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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

End Table Makeover and Over and Over!

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Did you ever have one of those projects that you just couldn't seem to get right? Well, this is that project for me! I did, however, finally get this little end table to look the way I pictured it in my head.
It started out like this...
I paid $10 for it at the thrift store.

I knew that I wanted to paint it and add a graphic and a pattern. Of course, the Graphics Fairy always has something I like to use for the graphics...

I printed out the graphic in reverse on my computer, taped it ink side down, and rubbed over the design with a pencil. This transferred the graphic onto the table. You can paint over the design with any color, but I like the way it has an aged feel with just the transfer.

I decided I wanted a houndstooth pattern for the top. It would have certainly been great to have a stencil for this part! I didn't, so I had to figure it out on my own. Luckily, my days of designing patterns for a carpet company kicked in and I figured it out.
I drew this part with a pencil. It's not perfect, but neither am I! I don't mind a little imperfection!

I didn't want the traditional black and white houndstooth. I wanted the design to be a little more subtle and be more the color of my graphic. So, I added a little black to the white that I used to paint the table with ...
It was still too dark! So, I did a wash over it with the white...
that turned it blue!!! FAIL!
So, I decided to see how it would look black...
It looked okay, but still not what I had in my head. And, actually, it looks better in the picture than it did in person.
So, I washed over the black...
It was okay, but still not what I wanted.

This time, I decided to treat the design more like a watercolor. I mixed a light gray and painted over the design AGAIN!
Much better! Now it looks more like the graphic. And, once I put wax on the table it made it even more subtle, which is how I had envisioned it.
 Finally, I got the look I wanted...
This just proves that paint is forgiving! If you don't like how something turns out, just paint over it...even if you have to paint over it again, and again, and again!

Linking To: 
Savvy Southern Style, Boogieboard Cottage,Sugar Bee Crafts, Not Just A Housewife, Coastal Charm,To Sew With Love, Under The Table & Dreaming,Cherished Treasures,The Graphics Fairy,Polly Want A Crafter,Funky Junk Interiors,Addicted 2 Decorating,Domestically Speaking,Tales of a Trophy Wife,DIY Showoff, Skip To My Lou,Mommy By Day... Crafter By Night,Miss Mustard Seed,All Things Heart and Home,The Shabby Nest,Someday Crafts,Sew Much Ado,Lil' Luna,Sugar and Dots,House of Hepworths,Yesterday on Tuesday,Thrifty Decorating,Remodelaholic,Fingerprints on the Fridge,Lovely Crafty Home,Ladybird LN Craft Envy,Dittle Dattle,Craft-O-Maniac,Keeping It Simple,Mad In Crafts,Making The World Cuter,Sisters of the Wild West,Sarahndipities,Today's Creative Blog,Tip Junkie,Sassy Sites,The Thrifty Home,seven thirty three,Sisters Stuff,Fabric Bows and More,Sew Woodsy,Tea Rose Home,Ginger Snap Crafts,The Shabby Creek Cottage,What Allie's Making Now,Thrifty 101,Momnivore's Dilemma,It's Sew Stinkin Cute,Beyond The Picket Fence,Finding Fabulous,Trendy Treehouse,A Little Knick Knack,Chic on a Shoestring Decorating,Simply Sweet Home, Creation Corner,Truly Lovely with the Laney Sisters,Mommaskindacrafty,Simply Designing,Joyful Stamper,Tatertots and Jello,Along For The Ride,Young and Crafty,While He Was Napping,A Vision To Remember,Stay At Home Nation,LambAround,Nifty Thrifty Things,Petite Hermine,A Bowl Full Of Lemons,The Foley Fam,Type A,Reasons To Skip The Housework,DIY Club Inc,Primitive and Proper,Creations by Kara,Elle Belle CreativeTales from Bloggeritaville,Delightful Order,Gluesticks,Somewhat Simple,Frugalicious Me,All Things Fee,Cherished Bliss,Homework,Me and My Boys,Homemaker on a Dime,Primp,Craft Junkie Too,Home Savvy,Lines Across My Face,Bear Rabbit Bear,The Kurtz Corner,Chef In Training,The Sasse Life,Project Queen,Crafty Scrappy Happy,Raising 4 Princesses,DIY Home Sweet Home,Passionately Artistic,Redoux,Pocket Full Of Pink,Kammy's Korner,I Can't Stop Crafting,Sassafras Salvation,The Artsy Girl Connection,The Shady Porch,Rae Gun Ramblings,Six Sisters Stuff,Sew Crafty Tuesday,Adventures In Dinner,Knick Of Time,Five Days 5 Ways,Some Good Stuff,Seven Alive,Ivy and Elephants,Creating Home,Alderberry Hill,
The Cottage Market ,  Fine Craft Guild, I should be mopping the floor, CRAFT.,

38 comments:

  1. i love the subtle look of that houndstooth!

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  2. If at first you don't succeed... I like your determination to make it work, and it paid off.

