Just Paint It Blog

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • About
    • My Stuff
      • My House
      • My Hubs
      • My Paintings
        • Illustrations
        • Murals
  • Projects
    • How To/PIY
      • PIY – Paint It Yourself
      • Quick Stuff
      • Tutorials
      • Videos
    • Techniques
      • Antiquing & Distressing
      • Blending Colors
      • Color Wash
      • Decoupage
      • Drawing
      • Dry Brushing
      • Faux Finishes
      • Glazing
      • Highlighting
      • Shading
      • Stenciling
      • Transfers
    • Home Decor
      • Accessories
      • Furniture
      • Holiday Decorating
      • Seasonal Decorating
    • Crafts
      • Dollar Store Crafts
      • Holiday Crafts
        • Christmas Crafts
        • Halloween Crafts
      • Kids Crafts
      • Seasonal Crafts
    • Paint Types
      • Chalk Paint
      • Chalkboard Paint
      • Glitter Paint
      • Metallic Paint
      • Pearl Paint
      • Specialty Paints
      • Spray Paint
      • Watercolor Paint
    • Paint Surfaces
      • Paint Canvas
      • Paint Fabric
      • Paint Glass
      • Paint Metal
      • Paint Paper
      • Paint Plastic
      • Paint Walls
      • Paint Wood
    • Submit Yours
  • Shop
    • A.R.T. – Art Related Things
    • Original Art
    • Pet Portraits
    • ClipArt & Printables
  • Portfolio
    • Pet Portraits
  • Contact

Outdoor Tray/Table with Envirotex Lite

June 5, 2011 By Colleen Jorgenson 2 Comments

EnviroTex-Resin-Table-10

I promised I’d tell you today what the painted peacock scrolls are on – an outdoor tray table.

Can you ever have too many tables for outdoor entertaining? Nah.

And you know I have a bit of a thing for serving trays.

I love that this serves both purposes, as a table and a tray. But the fact that it’s now incredibly durable is just icing on the cake.

I used EnviroTex Lite – a high gloss resin finish – for durability. Awesome, awesome stuff.

Let me show you how easy it was to make this outdoor tray/table.

peacock-painting-1

For the base I used this plain ol’ plant stand. Four bucks at BigLots. I already had turquoise spray paint from all my other turquoise projects.

peacock-painting-2

I also found this bamboo serving tray at Big Lots. They had smaller trays but I wanted to be able to carry a bunch of stuff outside – and then back into the kitchen – so I got the 20” size.

peacock-painting-21

And since I can’t seem to leave any surface plain, I had to paint scrolls, which turned into peacocks, which turned into a blobs, which turned into feathers . . . eventually.

I could have sealed it with a clear coat, or painted a couple coats of polyurethane. But I wanted a really high-gloss, durable finish. Something that’ll last year after year after year.

EnviroLite-Resin-Table-1

I’ve been wanting to try EnviroTex Lite for years, ever since I first saw it when I worked in a craft store.

This was the perfect project.

EnviroTex-Resin-Table-8

But not the perfect time. Who knew it’d be under 70 degrees in June in California?

With rain threatening?

I had read the instructions carefully {shock!} and it clearly stated “for best results, coat at temperatures between 70  and 80 degrees.”

For best results . . .

It didn’t say “Under no circumstances, don’t ever, ever pour when it’s 61 degrees and getting ready to rain.”

EnviroLite-Resin-Table-1

So I gathered my supplies: the resin & the hardener, mixing cups with smooth sides and bottoms, stir sticks and foam brushes.

EnviroTex-Resin-Table

I taped off the handles so I wouldn’t have to deal with resin drips.

EnviroTex-Resin-Table-2

Then I laid my now-turquoise dropcloth down and put the tray on top of a box so it was waist high.

EnviroTex-Resin-Table-3EnviroTex-Resin-Table-4

You pour equal parts resin and hardener so these plastic cups with the measurements were perfect. Then stir the two together for one minute – vigorously. Then pour the mixture into a second container and stir for another full minute.

The directions said there’d be bubbles, and there were, so I figured I was on the right track.

EnviroTex-Resin-Table-5

I started pouring and spreading the resin with the foam brush, working from the center to the edges.

I wanted to coat the sides too and wasn’t quite sure how this was going to work, but it was really pretty easy.

