decoupaged table

This table (cart) on wheels caught my eye at a church garage sale and I knew right away I wanted it for my patio. I loved the rim around the top and thought it would be great for decoupaging. My family was planning a trip to Ireland so I decided while on the trip I would look for pictures and postcards to put on this table as a memory of our trip. I have done one before from my trip to Hawaii years ago.

Here is the finished table on my patio.

First I painted it green to match my other furniture on my patio. Then I put a coat of clear wax (CeeCee Caldwell) and dark wax (Annie Sloan).

Next I laid out all the pictures, postcards and euro (coins) on the table. It always helps to take a picture of the layout so when you move them you will remember where they go. I used Mod Podge matte finish to decoupage the pictures onto the table ( a coat under and over). After drying I used Valspar Antiquing wax to make the pictures look old. You do have to wipe it off as you go with cheesecloth. A few days later I poured on the Pour-on epoxy which makes it have a thick high gloss finish and really helps to protect it. It is expensive but worth it especially if you are using the piece outside.

The table is very functional since I can move it easily around my patio. We will always treasure this table as it will remind us of our great trip to Ireland with our two daughters.

Here we are in Ireland at the Cliffs of Moher.

This coffee table is very special to me because it was in my house growing up. The legs on each side look like half a wagon wheel. For years I used it in my classroom and when I retired I gave it to my daughter. I had some old map wrapping paper and scrapbook paper that I have been wanting to use and I wanted to try out some new wax products and techniques. I painted the top of the table a light grey. Then I cut up some of the map papers and experimented as to which ones I would use and how to lay them out. Because of it being a coffee table I wanted the maps to go all different directions since you would be seeing it from different angles. I decided it would be best to not have the paper go into the 3 grooves that separate each board of the table. This made it easier for lining up the papers and for giving me 4 areas to work with at a time when I did the actual decoupaging with Mod Podge. It was very hard to make it smooth especially since some of my pieces were large. I would recommend doing smaller pieces and using thicker paper. I used Valspar clear wax over the top after the Mod Podge dried. Then I put Valspar antiquing wax (dark) over it the next day and rubbed it off with cheesecloth. This technique does work well with a decoupaged surface and acts as a durable coating. But I still had to put a few layers of thick polyurethane to make it smoother and to protect it from my grandkids that tend to be very hard on furniture. My daughter is happy with it and the 1st picture shows it in her home.

Update: This was one of the few pieces of furniture that my daughter was able to save in the flood of 2016 in Louisiana. She put this up on a couch before leaving her home when the water was rising.

Collage of before pic and process of getting paper/maps ready

collage of the decoupaging process

Ginger's Attic

Ireland Memories Decoupaged Table

Vintage Wagon Wheel Coffee Table decoupaged with maps