. I'm with you ~ don't get the garden globes, but I like your take on it. It will be neat to watch is patina. The toes are super sweet...almost as sweet as the idea of your little giggling through the day! Fun!

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    Replies
    1. Glad I'm not the only one who is scratching their head over the garden glove craze. :)

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  2. You've done it I want a penny tray now love it so cool thanks for the idea now I'm gonna have to make one

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  3. Cute idea with the penny tray! Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop! I hope you’ll join us again next week!

    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick
    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have always wanted to do penny project like these. I think I have that exact tray and I have a lot of pennies. Hummmm. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

    Cindy @ Upcycled Design Lab

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  5. Love that tray idea. I was just thinking last night that I really need to get something like that to hold my laptop when I'm working in bed. Who knew that pennies could be so decorative!!! Jamie | anderson + grant

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  6. Oh, I love this idea!
    Fingers crossed for your hydrangea :)
    Hope you will share your post with our party:
    http://milaslittlethings.com/2015/05/idea-box-thursday-link-party-12.html

    Hugs,
    Mila

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for linking up with iDEA boX !
      Your post has been featured:)
      http://milaslittlethings.com/2015/06/idea-box-thursday-link-party-13.html

      xx
      Mila

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  7. What fun projects. I like the tray best. We are so glad you shared with us at Merry Monday! I’m looking forward to your newest additions to the party next week!

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  8. Aren't the pennies in the garden supposed to ward off snails? I think so....Love the tray. My brother when younger used to collect wheat pennies, and although I find them few and far between, I still give them to him!

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    Replies
    1. I had to google wheat pennies and then realized I had some! haha Good to know about the snails although we don't have any here.

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  9. Audra- what a unique idea! It would also make a great gift to give someone a penny product using only coins minted in the year the person was born. Cheers!

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  10. Hi Audra. Great projects. I especially love the tray. I want one too but I don't think I'd get enough pennies here in Canada. We don't have them anymore.

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  11. Such a beautiful tray and gazing ball! You are featured and we are so excited to have you share your crafts with us at the Creative Craft Challenge!
    Thank you so much for joining us!

    http://redoityourselfinspirations.blogspot.com/2015/11/creative-craft-challenge-11.html

    ReplyDelete

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