Crafty Things//A Refinished Table
I finally did it. I refinished my kitchen table and covered it in book pages. It isn’t perfect and if I did it again there are things I would change but, all in all, I am very happy with it.
My table had a very damaged surface so something had to be done with it. I thought about just painting it but then I came across a tutorial online with gorgeous photos of a table covered in pages. I fell in love. I have quite a few books that have fallen apart and I have been using them for various crafts. I won’t deliberately destroy a book but ones that disintegrated on their own are fair game. I used On the Banks of Plum Creek because I love the illustrations and the book is a huge part of my reading history.
It is surprisingly hard to take a photo of the finished product. It actually looks nicer in real life. I am hoping it holds up well. I used two cans of spray polyurethane in the hopes of making it very water-resistant. We shall see. I still need to spray paint the chairs so they match the table legs but I will get around to that eventually. The difference in color is barely noticeable anyway.
My husband is pleased I am happy with it, my daughter has decided she likes it, and my son is driven crazy by it. He says if I had to cover the table in book pages couldn’t I at least put them in order and neatly next to each other so it can be read. The randomness of it bothers him. I said it looks more artistic this way but he isn’t convinced.
I have a lot of other books that have fallen apart. Does anyone have any other craft suggestions for me?
7 Comments
Lory
Congratulations on completing this fun project! I know what your son means – I would want to read the pages too. But I still like the effect.
jllee656
I am sympathetic! The seat I usually use is at the end where the pages are all upside-down. I am considering flipping the whole table around so I can read while I eat.
Angela
That looks very cool! Great job!
jllee656
Thank you. I am reasonably happy with it.
Katrina
I really like it. I know what you mean about doing things differently another time. I'm always saying – this one is the prototype! I might be tempted to put a sort of wooden edging around it and cover it with glass to protect it. I love Plum Creek too when I read it. I can only think of using old book pages for making a papier mache box, or just cover an old cardboard box as a 'memory box' or get a book on origami!
jllee656
I have been considering covering it with glass. I might look into it. I need to buy a new copy of Plum Creek now so my collection will be complete.
Anonymous
Love it. I have a little table from when my boys were toddlers – I think I could do this to it. Never thought of that before. Lucinda