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  3. :) Oh, I have so many projects that have gone this route! It looks great. Love the faded, more subtle look.
    I've just started a link party devoted to projects inspired by pinterest.
    Very Pinteresting Party

    I'd love for you to come by and check it out!

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  4. I know JUST what you mean! I LOVE how it turned out, I've been looking for an end table JUST like that, LOVE it!

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  5. This project is awesome! Such a good upgrade...and upgrade again. :) It would be super cool if would come by today to enter my giveaway for a $50 Lowe's gift card and to link up to my very first party! http://thespacebetweenblog.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/imagine-the-impossibilities-link-party-1/
    Karah @ thespacebetweenblog

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  6. It looks great! I love the houndstooth...very impressive you did it without a pattern and were able to make it look so uniform! I actually liked it just as well before you whitewashed it, but it looks fantastic both ways, and I appreciate the subtlty of it when you were finished!
    ~*Jessica Lauren @ Copy-Cat-Crafter*~

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  7. Houndstooth! That's great! I love the Paris stencil too. This is a very unique piece

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  8. Your table came out beautifully! I love the French graphics you used!!!! Coming over from Transformation Thursday and your newest follower!

    Jeanine

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  9. although i would consider myself a decently creative person with good imagination, i do not have an eye for dressing up furniture like that. amazing what you did! i would've walked straight by that end table in the thrift store, would've perhaps even stuck my nose up at it (yeah, i can be a little snobby sometimes, haha)... and you just have this vision of what could be done with it. wow!
    thanks for visiting artsy ants blog!

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  10. It turned out really cute! Great job! Vanna

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  11. My daughter is looking for nightstands for her master BR and I keep telling her to get something at a flea market or yard sale and upcycle it. This sweet houndstooth pattern would go perfectly with her decor. Maybe Mama will have to take matters into her own hands. LOL

    Here following from Sugar & Dots. Thanks for sharing your adorable project!

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  12. looks great, i love the houndstooth xxx

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  13. I absolutely {love} how this turned out! I have always love the way graphite looks when transferred but didn’t realize it would hold up if waxed. I am definitely going to be trying this :)
    Thank you for sharing this lovely $10 project
    {{hugs}}
    Lynda

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  14. I love the look of your table! Great "impossible." Thanks for linking up to our "impossibles" party!

    blessings,
    karianne

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  15. I can't believe you created that houndstooth pattern yourself - what talent! Thanks for sharing at our LInk It Up Thursday party.

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  16. Just totally fabulous! The houndstooth is just terrific. I'm having a bit of a snicker right now since you'll see a big hit of houndstooth on my blog next week :-0

    Thanks so much for taking the time to share at Pin'Inspiration Thursday. Hope to see you on Saturday to help "Beat the Winter Blues". Have an awesome day.

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  17. I love this table! I am a sucker for hounds tooth! Great job

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  18. You did an amazing job!

    Mrs. Delightful recently posted: My Memories Giveaway

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  19. It's fabulous! Your perseverance paid off!

    Sharon
    mrshinesclass.wordpress.com

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  20. Wow, so much trial and effort in design, isn't there? I love the end result, so it was definitely worth it! I want to try a houndstooth print now!

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  21. Wow--that takes some patience, but the results are worth it! Thanks for linking up at Beyond the Picket Fence.

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  22. Looks great! I haven't redone much furniture, so this looks super hard to me :) Happy you linked to Things I've Done Thursday this week.
    Melanie

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  23. You are amazing! That houndstooth pattern is just....amazing!
    Beautiful job! Isn't the Graphics Fairy the best!

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  24. Cute project! I'm so impressed that you did your own houndstooth design. Kudos!

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  25. It was certainly worth all your efforts, the table looks great!

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  26. Totally transformed! Thanks so much for sharing this great table at the Kiss & Tell party over at I Gotta Create!

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  27. I usually turn my nose up at tables like this but you've made me rethink that. Yours is gorgeous!

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  28. WOW. What an incredible transformation. I am in awe that you did this by hand. You have the patience of a saint and the admiration of me! Would be delighted for you to share this at Mop it Up Mondays: http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/2012/02/mop-it-up-mondays-party-2.html

    {HUGS},
    kristi
    (your newest follower)

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  29. I wouldnt have ever thought to put houndstooth on a table. So creative!!

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  30. Had to come back for another peak, still love it!

    Thanks so much for linking up to the challenge!
    Karah

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  31. We love the houndstooth pattern! Totally changes the table to look amazing!! Thanks so much for joining us on "Strut Your Stuff Saturday." We loved having you and hope to see you back next Saturday with more great ideas! -The Sisters

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  32. I'm so impressed w/ the houndstooth. Seriously, I could never have done that w/out a stencil.

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  33. I can not believe you drew that design yourself. Gosh it would be handy to be able to draw; I'd save so much money on stencils!! I LOVE how you did this table; your determination to get the look you wanted really paid off!

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  34. Another fab project, Virginia! Thanks for sharing. you're such an inspiration!

    Hugs,
    Lelanie

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  35. Love the way this turned out! You're right! It's worth re-doing to get it right! I'm a new blogger and now your newest follower!

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