There is something truly magical about whimsical furniture; it allows us to step outside the box and embrace patterns, textures, and colours that tell a story. For this project, I decided to take a table with foldable side panels and give it a complete makeover. By combining the intricate textures of WoodUbend mouldings with the vibrant depth of Posh Chalk products, I was able to transform a simple piece of furniture into a captivating whimsical table.
Setting the Scene with Crackle and Gold!
I began this transformation by focusing on the three central sections of the tabletop. To keep my workspace clean, I carefully taped off these areas to ensure no paint would wander onto the natural wood parts I wanted to decorate later. I started with a base coat of “Vintage” by Magic Paint. Once that was dry, I applied a layer of Magic Paint Crackling Gel over these three sections. The trick with crackle gel is to apply it in an even layer and let it dry just enough to become tacky before moving to the next step, as this is what creates those beautiful, aged fissures in the top coat of paint.
While the gel was drying naturally, I turned my attention to the TR721 WoodUbend Trim. To give the trim a luxurious feel, I pre-painted it using Posh Chalk Pale Gold Metallic Pigments. I created my own liquid gold by mixing the dry pigment powder with Posh Chalk Pigment Infusor, stirring the mixture until it reached a smooth, creamy consistency that flowed easily off my Posh Chalk Mouldings Brush. I then uncoiled and painted a section of the trim at a time, using a heat gun to dry off the coat of Pigments and allowing me to recoil each section before moving on to the next. This left me with a conveniently coiled yet fully painted WoodUbend Trim!
Once the crackle gel on the table was ready, I painted over those sections with “Cotton” by Magic Paint. As the white paint dried over the gel, it began to pull apart, revealing the “Vintage” colour underneath in a stunning weathered pattern. This white paint will provide the perfect, bright background to make the colours in my decoupage really pop!
Decoupage and Decorative Borders!
After removing the tape from the central sections, it was time to add some floral charm. I selected the Posh Chalk Basket of Roses Deluxe Decoupage. Using my Posh Chalk Smooth & Blend Brush, I applied a thin layer of Posh Chalk Pigment Infusor to the table surface to act as an adhesive. I carefully laid the decoupage paper down, smoothing it out with Smooth & Blend Brush to ensure there were no air bubbles or wrinkles. While the paper was adhered to the surface but not yet saturated with the Infusor, I used a sharp craft knife to trim away any overhanging edges for a perfectly flush fit. I then sealed the decoupage into place with a more generous layer of Posh Chalk Pigment Infusor.
To frame this floral focal point, I used the TR721 trim I had gilded earlier. Following the essential WoodUbend application process, I used a heat gun to warm the trim until it became completely flexible. I then applied a thin layer of WoodUglue to the back and pressed it firmly onto the border of the decoupaged section. To get those professional-looking corners, I mitred the edges while the moulding was still warm and soft, allowing for a seamless join. I repeated this entire process for the central sections on both of the foldable side panels, ensuring the table looked beautiful whether the panels were up or down.
Whimsical Patterns for a Whimsical Table!
With my decoupage panels protected by tape, I gave the rest of the tabletop a fresh coat of “Cotton” by Magic Paint. To create that whimsical aesthetic, I decided to paint a striking black and white checkerboard stripe pattern around the floral panels. I placed painter’s tape at regular, measured intervals and filled in the gaps with Posh Chalk Black Carbon Metallic Paste. This paste is wonderfully thick, so I only needed a small amount to get deep, opaque coverage that didn’t bleed under the tape. Moving to the underside of the table, I noticed two central sections marked by thin rectangular ridges on the front panel. After painting the whole surface in “Cotton,” I taped off these areas to replicate the pattern from the tabletop surrounding them.
I then took a Posh Chalk Posh Harlequin Premium Stencil and carefully trimmed it so a single row of the diamond design would fit perfectly within the ridges. Using a Posh Chalk Stencil Brush, I applied the Black Carbon Paste with a gentle stippling motion—tapping the brush straight up and down—to ensure the design stayed crisp and sharp. Once the stencil was removed, I used my Pale Gold Metallic Pigments to highlight the thin border ridges, really making the harlequin pattern pop!.
The Final Flourish!
To bring the whole piece together, I painted the entire underside and the table’s legs in “Cotton.” I wanted the gold accents to travel all the way down the piece, so I applied the Pale Gold Pigments to the decorative ridges along the bottom bar connecting the legs, as well as all around the edge of the tabletop. This tied the gilded WoodUbend Trim into the rest of the structure beautifully.
The final step was to add a touch of history to this whimsical piece. I applied Magic Paint’s “Elegance” black wax over the entire table. I worked the wax into the crevices of the mouldings and the corners of the table, then wiped away the excess with a lint-free cloth. This left a slight shadow in the recessed areas, giving the table a sophisticated, vintage look that softened the bright white and gold. This whimsical table is now a true showstopper, blending classic floral elements with bold, playful patterns!
This concludes the transformation of the tabletop and body, but the journey of upcycling never truly ends.
P.S If my blogs do inspire you, and you get round to trying some of these techniques and products, I would love to see them in the Creations community we have. There are over 25,000 members who post daily. You’ll also find lots of creators in there who have posted some wonderful projects. It’s an inspiring group with lots going on. You can join here, and best of all it’s free!
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