So being a good up-cycler I was going to change it to reflect me! I was going to change the look of the shelf with…
Did I paint it, like you all think I did?
No, I used book pages!
Anyway I think I need a break from painting after all the furniture painting I did!
In fact it is a LACK shelf from Ikea. It is meant to look like it is floating. And at 43 inches across it is quite big. My son added a bracket on the side so it wouldn’t come tumbling down on him. Smart kid! Now I can really fill it up to the gills.
Of course I would have preferred something like this, or this, but we work with what we have.
What I Used:
- Mod Podge
- or you can use Elmer’s Glue
- Book pages
- Foam brush
The How To:
Anyway getting back to my tutorial, I cut the edges along by folding and then tearing by hand. No scissors needed. I would brush the Mod Podge on the shelf and then carefully apply the page.
When I got to the edge I’d fold it over and apply the mod podge then glue it on.
I just continued going over the edge and under. And then I worked from underneath starting from the inside.
I know you can’t see this on the screen but the color of the pages matches perfectly with the wall color which is a soft cream. It turned out really great!
You can see to the left that a small bracket was added and I painted that a cream color too so it’ll blend in.
I have the cork board to my left with various wires I use for phones and cameras. They are hanging on push pins but that works just fine. And the framed board used to be a Christmas Decor. I even keep a bunch of mini clothes pins on the calendar in case I want to attach something.
Can you see why I wanted to lighten up that shelf? It felt as if the former black shelf was about to topple over on me. Now it is light and fun!
With simple ideas like this one on how to change the look of a shelf with book pages I should be done in no time. Ha! I hope you don’t believe that.
Help me out a bit and let me know what you think ought to be done with that desk.
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Barbara Chapman ~ French Ethereal
Thursday 7th of June 2018
Hi Mary, I love how your shelf turned out! {I think I began a comment yesterday but got called away, so I know I didn't finish. :) } Modge Podge is great stuff! I loved making things with it when I was a kid and it's fun to see how it is used here today!!! Glad you are getting to work on your bedroom now ~ always nice for a refresh. :) Looking forward to seeing your bedroom as you refinish the room, new linens, etc., Hugs, Barb :)
Mary
Friday 8th of June 2018
Barbara this is not even a refresh. This is trying to make some sort of semblance of a room. Haha!!
Lorin Small
Wednesday 23rd of May 2018
Hmmmm..... maybe a gray charcoal around the edge of the faux butcher block to tie the color of the print on the pages and paint the white page color on the legs and the rest of the bottom. I would look for a fun print with all those colors and wrap it on those several Drop Acoustic Panel Ceiling Tiles for a super large bulletin board. Putting in the wall between the desk and the shelf, connecting the two pieces. That should make on unified piece and look cleaner even if you have to have a bunch of stuff out. For the super large bulletin board you could continue you page gluing gig😉
Mary
Wednesday 30th of May 2018
That is a great idea Lorin, Because there is always chaos in front of my desk on the walls. It would actually look spectacular.
Debrashoppeno5
Wednesday 23rd of May 2018
I like the new look. And you make decoupaging look so easy. Now for the desk, I would love to see what you can do with it!
Mary
Wednesday 30th of May 2018
Decoupage is an easy way to change something and if you don't like it after a while just strip it! I need to work on that desk soon.
Katrin
Wednesday 23rd of May 2018
Mary this shelf is so you! It looks a lot better like this and fits in so nicely above the desk. And the desk is really cute, maybe go two tone, white legs and stained top??
Mary
Wednesday 30th of May 2018
Katrin those legs definitely have to go lighter, and the idea of a stained top is good too. I just need to find the right paint because the top is actually metal.
Linda at Mixed Kreations
Tuesday 29th of May 2018
I love the new look of the shelf, and how you have everything staged. Looks really nice! I like the darker top of the desk, but maybe lighten up the rest.
Mary
Wednesday 30th of May 2018
I agree Linda, the legs need to be lighter and I can maybe work with the top in some way.