I lugged this big nasty table out from behind the dumpsters at my apartment and gave it a whole new wonderful life! It was too heavy for me to lift so I stood it on edge and walked it all the way to my place. Thankfully I have a porch so I was able to clean the table outside (it took almost an hour just to get the nasty off), and then I sanded it down all over and spray painted it silver, because metallics match everything and are always fabulous.
I couldn't decide what I wanted to do with the tabletop, I had so many different ideas ranging from a photo collage to a pink and leopard design. What I did know was that I wanted to use Mod Podge, and by use Mod Podge I mean jump literally elbow deep in it. I researched a lot online to figure out what Mod Podge is, how to use it, and tips and tricks to make it look amazing. I combined the best of the best and took off to Michaels to get my M'Podge. Right when I walked in the door I was slapped in the face by a pack of scrapbook paper and I instantly started drooling over it. Pink. Glitter. Flowers. Teal. Lace. Perfection. Then and there I decided to make a quilted tabletop out of this wonderful pack of paper and I never looked back.
Here's how it was done step by step:
- Thoroughly cleaned table with Lysol and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
- Sanded all over with medium grit sandpaper
- It got rained on and survived beautifully and clean!
- Wiped down with fresh rag
- When dry, spray painted silver
- Laid out and sorted paper into desired look
- When dry, brought inside to begin Podge-ing
- Lightly wet back of paper, coat in thin/medium coat of MP with foam brush proportionate to size of material, in this case large foam brush
- Cover target portion of table with MP, lay paper down, smooth using brayer
- Repeat until the tabletop's covered!
- Once dry, I MP'ed a piece of art I painted with my initial on to one of the quilt squares
- I trimmed up the edges of the overhang from the paper by cutting it close to the table, and then detailing with an X-acto knife to get the paper as lined up to the edge of the table as possible.
- The table does not have a straight edge so the paper lines weren't totally straight- I covered the edge with some thin wired ribbon I had laying around that matched beautifully with the Podgef paper.
- I applied MP to the ribbon, then the edge of the table, and used masking tape to tape the ribbon in place on the table until dry.
- Once dry, I applied a medium coat of MP all over the table including over the ribbon and on the edges, and repeated after drying another 3-4 times
- Last step is to cover with a top coat, I'm using Mod Podge brand glossy top coat spray.
Viola! Bellissima!
The Finished Product!
After I spent over an hour cleaning it (this was the dirtiest thing ever) and a rain storm.
I laid out my sheets of paper I was going to use in the pattern I liked
Mod Podged the paper down
I attempted to sand down the edges, but since the edges are rounded it didn't work so well.
X-Acto'ed the edges of the paper off and Modge Podged ribbon around the seam
All done! I love it more and more every day
