Dumpster Diving Crafts

On Friday, I took some trash and recycling to our dumpster site.  Hanging over the edge of the dumpster was this broken, stained tray.  The instant my eyes laid on it, I saw it’s hidden potential.

It’s not the first time, I’ve taken something out of the dumpster but I’m always unsure if I can make my vision a reality.  I wanted a chalkboard to use in my classes and perhaps at the farmers market this summer.  Jeff didn’t even bat an eye when I came home with my dumpster find.  I explained my vision to him and thankfully he was able to help me make it a reality.

Jeff added a brace to the back of the one remaining leg making it stable enough to stand up on it’s own and even handle being written on without falling over.  We cleaned up the white surface and painted the tray surface with several coats of chalkboard paint and voila – a fun chalkboard made from a dumpster dive find and a bunch of materials we had on hand.  I’m quite pleased with this little project and can’t wait to put to use in an upcoming class or two.