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Cost: $ $ $ $ $

Difficulty: • • • • •

Time: 4h00

Transform boring wooden drawers, or other bit of furniture into bright, fun items!
This is a really simple method for transforming dull furniture or other items into really pretty, funky things! And best of all, it costs very little, you will already have most of the things you need!

Posted by Reesha D. • Published 7th September 2011

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Step 1
first, we are gonna cover the drawers (if not using drawers, substitute whatever you are using when I say drawers) in paper mache. To mix up the paste, pour some flour into a bowl, then slowly add water and stir until it becomes a thick paste.
Step 2
This bit WILL be messy, don't wear your best clothes, or do it in a ballroom or anything. Cut the newspaper into little strips about 2 by 6 cm or something (no need for exactness) then dip them in the paste, and smooth them onto the drawers. (if you have done paper mache before you will know how this works) don't try to get the newspaper all in one direction, make it really random, it looks better. Only do one layer of newspaper, and be careful if you are doing something like drawers, to make sure that the layers are very thin, so that the drawers will fit back in their compartments when you have finished.
Step 3
Wait for this to dry, it will take a couple of hours. when it is dry, you can get painting. I used poster paints, because they are translucent, so the type of the newspaper is still visible, they are easy to blend, and they are very forgiving if you mess up a bit. You can do anything you want, I did a massive blended rainbow, but bear in mind that the varnish may make the paint run a little, so blended and abstract is better than exact here. When the drawers are painted to your satisfaction, leave it to dry. Poster paints dry quite quickly, so you don't need to wait too long!
Step 4
Varnish! Be careful to use a varnish which doesn't effect the paint below it. I actually did a small test piece on the back of one of the drawers before I varnished the whole thing. Use a clear varnish, and apply the varnish in the same direction as your brush strokes, so if it does smudge the paint slightly, it won't be noticeable.
Step 5
Rejoice in your new, funky object!