• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • My Shop: FRAME AND FRILLS
  • DIY Tutorials & Tips
  • Shopping
  • Contact

Coastal Theme Desk Re-Do

This coastal theme desk re-do was such a fun DIY project! Using one of the Mint Decoupage Papers I sell in the Frame and Frills shop, and extending the borders of it by blending paint out made me feel like an artist! Though I love to paint and re-do, I am not a trained artist. That’s what’s so wonderful about using these papers, it’s the middle ground of being an artist and just being creative with no training.

Here’s my technique and how I did a bit of a ‘furniture flip’, changing this little vintage desk into a coastal piece of art… (all the products I used in this project will be linked at the end of the post)

The Mint paper I chose is a sweet print of a girl on a swing over the water. I love the impressionistic style of the print. That also makes it easy when the ‘border blending’ process starts.

All the Mint Decoupage papers are curated on a thin but very strong tissue type paper with gorgeous printed detail. The art is specially selected for this type of painted blending.

Using Fusion Decoupage and Transfer Gel, goes on so smooth and it’s easy to spread. I’ve used other brands of decoupage medium, and have found them to be very tacky and much harder to spread evenly.

The decoupage paper is narrower than the desk top, so I placed it how I felt it would look good once the borders were extended with the paint.

To apply the paper, I brushed the decoupage gel into the desk, being sure to paint it out a bit beyond where the paper would actually be, so every part of the paper would be completely glued down. Then, while the gel was still wet, I carefully laid the paper on the gel and smoothed it out a bit, carefully working the air bubbles out.

This paper crinkles as soon as it’s wet from the gel. It’s meant to do that, that’s part of the ‘look’. Some on the crinkles will dry flatter, but they will still be visible and offer texture to the finished piece. Air bubbles do need to be worked out as best as possible though. If need be, and air bubbles are present after it’s dry, a slight razor poke and dab of gel can take care of it.

I’ve gotten smart and have started to write notes to help keep track of the Fusion Mineral Paint colors I use for the blending process. That way when clients buy a decoupage paper I can easily show them what colors I found blended well with it. It’s great that every color of Fusion Mineral Paint is stocked in tester sizes too, that works perfect for projects like this!!

Another tip is to mix up the color and then put a small test patch of the custom paint on the piece right next to the decoupaged paper and let it dry. The paint color does change slightly after it’s dry… and being right next to the paper helps so much to actually ‘see’ the color with it.

Looking at the print, it has a blue background and the other colors are added on top of that. So that was my approach for the top blending techinque.

I mixed enough paint to do the shelf and bench seat top too.

Once I started to add the other colors on the top, I quickly realized that the painter of the original print was left handed. To match the way the strokes of paint were shaped, the brush had to go from right to left. That was a little getting used to for this right-handed gal.

A secret to blending the borders with paint, is to not be shy about adding the paint onto the actual decoupage paper. It’s nearly impossible to perfectly match the same color that is on the print, so instead, my approach is to come close and then work it into the print as well.

I thought to bring the picture up on the inside of the little top trim would be fun. I’d paint in the ropes of the swing on that trip edge piece once the the sky part was done.

I used artists brushes and paper towel to give a soft mottled effect for the sky.

Layers and layers start to bring it together.

Part way through, the effect of blending is starting to take shape, but the border of the paper edge is still quite noticeable. I like to step back and examine it, over and over, as I’m going along.

Bringing the paint over onto the paper really blended the border.

Once the top was done, I painted the sides and rest of the desk with the white color ‘Casement’.

To finish the desk top, I top coated with 5 coats of Tough Coat. (HERE is my method to apply it and successfully get a beautiful streak free finish!) Tough Coat is a water based polyurethane made by Fusion. It is available in matte and gloss. For this print of water I thought the gloss finish would look good.

Here she is all finished!

I decided that the blue shelf and stool top looked a little too much, so I painted the shelf to match the rest of the body. That’s the thing with paint… it’s only paint and usually very easy to quickly fix or change it if something didn’t turn out how you envisioned!

I love, love, love creating a blended border with the decoupage paper! It is so much fun! The prints are chosen so that they will work well for blending and I haven’t had one not work out…

Here are the products I used to create this coastal theme desk re-do: (all these products I sell in my Frame and Frills shop in person and online!)

  • Mint Decoupage Paper Girl on a Swing
  • Fusion Decoupage and Transfer Gel
  • Fusion Mineral Paints in the following colors: Casement, Liberty Blue, Azure, Lamp White, Damask, Little Whale, Fort York.
  • Pointed Sash Brush for main body
  • Tough Coat Gloss
  • Applicator Pad

Please feel free to follow and share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook, Pinterest, Flipboard, Bloglovin, YouTube and Instagram! I appreciate you reading along. Be sure to pop over to my business site Frame and Frills and see all the possibilities for your next, (or maybe even first!) DIY project!