EnviroTex-Resin-Table-6

I started removing drips with the foam brush because I wasn’t sure if those drips would harden permanently. Then I switched to the wooden stir stick, which was a lot easier.

After 5 minutes, I went around the bottom again, removing drips. Then again after 15 minutes.

Now – the directions also say you’ll need a blow torch to remove bubbles.

Whaaa???

Well, gee. I just didn’t happen to have a blow torch handy. So I blew on the bubbles. (That was in the instructions too.) Worked great. But, you know, there really weren’t that many bubbles.

Maybe because it was only 61 degrees, ha!

Then I did the hardest part – I let it sit there overnight. No touching. No moving. Okay, I did peek at it from time to time, but I swear I didn’t touch it. And I wanted to. It was soooo shiny! But I resisted. Until this morning.

I carefully lifted it from underneath and moved it inside to get some warmth. Just before the rain hit.

Whew!

EnviroTex-Resin-Table-11

And just look at that shine!

EnviroTex-Resin-Table-13

Even the sides . . . Shiny!!!

EnviroTex-Resin-Table-15

But since it was raining, I wanted to give it a chance to fully cure, so I didn’t take it out to the garden. I just took pictures on the front porch.

So here’s my new tray/table . . .

EnviroTex-Resin-Table-17

As a tray . . .

EnviroTex-Resin-Table-12

and as a table. Cool, huh?

I’m already looking around for something else to use EnviroTex Lite on. I might even get a blow torch in case there are bubbles – because this time I’ll wait until it’s over 70 degrees.

ETI sent me this product to try out. You won’t believe all that you can do with this product.  Envirotex Lite was created by Environmental Technologies Inc. (ETI), which is the home for many resin and mold making products.

The use of resin in jewelry making, mixed media and paper arts continues to grow in popularity. Today, artists are using ETI’s products in many crafty ways and they will be showcasing these works of art on their new blog “Resin Crafts”.
Check them out on:
Resin Crafts Blog
ETI on Facebook
ETI on Twitter

Todays Creative Blog


 


 

Check out these other tutorials using Envirotex Lite:

Filed Under: Furniture, Home Decor, Specialty Paints

Comments

  1. Jodi Langenhorst says

    May 22, 2015 at 1:35 pm

    Colleen, in the above article shared that she used the epoxy finish on an OUTDOOR table. How has the table held up? Any yellowing? Cracks? Other problems? How long has it been outside?

    Thanks so much!!

    Reply
    • Colleen says

      May 23, 2015 at 3:09 pm

      Hi Jodi, the table did great for 2 years – leaving it out in both rain and freezing temps. Then, yes, it started cracking. I wish I’d brought it in during the winter and I’m sure it would’ve done well then. I think it was the freezing that made it crack. But no yellowing or other problems. EnviroTex is really wonderful, but just like we bring in certain garden things in the winter, I’d bring anything with ET on it inside as well.

      Thanks for the question. Have fun!
      ~Colleen

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    About Me

    Hi there! I'm Colleen, a self-taught artist, writer and blogger, among other things. You don't get to be old enough to order off the Denny's senior menu without accomplishing a few things in life. Read More…

    Recent Posts…
    • Patriotic Fourth of July Printables June 25, 2019
    • Camping Coloring Pages June 15, 2019
    • How to Paint Purple Iris January 28, 2019
    • How to Paint a Teddy Bear January 24, 2019
    • How to Paint Tulips January 21, 2019
    Comments…
    • D. S. Jackson on African – American Santas
    • Theresa Morrissey on African – American Santas
    • Kena on African – American Santas
    • Colleen on How To Paint a Simple Bow and Ribbon Streamers
    • Vicki on How To Paint a Simple Bow and Ribbon Streamers

    Subscribe via Email

    Get updated delivered directly to your inbox!

    Art Digital Downloads

    Archives

    Pretty Handy Girl Fun DIY Gifts!

    PHG_zazzle-banner

    Videos

    Error type: "Forbidden". Error message: "The request is missing a valid API key." Domain: "global". Reason: "forbidden".

    Did you added your own Google API key? Look at the help.

    Check in YouTube if the id muralmaker1 belongs to a . Check the FAQ of the plugin or send error messages to support.

    Instagram

    Google+

    Facebook

    Pinterest

    Etsy

    Copyright © 2021 Just Paint It!/Colleen Jorgensen · website by Houndstooth Media Group