My DIY lacquered white tray

As far as tutorials go, this could be summed up as follows:

• Pick up something off the street
• Paint it white.

I like West Elm's white lacquered tray but not enough to pay $60.

Someone in the neighborhood was throwing out this lightly finished wood tray.

I gave it a once over with a Scotch pad then gave it one coat of white acrylic paint.

Then I used a can of white gloss spray paint I thrifted. The bad thing about second-hand cans of paint is you never know how much has been used. Sure enough I ran out before I got a true glossy finish.

But it's good enough for being almost totally free, organizes my magazines and brightens up a corner of my bedroom. The little bird and the vase were also thrifted.

Have you successfully painted a second-hand find?