Serving Tray Facelift

I got this tray at a the thrift store last week for $1. I like how big it is and it is also very sturdy. Really, it's okay as-is, but I know it can be more. So out comes my tape, paint, and rope.

First I taped off the wooden edge. I may paint it later, but wanted to see what it would look like with the wood for now.

After searching through my thousands of fonts for hours for just the right A, I settled on this one. I cut it out using my Quikutz Silhouette, then using spray adhesive I stuck it to my tray.

Note: The font name is Wishing Type. It is a free font. You can download it at this site.

I painted over it using a fun green I have then let it dry and removed my stencil.

For the handles I wanted to add a little texture which explains the rope. See how I tied that in?

I attached the end of the rope with one staple on the inside of the handle. It's going to be covered so I didn't need to worry about the staple showing.

I covered the top and sides of the handle with tacky glue and started winding it around the handle.

Like so. When I got to the end I pulled the rope through the last loop, added a generous amount of tacky glue and pulled as tight as I could to get a nice tight hold.

I'm sure there's a better way to do this, but I just figure things out as I go along.

The finished product. What do you think? Should I paint the wood or leave it as-is?

Remember your blessings!
Amber