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How-To: Make a Popcorn Tray From a Netflix Envelope

casasugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 05:30:06 -0700

If you're a Netflix member like Yours Truly, you've probably got a smattering of red envelopes lying around your house. And not the romantic, love-professing kind from your sexy valentine. Although, who knows, maybe you have both! In any case, there's a way you can put that tear-off slip of paper to good use without just sending it to the recycling bin, or heaven forbid, the trash!
Using ancient origami techniques, you can transform that petit papier into a tray to hold your popcorn while you're weeping over The Notebook (Netflix's ninth most popular film). All you'll need is your hands and the tear-off Netflix flap. To learn the steps,

This Just In: John Derian Coming to Target

casasugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:30:19 -0700

On Sept. 14, home accessories dynamo John Derian will introduce a collection for Target based on the découpage pieces that made him rise to shelter world fame. The collection will feature antique print imagery like the fruit, flower, and animal prints that Derian typically layers and pieces together under his glass accessories, but instead they will be printed on melamine. "All my designs tell a story. And the prices allow you to live happily ever after," says Derian. To give you an idea of the fairytale prices, a 12-by-12-inch tray will go for $16.99; a set of coasters, $12.99; and a 5.5-inch plate, $5.99. I always love it when Target gets designers involved, and I'm a big fan of Derian's work. But, knowing how easy and inexpensive it is to DIY your own découpage on glass, I think I'd prefer to create the real thing on my own.
Source and Source

Nice and New: Garden Plan Tray

casasugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:00:16 -0700

Formal gardens have gone out of vogue since Marie Antoinette's time, and most of us can't afford the upkeep anyhow. But, we can still appreciate their beauty. And, now we can do so in our very own homes, with the Garden Plan Tray ($135) from the New York Botanical Garden Shop. The beautiful black lacquer and silver plate tray features a garden plan from Détail des Nouveaux Jardins à la mode, by Georges-Louis Le Rouge, a book published in Paris in 1776. The combination of its silver plate greek key handles and the period garden image balances modernity and antiquity with poise, making it the perfect piece of history for a contemporary home.

Love It or Hate It? Illustrated Melamine Tray

casasugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:00:06 -0700

This Lardy Oval Melamine Tray ($18.95) would look great as a serving tray at a party, or as a melancholy catch all for your landing strip. Do you like it, too, or is it a little too fanciful for you?

Love It or Hate It? Illustrated Melamine Tray

Love it

Hate it

Undecided

Steal of the Day: Room Service Home Etc. Wire Trays

casasugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 06:15:09 -0700

If you read my How-To on organizing your desk, you may remember that I wrote, "If everything has a place, you won't need to search for it. . . . That means, an inbox, an outbox, an on-hold box . . ." Something tells me that maybe not all of you have spent the time since then to get your desk into shipshape, so now is the time. You can get started by picking up the Room Service Home Etc. Wire Trays ($39 for two) to serve as your inbox, outbox, or on-hold box. At 13-x-11 and 12-x -10 inches, they're the perfect fit to glam up your boring paperwork. If it bothers you that they read "Etc.," get some decorative paper and a calligraphy pen, and switch them to more appropriate names. You like?

Steal of the Day: Marimekko Unikko Tray

casasugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:30:12 -0700

If you've yet to tire of its print, you can welcome the Marimekko Unikko Tray ($29, reduced from $42) into your home for a Spring garden party, or even just breakfast in bed. I'm envisioning it serving up some fresh lemonade and cucumber sandwiches, perhaps? It would also make an eye-catching catch-all for your foyer landing strip/console, if you have one, or a perky inbox for your organized desk. Of course this bold, bright print isn't for everyone, but if it goes with your color scheme, it is quite the steal. You like?

Love It or Hate It? Vegetariana Tray

casasugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:15:46 -0700

The Vegetariana Tray ($1,400) was designed by Italian artist and businessman Piero Fornasetti in 1946, and is constructed from printed and hand-painted wood. Each of these trays is crafted completely by hand. I love Fornasetti's designs, and this Vegetariana Tray is no exception, but what do you think?

Love It or Hate It? Vegetariana Tray

Love It

Hate it

Undecided

Etsy Find: Fabulous Fonts Wood Tray

casasugar — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:00:51 -0800

The Carolina Cottage Fabulous Fonts Wood Tray ($22) is the perfect caddy for all that paperwork that piles up on your desk and an easy way to give your tabletop a renewed look. To find out some of my other favorite things about this tray, just

Steal of the Day: Jonathan Adler Banana Tray

casasugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:03:28 -0800

You better sit down for this. I am literally buzzing over the latest Steal of the Day. The Jonathan Adler Banana Tray ($5, reduced from $75) is 93 percent off! Not only is the tray unusually cheap, but it's super cute. Use it as a serving tray, a decorative caddy for your bureau, or hang it on your wall in your kitchen to add fruity kitsch. Oh, and buy back ups: Your friends will go crazy when they hear about this steal.

Nice and New: Jayson Home and Garden Cotswold Tray

casasugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 05:42:30 -0800

I have a lot of love for this ceramic Jayson Home and Garden Cotswold Tray ($75), and not just because it's festive. Actually, I'd prefer that the motifs weren't holiday related so I could use it year-round. Maybe an oak tree and a horse instead of the symbolic pine tree and reindeer buck? I'm not sure who designed this tray, but it's definitely speaking Tord Boontje to me. I particularly love the lace and gold detailing. What do you think? Would you serve Santa cookies on this thing?

Nice and New: Decorative Montage Big Tray

casasugar — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 13:30:52 -0800

I'm totally digging this Decorative Montage Big Tray that's new at Plantation. The colored rectangles and metallic leaf are very midcentury, but its rich lacquered finish is super glam. It's pretty large (21" x 15"), so it would make a great tray table next to a chair or sofa. You like?