Ben Hur Inspired Serving Tray {#MovieMonday}

Last Updated on August 2, 2017 by lydiaf1963

It’s #MovieMonday time again, when a group of bloggers find creative inspiration from a specific movie or theme. This month’s theme is Easter or Springtime. I chose to make a Ben Hur inspired tray based on the version starring Charlton Heston.

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When I was growing up Ben Hur was among the rotation of movies shown during the season leading up to Easter. Other classics were Easter Parade and The Ten Commandments.

This is a big movie, with huge, elaborate sets and costumes. The themes of faith, family, friendship and loyalty are timeless. Nevertheless I struggled to find a project until I noticed the beautiful set in a scene between Judah Ben Hur (portrayed by Charlton Heston) and Esther who later becomes his wife (portrayed by Haya Harareet). The carved wooden lattice that serves to screen the windows is common in the Mediterranean. They provide shade while allowing the air to flow freely.

I decided to paint a wooden tray I’ve had around for ages and stencil it with a lattice pattern similar to that of the screens from Ben Hur. Here’s how I did it:

You’ll need:

an unfinished wooden tray, any size
chalk paint, any color (I used melon and white)
rectangular Moroccan lattice stencil like this one
brushes to apply the paint (I used both a sponge brush and a small paint brush)
acrylic sealer (I used a glossy finish)

Apply as many coats as necessary to get good coverage. Allow the paint to dry completely between the layers.
Paint the inside of the tray white and paint the outside, bottom and edges melon.
Arrange the stencil in the middle of the tray and secure using painter’s tape.
Use one of the sponge brushes (or a special stencil brush if you have one) to apply the contrasting color to the stencil.
When dry, carefully remove the stencil. Use a fine brush to make any touch ups necessary.
Apply the acrylic sealer according to the directions.

Use the tray to serve a your favorite snacks and beverages like this delicious lemon pound cake.

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Be sure to check out the other #MovieMonday projects by clicking the links below: