There is an apartment complex a few blocks away from where I live and every week someone is moving in or out. Luckily for me it's an endless source of furniture for my makeover projects! This table was pretty boring when I found it and with just a little paint and some vintage printouts, I was able to turn it into something marvelous! It doesn't take much to turn trash into treasure, my talented friends! Now get out there and MAKE YOUR MARK!
The sweetest little side table!
My ode to Victorian Goth...Cabbage roses mixed with black...Perfect!
It's my classic move...I see the ugliest piece of furniture at the thrift store and I have to grab it. Partly because I know no one else will and partly because I love the challenge. This table was sooooo sad that I just couldn't let it sleep in that little thrift store one more night. Also, this makeover proves that a little paint and some beautiful images can go a very long way in covering up some serious flaws like scratches and chipping! Always look at the possibilities, my sweet friends, and always
The only thing I remember more than Thanksgiving turkey handprints on paper plates is my Rorschach masterpieces made with construction paper and tempera paint. Second grade was definitely a high point in my creative life! In fact, I'm still splattering paint on paper and folding it to create crazy masterpieces! This rainbow Rorschach table utilizes that 2nd grade skill but UPS it a bit with a printing technique that anyone can do. I used my Americana Decor Outdoor Living paint for durability since this table is definitely going to get some wear and tear. All of my tables do! Look to your childhood for inspiration, my awesome friends, and don't forget to
This table was a challenge from top to bottom. It almost didn't fit in my car and I was stumped at how to cover the uneven top. I finally decided on plywood cut to size and it worked perfectly! Then there was the question of how to paint it? I couldn't do something boring or you wouldn't be here, right?! I decided just to go for it with tons of color in spray bottles and DecoArt Texture Medium. It was one of those projects that I had absolutely no idea how it would look in the end. Truth be told, I'm still on the fence about it, but it's growing on me. Take chances with color and texture and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
Lisa Frank meets Janis Joplin?
Love the drippy colors and splatters!
Watch how I made it here!
STUFF I USED
Old coffee table
Amazing Goop II Max
Americana Matte Spray Sealer/Finisher
DecoArt Texture Medium in Bright Gold and Aquamarine
Palette knife
DecoArt Fleur Medallion Stencil
Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Reminisce, Treasure, Bestow & Victorian
HERE'S HOW
1. Glue plywood (cut to size) on top of your table with Amazing Goop II Max
*My table top was destroyed and needed a new surface
2. Paint the base with chalky finish in Bestow
3. Mix the Treasure chalky finish with water in a spray bottle so that it sprays easily.
4. Spray the sides of the table about 12" at a time
5. Immediately spray water on the paint so that it starts to drip down the sides
6. While that dries, paint the table top with Victorian
7. Mix Reminisce with enough water so that it sprays easily
8. Spray the sides and edge of the table
9. Immediately spray water on the paint so that it starts to drip down the sides
and mix with the other colors
10. Center and adhere the Fleur Medallion stencil on the table
11. Using a palette knife, spread the Bright Gold texture medium throughout the
middle of the stencil
12. Scoop up some Aquamarine Texture Medium and finish the edges of the stencil
blending the two colors together with the knife where they meet
I found this table for $15 at my local thrift store and could not pass it up! I'm sure it came from a recently closed, Hollywood motel in my area because there were at least 10 of them! At first glance I thought it was super tacky, but after taking a closer look and seeing all of the details, I quickly snapped it up for this makeover project. Not exactly sure how Marie Antionette became the inspirations, I just kept thinking of her when I was painting the base in pink and gold. When that happens, you go with it! If you have a better name, I'd love to know! Remember to always look for the potential in things and always try to Make Your Mark!
All this needs is a pink phone!
Looks so pretty on my faux lawn!
Pink with black and white stripes REALLY does it for me!
This table was 100% inspired by the work of Lauren Chapman, a furniture painter/artist. A while back I saw a table she painted (on FB) with her CARNIVAL TECHNIQUE and I immediately became obsessed with it. She posted a link to her how-to video, so I decided to give it a shot. Gotta say, this is right up my alley, too. Using more than one color on a piece of furniture really does it for me! Check out her other work and follow her here: https://www.facebook.com/Chalkpainteverything/
Remember, try new things and always Make Your Mark!
