Mom nabs silver leaf tray from garage sale, transforms it into the coolest thing

Looking for a way to display your favorite Polaroids? While it’s fun to take pictures with an instant camera, finding a frame that they fit in can be a real pain. This photo holder made with a silver tray is both easy to make and lovely to look at. Plus, you can switch out your photos in seconds without any headache.

This project uses a silver leaf tray, but any small tray will do. Select one that matches the style of the room, or upcycle something you already have. A tray with slightly lifted edges is ideal because then the finished photo holder can double as a jewelry holder or coin dish.

- Silver leaf tray
- Painter’s tape
- White acrylic paint
- Paintbrush
- Craft wire
- Wire cutters
- Needle-nose pliers
- High-temperature glue gun
- Hot glue sticks

1. Place the silver tray on the work surface. Wrap painter’s tape around the tray about an inch or so away from the tip of the leaf.

2. Paint the tip of the leaf white. Allow the paint to dry before removing the painter’s tape.

3. Cut a piece of wire about 6 inches long. Use the needle-nose pliers to bend a coil in one end of the wire. You’ll want to coil the wire enough so that you can slip a photo between two parts of the wire.

4. Bend a 90-degree angle in the other end of the wire, then bend a small loop. This will help balance the wire on top of the tray.

5. Glue the loop to the top of the tray and in the center. Allow the glue to dry.

6. Display your new photo holder. Slide a photo into the coiled wire and enjoy!