Music Lover's Decoupage Table

Lauren Z
by Lauren Z
4 Materials
2 Days
Easy
Sometimes a piece of furniture has a top that just isn't salvageable as was the case with this table someone gave me. It was a cheaper wood so refinishing was not an option. So what can you do? Decoupage!
Definitely worth saving!
The top was a mixture of paints, varnish and stains. Since it couldn't be sanded or restores, covering was the best option. The entire table got a quick coat of white chalk paint and was distressed lightly. Then it was time for the top.
I love using old book pages for decoupage projects. I know many people make COPIES of the pages and use those instead of the actual pages. This is fine but unless it's a very valuable book, I prefer the old pages as they absorb better and in this case the varnish I used on top gave really interesting patterns and coloring.
Tear the edges of the pages so they lay flatter and absorb the Mod Podge better, laying flat and not pulling up. Working in sections, I applied Mod Podge using a foam brush to the table top, laid the pages down and applied a LIGHT coat of Mod Podge on top of the pages. You may have to water down the Mod Podge a bit if the pages are particularly fragile to prevent tearing.
Once the table top was dry, I applied a coat of matte finish varnish. The varnish soaked further into the paper creating all of these great dark patches. If you used a really thick coat of Mod Podge on top (which is fine), you won't get as much 'discoloration' with the varnish. The amount of discoloration will vary greatly depending on the age of the papers you are using.
I decided to continue the 'music theme' by adding this quote to the lower shelf using my pencil transfer method


A table that would have ended up in the trash has new life!
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Lauren Z
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  • Annie Annie on Sep 15, 2018

    Hi Lauren so it was a while since you posted this tutorial can you tell me if you overlapped the pages as you stuck them down i want to do this but i am just a bit worried about the different thickness I love tour music theme mine i going to b poetry thank you

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  • Kate Kate on Jan 13, 2018

    I would like to know where the Song Book was obtained, my grandson is studying music and I would like a copy of the Simple facts of Music that was used on the top of the table. Have tried to search it on google but have on found the revised copy of the book. Kathy B.

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    • Lauren Z Lauren Z on Jan 13, 2018
      There are copies for sale on Etsy. 39.99. Guess I shouldn't have used it for this table lol! CHECK EBay also.
  • Kate Kate on Jan 14, 2018

    I have looked on Etsy and Ebay, those are the Revised Edition of the book. The page I am looking for is in the First Edition. You used the page on the top of your table and the page heading is "Simple Facts of Music" which is not included in the Revised Edition ( the first sentence is: Music is built upon successions of tones called scales). Would it be possible for you to take a picture of just that page and share it with me. I am looking for unusual items to collect for my grandson and I have not seen this information anywhere else. Thanks.

    • Lauren Z Lauren Z on Jan 14, 2018
      Sorry. I sold that table to a music teacher and no longer have it.
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