4/05/2011

Silver Tray ~ Garage Sale Find!

First, I must say that people always are surprised when visiting my home and find out that the majority of my decor is from garage sales and thrift stores. Goes to show you that you don't have to be rich to have really nice things and beautiful decor. 

Remember this silver tray from my first Diamonds In The Rough post? See it down there in the lower part of this picture?
You can't tell it by this picture, but it was tarnished. No, not badly but it was tarnished all the same. Recently, I saw a blog site that had a post on how to easily clean silver. Cindy over at Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home talked about putting aluminum foil in the bottom of the sink. Pour in hot water and 4 tablespoons of this product...

for every gallon of hot water. Then set your sterling silver in the water on the foil and a chemical reaction happens. Within about 5 minutes or so, you have a clean silver product without the hard work. Just rinse and wipe dry with a rag or paper towel. You don't want to use a good towel because some black tarnish will come off with drying the item and you don't want to ruin your good hand towels.  Anyway, I tried this solution on the tray and it worked really well. I will be cleaning all my silver this way from now on. I found the Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda in the laundry detergent aisle of our local WalMart.

After cleaning the tray and believe it or not for a joke, I served my hubby breakfast on the tray saying, "Don't ever say I haven't served you on a silver platter!" LOL

I decided to use the tray AND the white tureen (in the garage sale items picture too) as decor on my kitchen bar...what do you think? Pretty good for only $3 from a garage sale. (The tureen was $5) Ah, another Diamond In The Rough!


If you want to learn about the decoupage eggs, click HERE to see that post.

NOTE: You should be able to click on most of the pictures to enlarge to see further details.
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Make It For Monday @ Cottage Instincts
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Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative
Making The World Cuter @ Making The World Cuter
Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle 
Twice Owned Tuesday @ House Of Grace
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Time to Shine Tuesday @ A Diamond in the Stuff 
Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 
Trash 2 Treasure @ Sassy Sites
Power Of Paint @ Domestically Speaking
Swing Into Spring Wednesday @ DIY by Design
White Wednesday @ Faded Charm
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Piece of Work Wednesday @  Primitive & Proper
Good Life Wednesday @ A Beach Cottage

Open House Thursday @ No Minimalist Here
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
100 Ideas Under $100 @ Beyond The Picket Fence
Show And Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed

Remodelaholic Friday @ Remodelaholic
Frugal Friday @ Shabby Nest

Look What I Found Friday @ Vintage Revivals
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground
Weekend WrapUp Party @ Tatertots and Jello
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Strut Your Stuff @ The Saturday Morning Blog
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal 
Sunday Showcase Party @ By Stephanie Lynn
 
Sundae Scoop Weekend Wrap Up Party @ I love Nap Time 
Before and After Party @ Thrifty Decor Chick  

32 comments:

  1. It makes for a beautiful display, Terry! The lid on the tureen is just beautiful and I love both the urns.

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  2. What a lovely spring display! And I'll definitely try your silver cleaning tip!

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  3. So glad you tried it... really does work great. Here is the full tutorial.
    Blessings,
    Cindy
    http://dwellings-theheartofyourhome.blogspot.com/2011/03/cleaning-silverfun.html

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  4. What do I think it looks like a million bucks in the kitchen and I love your kitchen! Great finds and the serving your husband how sweet!
    Sherry

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  5. This display turned out so pretty, Terry, I really like the urn. Thanks for the silver cleaning tip.

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  6. Terry, thanks for the tip. Your tray is gorgeous, and I'm sure your husband appreciated being served on a silver platter :D

    xoxoxo,
    Ricki Jill

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  7. Aren't yard sale treasures the BEST? Love your grouping....it's lovely!

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  8. Thanks for the cleaning tip. It looks pretty! Most of the stuff in my home are from thrift shops and yard sales too. Nobody can ever tell, but sometimes it makes me proud to know I've paid $3 for an end table when someone else could've bought the same one for a LOT more :) Just because it's second-hand, doesn't mean it's second-class, right? Btw, do you have any tips on cleaning brass? Thanks!

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  9. Beautiful vignette. Great job on the silver tray. I will have to look for that detergent.

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  10. Gorgeous vignette and WOW on the tray transformation. I should have paid much more attention in chemistry because who knew about that combination and the chemical reactions!

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  11. This looks really good.
    I, too, bought a silver tray at a thrift store for $2. I use it ALL the time...

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  12. Thanks for the helpful tip! Your vignette is gorgeous. What a great buy on the garage sale items. Love the tureen!

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  13. Thank you so much for the information. I actually have that detergent I am going to have to try it. All your treasures are beautiful.Thank you for sharing.
    Connie

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  14. Thanks for silver cleaning tip. I have an extensive collection of tarnished silver that needs to be cleaned and I have been putting it off because it is such a hard and messy job! Now I can get right on that! You display looks very "high end"! Great job!

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  15. That is a beautiful display. Thanks for the easy silver cleaning process. your tray turned out gorgeous. ~~Sherry~~

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  16. Beautiful vignette, Terry!

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  17. What a great tip for the silver cleaning. I love all your beautiful bargain finds. They're looking real good on that very clean silver tray. Thanks for sharing.

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  18. Looks beautiful, and thanks for the tip!
    Best,
    Gloria

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  19. Terry I LOVE that tray and the pretty spring display that's on it! Martina

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  20. WOW! Loving all your diamonds in the rough! I have tried that silver cleaning trick too and it really works...although I think I used baking soda and salt.
    Blessings~

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  21. I said I was going to try this and I did! It works wonders! I posted it on my blog and I put your link on there. Come and check out the difference!
    Connie
    http://thecrafterbug.blogspot.com/

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  22. Great silver cleaning tip. I will have to try that! It's got to beat the silver polish and elbow grease I normally use.

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  23. Wow, so beautiful! I also love that little flower!!

    Kelly

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  24. That is a gorgeous tray and the white vignette looks beautiful on it.

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  25. LOVE your frugal creativity. Following!

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  26. Beautiful display, Terry! Love the tureen and the vase.
    hugs,
    Sherry

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  27. This is such a pretty display and thank you for the silver cleaning trick...I am definately going to try it. Have a happy day!

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  28. I am definitely going to try the silver cleaning trick! I've got a ton of my hubby's heirloom silver that needs to be polished! Thanks for sharing.

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  29. you have given a great recipe for cleaning the silver, great job and i am going to try it out as soon as i can

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  30. That tray looks really great. It can be a beautiful decoration in our house.

    sell silver

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