Dollarama DIY:: Repairing My Copper Tray

I love this large hammered copper tray that I bought at Homesense a few years ago. I legitimately use it for everything that would normally be on a coffee table. (I have yet to invest in a coffee table)

It sits cheerfully on my golden velvet ottoman and looks after a candle, my coffee mug, whatever book I’m reading, whatever notebook is filling my heart with joy and often the television remotes.

But, with it being plated in copper, and because it has gotten wet, it started to oxidize and parts of the tray were starting to flake off. I honestly was going to toss it. I had no clue what I could do to preserve it. But then I had a brilliant idea!

I had a roll of contact paper that I had bought for lining my Boler’s upper cabinets! But there would be no way I would be able to use all of it. So I might as well use some to at least fix my tray so it would be useable. (I know, I’m a smart cookie).

Because we’re in lockdown in Ontario due to Covid, it’s not like I could go anyplace to replace it and it’s always better to see if you can repair what you have going on anyway to help save the environment.

Anyway, let’s get to it. It’s pretty basic, but it has made me very happy. Sometimes, it’s the simplest things that are the best. OK… let’s get started!

You’ll Need :: Roll of contact paper of your choosing. I bought mine from Dollarama for $2… something to press the air bubbles out when you adhere it to the tray. An old tray!

Step 1. Roll out some of the contact paper with width of the tray. Do this on the underside of the contact paper.

Step 2. Flip the tray over on top of the contact paper and trace a line around the perimetre of the tray onto the contact paper. Admittedly I just grabbed a pen to do it. Because you’re drawing the lines on the underside of the paper, it won’t show through the actual paper anyway.

Step 4. Make sure your tray is free of dust. Slowly peel the backing of the contact paper and line up part of the tray with the paper… slowly continue to peel the backing as you smooth down the paper.(Because my tray is hammered copper, I knew it wouldn’t stick as well, but I was fine with that. Alternatively, I could have cut a circle the same size out of foam board and just used the foam board as a new base to the tray, but to be honest, that was a lot of work for the small project I was throwing together.)

Step 5. Smooth out the contact paper with something to press out the air bubbles,pushing the bubbles out to the sides of the paper.

Step 6. Stylize your reinvigorated tray and kick back, drink a coffee and pat yourself on the back for a job well done. 🙂