1 Tray...2 Ways

Welcome to my final Lowe's Sponsored Challenge for 2012!
The Challenge : Migrating Garden Taking the garden indoors for the colder months. This is quite the challenge because indoor plants hate me......except for one species. More on that later. I headed off to Lowe's for inspiration. For me, inspiration happens by traveling up and down every single isle. 
I could not believe how fantastic this display was. Lowe's is speaking my language in a big way. Completely forgetting why I came, I found myself wanting this entire vignette. That mirror...perfect (although gold paint would be my choice). That pillow is dying to become an upholstered stool. Those urns need to live in my home. AND THEN I SAW IT....

My inspiration....that tray on the floor holding the towels. 
I rounded the corner with my cart....and there they were

They reminded me of this $80 tray. Only, I liked the handles on the Lowe's tray much better....oh yeah, and I loved the price!
If you are wondering what a tray has to do with a Migrating Garden....I'll get there. By the way, I had to take these home, too.

A few more supplies

Tray makeover time. I wanted the handles gold, so I taped them off

Then I taped newspaper over the tray leaving only the handles exposed

Spray, spray, spray....and you have this

I tried to to take out some of the light reflections in my photo.

Now for the fancy corners. I put the hinges in place with a dab of the glue, and then pre-drilled the holes. Please note that I replaced the screws with shorter ones.

Next, I wanted a contrasting bottom for the tray. For this, I used poster board and some fabric.

Cut the poster board to fit the tray, and wrap it with the fabric

Here is my custom tray

But the title is 1 tray 2 ways....so....here is the other version

Do you have a favorite? I can't decide. 
I'll be back tomorrow to show you how I selected my containers for my Migrating Garden. In the mean time,  click on over to the Lowe's Creative Ideas page where you can find fun projects like this wooden snowflake ornament.

Wooden Snowflake Ornament Tutorial

They use the same drill I use. 
I recently heard that if you live in a building with a handyman,  you are supposed to give him a holiday tip! I am the handyman handy-woman in this building.....wonder what my tip from my family will be? Update - Here is how I selected my containers Update - Here is my Migrating Garden on the tray