Before you begin, make sure your furniture piece is painted white!
1. Mix a small amount of Unicorn SPiT in Blue Thunder with water
2. Dab off most of the paint on the brush on to a rag
3. Dab about 80% of the white table with the "dry" brush
4. Next, water down Lemon Kiss, dab off brush and blend the lemon kiss in various areas on the table. *Some areas will mix together and create a lime green, others will be just yellow
5. Continue the process with Zia Teal
6. Mix Molly Red Pepper with Phoenix Fire, water down and continue
7. Go over most of the piece with Purple Hill Majesty
8. Finally finish off with more of the Blue Thunder
*Make sure every time you apply paint that you dab off the brush and use a "dry brush" dabbing application to the piece.
9. Spray the entire piece with Minwax Lacquer and let dry
10. Paint the table surfaces with Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass
11. & 12. Fill in the details with more Vintage Brass and wipe away the excess
I'm all about happy accidents. For example, THIS TABLE! Originally I was trying for the granite effect made popular by the inventor of Unicorn SPiT, Michelle Nicole. I failed miserably! Not sure what went wrong, but I'm pretty happy with the results anyway. Just goes to show you that sometimes you just have to take what you get and sometimes what you get is just lovely! Remember to experiment without fear and to always Make Your Mark!
This project took a couple of days to make and it was worth it! The longer a project takes to make, the more likely it is that I'll have it in my home for years to come. Recently, on a fantasy furniture shopping expedition, I saw a 1960s mosaic table made with beautiful blue and green tiles. It was $3000 dollars and as much as I LOVED it, I'd rather spend that kind of money on a hair transplant and some new shoes. Still, I couldn't get it out of my head. Cut to me using my Gel Press to create cardboard tiles that had a very similar feel. A thrift store table and some Glaze Coat and I had a 60s inspired mosaic table sitting in my living room! I love it much more than the one I saw, too! Remember to find ways to create something if it's out of your budget and of course, always
Sticker Paper (I used 11 sheets to cover this table)
HERE'S HOW
1. - 3. Trace the table top on a large sheet of paper and then fold in half and half again 3 times to create "pie slice" folds
4. Mark out 1/4 of the pattern with a marker
5. & 6. Center and mark the stencil in the middle of the pattern and 1/2 of the stencil around the edges
*This will help with your tile placement later
7. Paint the entire table in Americana Decor Gold and let dry while you work on the tiles
8. Fill squirt bottles with Americana Decor in Adirondack, Gold, Morning Glory and Lily Pad
9. Squirt small amounts of Adirondack, Morning Glory and Lily Pad on your Gel Press and use a brayer to lightly spread the colors
10. - 12. Place the sticker paper on top, bray the back so "print" the paint and then carefully remove the sticker paper to reveal beautiful mottled pages
13. - 16. Place the Tribal stencil on the Gel Press, bray Adirondack and Gold over it, remove the stencil and then Gel Press the stencil on top of the mottled pages
17. - 20. Stick the pages to cardboard and cut out and 1/2 circles (from your pattern) using a craft knife
21. & 22. Use the pattern to center a full circle tile in the middle of the table and the 1/2 circles evenly around the edges and then glue in place with E-6000 Glue
23. & 24. Cut the rest of the cardboard into "broken" tiles and fill the rest of the table with pieces about 1/8" apart
25. & 26. Create a barrier/lip around the table with two rows of 2" wide masking tape
*Make sure it sticks all the way around
27. & 28. Mix the resin according to directions (I used 2 quarts) and then pour evenly on the tiles
29. & 30. Smooth out the resin with a foam brush and then pop the bubbles with a small torch or long arm lighter
*Cover and cure overnight
31. Once the resin is cured, remove the tape and sand rough edges with a sander or sandpaper
32. Coat the sanded edges with a thin layer of resin and let cure again overnight
