This is a project that I have been wanting to do with my girls for quite a while now. We have this child size table and chair set that has been through some serious use and over time has started looking stained, scratched, and not so appealing. So, we were able to get outside in the fabulous springtime weather and do this easy and very girly transformation!
These are the supplies you need:
Table and chairs
wet cloth for everyone participating (you'll need it for the gluing process)
measuring tape
craft paint (if you choose)
mod podge (or any other decoupage medium you like)
sponge brush
scrapbooking papers ( I only used 5 12x12 sheets!)
Paper trimmer with sliding blade (you could use scissors with a ruler, too)
clear gloss spray sealer
and about 2 hours of free time
Step one:
clean the surface of the table and chairs to remove any dust, etc.
Step two:
Paint a base coat on the top of the table if desired. I only painted the edges of my table because the edges were not looking so great. And, because I had brightly colored and patterned paper, I only painted the edge. If your paper happens to be a light color you may want to paint the entire top of the table with a base coat so that you can't see the paint lines through the finished top. If you're using craft paint, this will dry very quickly. While it is drying, move on to step three.
Step Three:
Decide how you want your papers to be cut. I was trying to cover a 20"x 20" surface and wanted a patchwork look, so I wanted five rows across and five rows down. Therefore, I cut each square to measure 4"x 4". Cutting the papers this way will take just a tiny bit more time, and a straight-edged paper trimmer is very helpful. But if you wanted a randomly pieced look with different shapes and sizes of paper, perhaps torn edges or whatnot, the process would be super quick. Your final top design can be whatever you like in any pattern that fits the look you're after.
Step four:
After cutting the paper to fit the dimensions of your table top, you will want to prearrange the pieces in the order you feel will look best. Emma decided the angled striped pattern would look best on the corners...and she was right! This is where you decide if symmetry is the look you're after or if it is a completely random placement of patterns and colors, or if you want the torn-edge look, just pile your torn sections and move onto step five.
Step five:
Now is the time to start the decoupage process. This is really easy....just pour a good bit of decoupage medium onto a paper plate and get your sponge brush ready. Also, it's a good idea at this point to have a wet cloth ready to wipe your hands on occasionally. My girls helped me brush on the glue and press down the pieces. Since I was going for the patchwork look, I started by finding the center of my table and using that mark to place my center square and work out toward the edges. If you are doing a random placement of randomly sized pieces, just start where ever you want and use your own judgment to create the look you want.
Take your first piece and brush on a thin layer of mod podge to the back and also on top of the table where you will be placing the piece. Stick the piece down and position it correctly. You can rub your finger over the top of the piece to try to remove any air bubbles or you can use a flat edged ruler to gently smooth it out. Once it is in place, use your sponge brush to put a coat of mod podge on the top. Then just continue with the placement of each of your other pieces and putting a layer of mod podge on top of the placed pieces until the top is completely covered. Let the top coat dry for about 30 minutes and then brush on another layer of mod podge to the top of the table...you can put as many layers as you wish. I put 3 layers on mine.
The decoupage will have a slight white tint until it is dry. It will be clear when it is dry.
Step six:
While you're in the back and forth process of the mod podge layers of the table, it's a good time to start on the chairs if you want them to match the table. I painted my chairs in coordinating colors to match the table. Again, if you are using craft paint, they will dry very quickly.
Step seven:
Decide how you want your paper to be cut to fit on the chair surface and cut it in whatever pattern you decide. I opted to use the leftover sections of my scrapbooking paper that I used for the table top. For the dimensions of my chairs, the leftover pieces were already a perfect fit for the chair bottom. For the chair backs, I just trimmed the paper in the size to fit.
Step eight:
As before, just mod podge the back of the paper as well as the surface of the chair where the paper will be put. Smooth out any wrinkles or air bubbles and put a coat of mod podge on the top. When the first layer is dry, Put another coat or two to help seal it as you did with the table top.
Step nine:
Spray the decoupaged surfaces with a clear spray sealer to help protect it. I used 2 coats of gloss on mine.
That's it!! You're all finished!! After only a couple hours time we had a brand *new* table and chair set that was so much prettier than the original. This project is very easy and kid-friendly. And, with such a great transformation from start to finish in only a couple of hours, my girls were super-proud of what we accomplished! And, they LOVE their new table!
I hope you enjoy this project as much as we did! The possibilities of this project idea are endless....you could easily do this to shelves, headboards, doors, jewelry boxes, etc. Wherever your imaginations take you and your daughter! Enjoy :)
***Hi, I'm Sandra! I have been married to my wonderful husband for 12 years and I am a homeschooling mom to four blessings. You can learn more about me here. I would love for you to stop by and visit with me at my blog, My Inspired Heart, and see what creative adventures my family and I are up to!
