Decor Love: Custom Acrylic Tray

Happy Hump Day! I hope you are all getting a dose of Spring like we are! Yesterday we were able to open all of the windows and get some vitamin D during Ruby's walk, and it felt so good.

After getting myself organized last night, I'm hoping I can get back into spring cleaning, organizing, and my mini office update this week. I'll just be working on a few smaller projects until we come back from Europe, so it will take a bit for it all to come together. Not that you'd expect it to be fast, given my slow progress on the master bedroom!

If you've seen my office inspiration on Pinterest, you know I have a thing for acrylic. I have a few smaller acrylic desk accessories, but I liked the idea of a tray to use as a catch-all. I get major anxiety when my desk is unorganized, so here's hoping this tray will help me keep my shit together!

This project is way too easy, especially if you have access to a laminator.

What you will need:

Acrylic Box Frame: $3 after 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby
Scrapbook Paper: 25/cents each, I think. (I used 12x12 paper, but 8x10 also works)
Laminating for 2 pieces of Paper: $4 (I went to UPS)
Scissors, Exacto Knife, or Paper Cutter: Owned

Grand Total: $7.50

I noticed a similar (and really pretty) project on A Fabulous Fete, but I didn't want to bother with the spray paint, tape, and the clean up so I went with pretty scrapbook paper.

Craft stores have a bunch of different sizes in the box frames. It comes with a cheap cardboard insert... throw it out. Cut your paper to fit the inside of the box, making sure it is small enough that it will fit once it's laminated. Get your paper laminated, trim the edges, and place inside tray.

I didn't use anything to stick the paper to the tray, it's not really necessary. Also, please don't judge my tray styling, or lack thereof. I promise it will look prettier once I make some more progress!
 

Tape Dispenser

Cheap shadow box to pretty desk tray. I told you this was easy. Now that I see it written out, it's almost embarrassing!

Here it is with my other paper option, but I think I like the gold quatrefoil better. At least until I make my desk white!

If you want something with a monogram, you can get free printables here (though they may be a little small for this particular shadow box) or add an acrylic monogram like I did here.

It's very likely every room in our house will have one of these pretty trays, sooner or later. I mean... Bar tray. Vanity tray. So many possibilities!