This #PalmoliveMultiSurface shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias
Winter is finally over. I hope. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining and I am itching to be outside. After being stuck inside for so long, the last thing on my mind is cleaning. I want a tidy house, but I don’t want to spend a lot of time on it when it is finally the perfect temperature to be outside. The worst room to clean is my kitchen. It’s a never ending task of dirty dishes and surfaces that need to be scrubbed. Sometimes I think people sneak into my kitchen carrying loads of dishes. So far my dream of having elves show up each night and clean, like in the fairy tale The Elves and The Shoemaker, has not come true. Until that impossible day, I am relying on the Palmolive® Mutli Surface cleaner I picked up at Walmart. Not only can I use it on dishes, I can use it on all my kitchen surfaces. Bonus-it kills 99.9% of bacteria, (*staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica and E. coli ((157:H7)) from dishes and hard non porous kitchen surfaces.) leaving me time to do fun things instead of cleaning.
I am a fan of entertaining (and yes, unfortunately, that means more dishes,) outdoors during the warmer months. I had my eye on a mosaic serving tray, but, at $20 to $60, I was loathe to fork out the cash. In my spare time left over from cleaning my kitchen with new Palmolive® Multi Surface, I decided to make one instead. I found a plain wooden tray at the thrift store for $1. It was okay, but nothing to write home about. Here’s how to make a mosaic tray on the cheap.
I spray painted it with white paint and let it dry.
After it dried I spread a layer of grout on the bottom of the try. While it was still wet, I added a layer of glass beads I picked up at the dollar store for a buck.
I covered them with a layer of white grout. Important hint here: Make sure to cover the surface evenly with the grout and wipe off the glass beads with a paper towel while the grout is still wet.
Allow the grout to dry. You can add a layer of sealer on the top if you like or cover the grout with a piece of glass cut to fit the tray. The tray looks just as nice as any I have seen, but cost much less! The most expensive part was the grout, but I picked mine up at the craft store. The entire project cost around $10 and can be used for years.
I’m also sharing my three best speed cleaning tips to get you out of the kitchen faster.
1) Clean from top to bottom. Have you ever cleaned one surface and then crumbs have fallen down on it? Start at the top and save the headache.
2) Clean one area at a time. This is my downfall. I can be cleaning, see something out of place and move to do it. Then I have to come back. By cleaning one area at a time, I don’t have to back track.
3) Keep all your supplies within reach. Nothing is worse than realizing I don’t have all the tools I need with me. I have to stop, go find my brush, broom, or whatever and start again.
What are you crafting in your spare time?
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Love the tray! Palmolive® Multi Surface really sounds like a time saver! I am working on crafting some office decor and could use the extra time! #client
Someone actually made me one of these trays as a gift and I love it!! I may have to give this a try!!
Very cute! Also I love palmolive, especially the lavender scent
This turned out very good. is the surface smooth enough for a glass of water though? I would use it to display pretty things on a coffee table
I’m not sure if it would be smooth enough for a glass of water, but it is great for holding plates, utensils and things of that nature.
I am using Palmolive regularly at my home. I really love this mosaic tray. Looks like a very cute idea. It has come out really well and gives an awesome decorative look as well.
This is so cool, I really would love to make this with my kids! Maybe we will try this out one day.
I am updating my front porch at the moment. Recovering chair cushions and adding some amazing touches.
This is such a cute idea. I will have to get the materials i need to make one this weekend.
This is such a creative project! I would love to make this tray. Love the idea of a mosaic!
The tray you made looks beautiful. Your directions make it sound as if it is something easy enough for anyone to make.
What a great craft idea. It is so springish. I will have to make it soon
Thats such a cool idea! I would love to make one with different colored glass stones!
Such a wonderful tray – thanks for telling us how to make this one. I would have to give it a try.
Thanks for the tutorial. Your mosaic tray turned out great.
I don’t craft too much but this is such a cute idea. I have a tray or two laying around and I have grout from all the the remodeling we have been doing. I love Palmolive too. I will have to try this new multisurface kind.
This is a wonderful project piece and a lot easier than expected. I’m thinking mothers day gift?
Who knew it was that easy? What a cool idea!
Cool idea, and I love that palmolive is antibacterial. Score!
I think the best part of your post was the cleaning tips at the end! I really appreciate those!
I love mosaics! I think your tray is gorgeous!
WOW this looks very simple and your instructions were detailed. I may need to do this. TY!
I would have never thought to do this. It is a super crazy cool idea!
That mosaic tray looks really nice to make and have! I need to add it to my DIY projects!
Pam, this is such a clever idea! I like your tray way better than the store bought version. We are a Palmolive family because it works!
This is such a fun idea. i love the look of mosaic.
I love doing craft projects like this with my daughter.
Very cool idea for an old tray. I will have to try this
The mosaic tray would make a very beautiful mothers day gift for serving breakfast in bed. Very crafty and pretty.
This tray would be perfect to put next to the sink in the kitchen. I love how easy it is to make and how decorative it is.
What a really nice idea! It turned out great! Great for breakfast in bed!
Oh I love this! That’s is a really cute idea. I could use one at my place it’s really nice and doesn’t look at hard at all!
I am not crafting anything but I do use Palmolive for washing my floors and baby bottles. So many uses.
Well, Pam – you made that look fun and easy – thank you – I’ll keep this in my folder just in case 🙂
That would be a really fun craft idea. Thanks for telling me about it, now I need some Pamolive.
What a great idea on making that mosaic tray. Seems like it would be good craft for kids to make for mother’s day.
I didn’t know you could do this! That is such a cool project. #2 of your cleaning tips is my downfall as well. I need to focus on one thing!
How cute! This would definitely be cheaper to make than buy, serving trays like these are always so expensive!
I like Palmolive. I like all the different scents they offer.
what a cute tray that is. I like the color you used.
Fabulous crafty idea. I love it.
Wow, this is incredibly crafty. The tray came out super nice. Thanks for the idea.
What a fun idea. I used to glue stones to a bowling ball and use it as a garden decoration
I saw someone do this with broken mirror pieces. I want to try it. Thanks for sharing such a easy and cute craft.
That would be a cool way to make one, too. Or combine the broken mirror and these…..
I love that it has antibacterial properties and can be used on multiple surfaces! Score!
That is a really cool idea. It’s way easier than I would have thought 🙂