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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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Twice Owned Tuesday @ House Of Grace
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Time to Shine Tuesday @ A Diamond in the Stuff 
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White Wednesday @ Faded Charm
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Piece of Work Wednesday @  Primitive & Proper
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100 Ideas Under $100 @ Beyond The Picket Fence
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Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed
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Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground
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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 
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Before and After Party @ Thrifty Decor Chick  
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32 comments:

  1. Kathy @ Creative Home ExpressionsApril 5, 2011 at 6:53 AM

    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. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.April 5, 2011 at 7:02 AM

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

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  3. Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your HomeApril 5, 2011 at 7:07 AM

    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. Sherry HicksApril 5, 2011 at 7:27 AM

    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. KimMalkApril 5, 2011 at 7:40 AM

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

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  6. Ricki TreleavenApril 5, 2011 at 7:48 AM

    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. MicApril 5, 2011 at 8:42 AM

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

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  8. MeApril 5, 2011 at 9:12 AM

    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. Ceekay-THINKIN of HOMEApril 5, 2011 at 9:54 AM

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

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  10. Carol, The Answer Is ChocolateApril 5, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    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. bjApril 5, 2011 at 10:23 AM

    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. A Hint of HomeApril 5, 2011 at 10:30 AM

    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. Connie the crafterbugApril 5, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    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. Lisa of "The Creative Need"April 5, 2011 at 12:47 PM

    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. Blue Ridge Altered ArtApril 5, 2011 at 3:03 PM

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

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  16. AnonymousApril 5, 2011 at 6:51 PM

    Beautiful vignette, Terry!

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  17. Betsy@My Salvaged TreasuresApril 5, 2011 at 7:42 PM

    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. GloriaApril 5, 2011 at 7:56 PM

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

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  19. ℳartina @ Northern NestingApril 5, 2011 at 8:15 PM

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

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  20. very merry vintage styleApril 5, 2011 at 8:15 PM

    Amazing finds--love the tureen!
    mary

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  21. SandiApril 5, 2011 at 8:36 PM

    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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  22. All That GlittersApril 5, 2011 at 10:36 PM

    Suoer cute!!!

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  23. Connie the crafterbugApril 6, 2011 at 1:34 AM

    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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  24. Pam KesslerApril 6, 2011 at 8:24 PM

    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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  25. KellyApril 6, 2011 at 9:37 PM

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

    Kelly

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  26. KarenApril 7, 2011 at 12:36 AM

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

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  27. JessaApril 7, 2011 at 10:44 PM

    LOVE your frugal creativity. Following!

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  28. Sherry @ No Minimalist HereApril 8, 2011 at 8:31 PM

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

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  29. La Vie QuotidienneApril 9, 2011 at 9:55 PM

    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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  30. LeslieApril 12, 2011 at 12:08 AM

    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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  31. Affordable Swiss HotelsApril 12, 2011 at 2:20 AM

    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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  32. ahnnMay 4, 2012 at 5:14 PM

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

    sell silver

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