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How to Create a Resin Bar Tray
Take your bar or coffee table up a notch with this art-deco-inspired tray you can DIY in a matter of minutes.
Kimberly Thomas
If you love crafts but prefer to decorate your home with more modern, elevated pieces, this gorgeous DIY by HGTV’s Design Star: Next Gen winner Carmeon Hamilton is for you. And to make things even sweeter, you can complete this sophisticated craft in the amount of time it takes to drink one cocktail.
Materials Needed
- store-bought acrylic tray
- black craft paper
- craft knife
- craft adhesive
- gold paint + brush
- gold flakes + brush
- resin
- mixing cups
To start, let's mix that cocktail. Carmeon opted for a St. Germain spritz. To make your own, add 1 ounce of St. Germain, 1 ounce of peach liqueur and a splash of club soda to 4 ounces of prosecco. Top with a sprig of sage.
Arrange Your Pattern
Kimberly Thomas
To achieve the art deco look, start by cutting your black paper into various geometric shapes. Then arrange them on the tray until you achieve the look you desire. “Remember negative space," says Carmeon. "The negative space is how the beautiful pieces breathe. If you have too much of a beautiful thing, you can’t pay attention to each of the individual beautiful things. So the negative space is where the eye gets to rest and appreciate the things that are there.” To see the negative space more clearly, place white paper under the tray while arranging your shapes.
Add Gold Details
Kimberly Thomas
Once you've reached a design you like, use a small amount of craft adhesive to hold the shapes in place. Then, to add even more interest, use gold paint to add some fun details. Carmeon opted for several dots and lines to fully lean into the art deco design.
Pour Resin
Kimberly Thomas
Finally, you're ready to add the resin. Mix it according to instructions and be sure you are in a well-ventilated area and wearing eye protection before using. Once the resin is ready, begin slowly pouring it over the bottom of your tray. Once you've added one layer, you may opt to add a little more glitz as Carmeon does here. To get the same look, add gold flakes directly to your resin and pour as a second layer to the bottom of your tray. Use a paint brush to rearrange the flakes if desired. If the resin isn't smooth enough, continue adding layers until the tray bottom has a smooth surface. Allow to dry before enjoying your new sophisticated bar tray.
