UPcycling!

This great new phrase in my lexicon was given to me by an ex-work colleague and I just love it! (thanks Stacy F! :)

UP-cycling means that our landfills are being deprived of a few more "things" that our throw away society discards so easily. I don't know about you but I just feel uncomfortable throwing away items that are in perfectly good 'nick' but have simply become a little life-worn or unfashionable. So most of these types of items go to charity or fall into the category of "a Fiona Project".

Latest is a pair of, (well sort of - they don't exactly match!), bedside tables that were plain brown when purchased second hand at an auction we attended to support a friend, and transformed into glam gold and bronze items as part of a Moroccan moment after a holiday there in 2002. But now they are going "shabby chic/French Provincial with a hint of Art Deco" in 2014!

This has been achieved through paint and the timeless art of decoupage (or rather, my version of decoupage!) ... It started with some gorgeous French Wash paint left over from doing our lounge and dining areas. Then I  found some wonderful Italian paper at Il Papiro- I mean check out this gorgeousness!

Then with a coat of paint, paper glue and lacquer this  ...

 

 became this.

and then this!

 

 This one below  was the second one I did ...when the first one turned out so well I reclaimed the other from the charity pile!

 

 

Note the "not quite matching" knobs to go with the "not quite matching" tables!

  

The finished look helped update a previously very orange room (so orange in fact that one friend, Anne, amusingly told me she was almost moved to chanting when she and her husband stayed!

.
 

I am very happy with the finished effect for a cost of about $30 and some elbow grease!

 

Materials:

 

• Universal Primer
• 2 brushes or one roller & one brush
• Craft glue (I used Lincraft brand)
• Paper (any attractive paper will do as long as it has a reasonable weight - 90-120 GSM is recommended for strength)
• Scissors (sharp - you don't want to tear!)
• Pencil
• Measuring tape
• Ruler
• Paint colour (Mine is "Herbivore" from Porter's Paints)
• Rubber squidgee (for ironing out bumps - I use one you use for mosaic tiling)
• Knobs (Provincial Home living have a good selection if you like this style)
• Clear furniture lacquer (I used a semi -gloss) 

 

Method:

1. Prepare surface by wiping surfaces clean and sanding back and then applying a coat of primer.
2. Allow to dry as per the insructions
3. Apply your chosen colour of paint and allow drying time between.
4. Measure the surfaces you have chosen to cover
5. Prepare a template from newspaper to ensure your measurements are correct (using a ruler helps keep your lines straight)
6. Copy the template onto your selected paper with pencil and ruler, and cut
7. Coat surface with glue using a clean paintbrush and gently ease paper onto surface rolling out like you would a rug. This allows you to push out potential air bubbles as you go.
8. Gently  use the rubber squidgee to smooth the surface ensuring you do not tear the paper.
9. Allow to dry thoroughly before using the lacquer and brush to provide a protective coating.
10. Allow to dry
11. Mark the position for the knobs with the pencil.
12. Screw in knobs (you may require a hacksaw to saw the knob screw to the correct length that won't stab whatever is inside your cupboard or drawer!!)

 

 

 What can you "upCycle" this weekend?