About 6 months ago, I purchased an old typing table from someone on Craigslist for a measly $5. I happened to come across it right after I decided to create a crafting corner in my bedroom and knew its tiny, yet expandable size was just what I needed. Last month, I put it on my list as one of the top 10 projects I wanted to finish in 2012. So here’s the big reveal!
As you can see, the table was pretty beat up. The particle board used as the tabletop was a little warped from moisture, and it had a few old stickers on it.
My husband did a light sanding of the tabletop to remove the stickers, but it didn’t help much with the areas that were warped and raised from the moisture damage. So after spray painting it white, I decided I would have to do something more to the top to cover up the damage.
After some heavy Pinterest research, I found this stencil template, originally used to paint a gorgeous floor.
Source: paisleywallpaper.blogspot.com
I resized it in Photoshop, and printed it out on contact paper. Then I used an X-acto knife
{Sidenote}: If I could go back, I wouldn’t print on contact paper. I thought it would make it easier because the stencil would stick to the table and stay put, but I hadn’t thought about the fact that I would need to move the stencil before the paint was dry to continue on with painting in a different area, and things got a little messy. I think using cardstock and a couple pieces of masking tape to hold it in place would have worked better. Oh well, you live, you learn.
I also painted the edges of the tabletop for a little contrast. To finish it off, I sprayed the whole thing with two coats of polyurethane spray. I almost always cover my spray painted items with polyurethane, because it helps prevent again water damage or other markings.
Now my table sits happily in my crafting corner (which has yet to be decorated – hopefully more on that to come soon!).
