Blogger Quincy, IL on Mar 02, 2012

Book page decoupaged dresser!

I purchased this vintage dresser for $5 at a garage sale last year. My 20 year old daughter was moving into her apartment and needed furniture. The lowness of this would make a perfect TV stand and the drawers would be great for storage, but the orange had to go. This was such an easy project because it was actually well painted. I just torn up an old book and decoupaged it right onto the orange drawer fronts. I lightly sanded the edges smooth and put two coats of poly sealer over it. She wanted the same knobs, so I just painted them black. Easy and it works great for her little place. Total cost was $8 and the chest is all wood and very solid!

61 Comments Displaying 25 of 61 comments | See Previous

Terry M Quincy, IL

Uppercase Living...Oh Yes, old sheet music works great and looks great.

on Mar 05, 2012 · Like 1
Kimber B Paradise, MT

I used sheet music on mine...it looks Awesome. I aged it though with coffee. :)

on Mar 06, 2012 · Like 0
Uppercase Living - Indepe... Lincoln, NE

Good to know Kimber B. My music won't have to be aged it belonged to my Hubby's Grandmother and is from the 1920's & 1930's! :)

on Mar 07, 2012 · Like 1
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

HI Uppercase Living! Actually, with your sheet music being really old you might want to check w/someone knowledgeable in the sheet music field. If it's like other things it could potentially be worth some serious money. You could take it to a copy place, that way you could still have the vintage music look and preserve family heirlooms at the same time. Use Kimber B's idea to stain the copies w/really strong coffee. If you do have copies made ask them if the ink smears when wet? Just a thought for you!!

on Mar 07, 2012 · Like 1
Kimber B Paradise, MT

I had mine printer at our local shop and told them to print it so it wouldn't run :) I made super strong coffee and then place it in a cookie sheet. I carefully balled up the paper to give it a few wrinkles and quickly soaked the paper...carefully wrung it out...placed two sheets at a time on a cookie sheet and baked in the over on it's lowest temperature until they were completely dry.

on Mar 07, 2012 · Like 0
Susan B Cleveland, OH

I've had great luck using equal parts white glue and water instead of Mod Podge. Decoupaging is my favorite thing to do. A half gallon of Elmers is way cheaper.

on Mar 07, 2012 · Like 0
Terry M Quincy, IL

Susan, this is so true. Elmers and water IS much cheaper than Mod Podge...so Why is Mod Podge so expensive?

on Mar 07, 2012 · Like 0
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

Probably because its a "trademark" name. I've used Elmer's & water too and don't see any difference in the result.

on Mar 07, 2012 · Like 0
Uppercase Living - Indepe... Lincoln, NE

Thanks for all of the tips ladies!! Now do you have a way to manufacture more time so I can do all the projects I have on my list! :)

on Mar 08, 2012 · Like 1
Case Design/Remodeling, I... Bethesda, MD

Very cool idea!

on Mar 09, 2012 · Like 1
Linda M Clinton Township, MI

Why don't you try it first and then criticize. Some projects aren't as easy as they look.

on Mar 11, 2012 · Like 2
Kimber B Paradise, MT

...and even if a project is easy... it is lovely to see easy ideas to incorporate into a home... some people do not have a lot of time and little projects are just as worthy of attention :)

on Mar 13, 2012 · Like 0
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

Linda M. you are so right!!!!

on Mar 13, 2012 · Like 0
Terry M Quincy, IL

Here's the reason that I did this to this dresser:
1) Creative and different vs. Paint
2) Added personality
3) Easy to do and a fast way to get rid of the orange
4) Daughter tends not to take care of things, so I didn't want to put much time and effort ...»
into this. I love her but not the way she takes care of things.

on Mar 14, 2012 · Like 1
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

Terry...a detailed explanation is not needed to justify your project...you had fun...and it looks great. What others think of it is purely up to them...the bottom line is you are happy with it.

on Mar 14, 2012 · Like 3
Dee F Lanesville, IN

I love this idea Terry! It can be useful to someone who is not very crafty to someone who wants to get fancy with it. I have done this several times with old cheap pieces of furniture I got at yardsales and put matching wallpaper or border that are in the room on the drawer fronts. Would love to try the newspaper, especially a great idea for making say, a picture frame with the news announcements from someone's engagement, baby birth, etc.

on Mar 15, 2012 · Like 2
Terri J York, PA

@ Dee - my brain is getting way to slow. Glad you thought of the news & baby birth announcements, as I have two friends who are soon bringing new life into the world. Been banging my head trying to think of a different gift than the usual ones!

on Mar 16, 2012 · Like 1
Eclectically Vintage - Ke... New York, NY

Love this - anything using books is good for me!

on Apr 28, 2012 · Like 0
Marian D Wake Forest, NC

How cool

on May 11, 2012 · Like 0
Sondra A Janesville, WI

As a kid I remember using glue and water for decoupaging but I think Mod Podge came about as an answer to people who did not know how much water to use. Its like so many things intended to make our lives a little easier.
I like this idea and you did a very nice job. I've done things similar and realize that you need to use a paper that would take the Mod Podge w/out allowing the underside to show through but ...»
have wondered about the Sunday comics section as that is a little thicker and would be fun for kids furniture, shelves, etc. Will have to experiment.

on May 21, 2012 · Like 0
Terri J York, PA

I also remember using flower and water mixed together. Then I think e ran paper through it. - Am I thinking of paper mache?

on May 22, 2012 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

Terri...that's paper mache. I remember making Pinatas using large balloons as the "core"

on May 22, 2012 · Like 1
Becky Blair, NE

That looks great Terry M. I've seen this done with sheet music too. If the pages weren't old you can always age them using coffee to tea. It you spritz it on with a misting bottle it will look more natural.

on Aug 07, 2012 · Like 0
Sondra A Janesville, WI

Yes, Terri, using flour with water makes it paper mache. I remember using glue and water to brush over things for decoupaging. The basic idea is the same in that we made things more from scratch.

on Aug 07, 2012 · Like 0
Tonya Miller Dean Hemet, CA

I acquired an incredibly well made dresser at an estate sale, but it's kind of dull. I have been searching and searching for a "new face". Your project has inspired me!! Can't wait to get started!!!

on Dec 16, 2012 · Like 0

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