Reader Emails: What To Do With A Printers Tray

12 Oct Reader Emails: What To Do With A Printers Tray

I received the following email from Molly, and it was uncanny because I was already drafting a post on this!

Grace,
My mother in law gave me this cool antique wooden drawer. My initial idea was to hang it on the wall in my 2 year olds room for him to display his cars. But it’s too shallow. I would still like it to hang on a wall but I’m not sure what I could use it for. Any ideas??
Thanks!
Molly

Antique printers trays were used exactly as the name states – a tray for printers.  Long ago, varied letterpress letters would be placed in the small compartments for typesetting.  The trays are fairly easy to find at reasonable prices, though some sellers will recognize their increasing appeal and mark them up.   Search your local flea markets for the dusty ones covered in spider webs you can clean up nicely.  Etsy is another great resource – there are several with different looks at different price points.  Look here.

Since Molly originally wanted to use her tray for her little boy, I loved the way these little Lego figures looked in the small compartments.  It’s cute, it is an easy way to organize all of those tiny figurines, and it’s a great fine motor skill activity!

Life Made Creations

mondocherry.blogspot.com

If you decide you want to use the tray for yourself, you could always make it into jewelry storage.

tonyastaab.com

tonyastaab.com

nubry.com

Love how the black sets off the metal and colors!

wanelo.com

You could always line the backs of the compartments with pictures.

jenniferhignite.blogspot.com

Love the orderly look of using it as thread storage with all of the pretty shades!

poppytalk.blogspot.com

Flickr

26 Letters

Sweet little spice jars.

Travelers Lunchbox

Use small canisters with cork tops (found at hobby/craft stores) for tiny storage.

Torie Jayne

The bead storage is pretty to look at, too!

Flickr

jenniferstewarts.blogspot.com

A display of seeds like this could be covered with plexiglass and made into a cute little table.

Etsy

If you find a tray like this, it is a very pretty food display for a small gathering!

asubtlerevelry.com

Stamp organization – a nod to the tray’s original use.

celestialcharms.blogspot.com

See how to use them in your home!

Source Unknown

imadeitshop.wordpress.com

Can you believe this storage cabinet??!!

milomade.co.uk

My recommendation to Molly was to place it near the door she walks in and out of when she takes her little ones for a walk.  While on a walk or a special trip, she could have her little boy pick up things he thinks are interesting – a smooth stone, a funny-shaped acorn,. etc.  Then he can place the mementoes in the small slots.  You can even place the tray at your child’s eye level to further engage him/her.

Nature Box Idea via Pure Style Home.

Pure Style Home

Pure Style Home

Pure Style Home

Pure Style Home

Do you have a printers tray?  What are your ideas on how to use it?

Come back next week for some incredible before & after’s, plus photos from one of the most beautiful and unique baby showers I have ever seen!

P.S. – To my dear Subscribers, I am so sorry new posts have not been making it into your inbox the past week or so.  I have still been blogging daily so you have a lot to catch up on!  The email notification glitch has been fixed, and all should resume as normal.  Happy Reading!  xoxo

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