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An old shelving unit can be renewed to look like a designer accent piece with just a little ingenuity. Whether you want to give your tired shelves color and life for a child's room or make them look sophisticated for a library, this project will allow you to create a perfect one-of-a-kind look for your specific décor.
What you will need:
- Paper Napkins, Gift Wrap, or Placemats (or other printed paper that matches your décor)
- Modge Podge
- 2 Foam Paintbrushes (regular brushes will work)
- White Latex Paint (or another base color)
- Drop Cloths
- Scissors
Clean your old shelving unit and set it on a drop cloth. Sand any rough edges and imperfections to create a smooth surface, then wipe down the unit with a dry cloth. Paint three coats of white or base color latex onto the unit, allowing time to dry between coats.
While the paint is drying, study your printed paper. Cut the paper into shapes you want to adhere to your shelves. For larger shelves, use larger shapes. A placemat can be used in its original form, but napkins and gift wrap should be cut into pieces that follow the printed design.
 Once the shelves are dry, hold your paper shapes up to the unit to determine placement. Adhere the paper by painting Modge Podge onto the surface of your shelves in the area you want to place your paper. Then lay the paper against the tacky surface. Rub it flat with your fingers to remove air bubbles and wrinkles. Paint two layers of Modge Podge over the paper. Repeat until you have the desired amount of paper on your shelves. Finish your shelving unit with a coat of varnish to create a shiny surface, easy to clean.
This same application can be used on boxes, trunks, lamps, and other hard surfaces. Produce matching pieces by using the same printed paper on your shelves and accessories.
© 2005 ThriftyFun
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