To read more painting tips check out some of these other posts I’ve written:

How-To-Fusion-Mineral-Paint-SFO-1
Fusion-Gel-Stain-Topcoat
Painting Concrete with Fusion Mineral Paint
Wet-Sanding-title-page
Gold-Harlequin-Table-Redo-1
Stenciled-Brick-Floor
3-tips-applying-transfers
Embossing Paste Stencil
Christmas Table Re-Do
Buffet Re-Do
French Patisserie Cafe Set Re-Do
Vintage-Romantic-Style-Cabinet-Re-Do
Petite-Bookcase-Makeover
Nightstand-Gets-New-Look-SimpleDecoratingTips
How-to-Fusion-Mineral-Paint-Tough-Coat
How to Paint a Test Patch
how-to-diy-faux-marble-painted-finish
How-To-Decoupage-and-Painted-Dresser-ReDo
Vintage Halloween Napkin Decoupage Plate
Decoupage-Door-Treatment
Vintage-Seahorse-Birdbath-Re-Do
old-world-finish-decoupage
Coastal-Themed-Desk-Re-Do
How-to-Fusion-Mineral-Paint-Tough-Coat
DIY Inspiration
Iron-Chair-Re-Do
Milk-Paint-and-Tung-Oil-Benches
How-to-Age-Galvanized-Metal
Wall Mounted Pot Rack SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Simple DIY Curtain with vintage fabric SimpleDecoratingTips.com
diy-faux-aged-metallic-finish-1
Milk Paint Cupboard Frame and Frills SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Painting Tips SimpleDecoratingTips.com
repurposing-stencil-a-vintage-window
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Paint Colors for Our 100 Year Old House
Restoration Vintage Medicine Cabinet SimpleDecoratingTips.com
hand painting furniture sdtips
6-furniture-projects-to-inspire-you simpledecoratingtips.com
Paint Pail SimpleDecoratingTips.com
backyard-boat-pond
Painting Grace SimpleDecoratingTips.com
simple-stool-redo-simpledecoratingtips
Antique Inspired Kitchen Island SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Back Entry Redo
super simple stencil project
before and after fireplace renovation SimpleDecoratingTips.com
why-I-am-so-excited-about-Fusion-Mineral-Paint

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Simple Decorating Tips! I’m Liz, the author, and I’m so glad you’re here!

My goal is to encourage you with DIY tips, techniques and tutorials so you feel empowered to join in the fun! Along with this DIY blog, I have a DIY shop, Frame and Frills!
Frame and Frills is in Wisconsin. I stock amazing DIY products! Fusion Mineral Paints, ReDesign Transfers, Decoupage, Waxes, loads of DIY Goodies, re-done Furniture and more! Even if you're not close to where the shop is in Wisconsin, good news... I ship nationwide, (USA) daily! Check out the link here and let's get your DIY on!
https://youtu.be/V0s51S9Er5Q
https://youtu.be/hFjIC8V_iXQ

All the photos and text on this blog are copyright protected. You may share photos from this blog IF linked back to their original posts and for the sole purpose of featuring my work. Please let me know when you have done so. You may not copy entire articles and posts (even if you link back to me) without my express permission. You may email any such request to simpledecoratingtips@gmail.com. Please do NOT borrow any pictures on this blog to sell your own goods. Thank you!

Footer

Would you like to join our list and get an email when I write a new DIY post?

* indicates required

Shop Decor Steals

AntiqueFarmHouse

Subscribe on YouTube!

Simple Decorating Tips 'How To' videos

Welcome to Simple Decorating Tips! I'm Liz, the author, and I'm so glad you're here! My goal is to encourage you with DIY tips, techniques and tutorials so you feel empowered to join in the fun! Along with this DIY blog, I have a DIY shop, Frame and Frills!
Frame and Frills is in Wisconsin. I stock amazing DIY products! Fusion Mineral Paints, ReDesign Transfers, Decoupage, Waxes, loads of DIY Goodies, re-done Furniture and more! Even if you're not close to where the shop is in Wisconsin, good news... I ship nationwide, (USA) daily! Check out the link here and let's get your DIY on!


Disclosure Policy: According to FTC guidelines, I want you to be aware that some of the content of this blog may be a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post. Thanks for reading along, Liz

Copyright

Sharing is great! Please feel free to share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook and Pinterest and Flipboard and Houzz and YouTube the more the merrier! I appreciate you stopping by. But please remember that all photos, images, text and content are owned by SimpleDecoratingTips.com. So anything you share, please be sure it always links back to my original post it came from. Please do not remove watermarks, crop or edit anything without written permission from me first.

Disclosure Policy: According to the FTC guidelines, I want you to be aware that this blog is a source of income and may occasionally incorporate endorsements or testimonials and shopping links. It is important to me to disclose this to you. The content of this blog is a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. Products provided to me by my advertising partners for my review are given to me free of charge with no cost to myself. This does not ensure a positive review of the product in any way. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and always make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post. Thanks for reading along, Liz

Disclosure Policy According to Federal Trade Commission guidelines, I want you to be aware that this blog is a source of income and may occasionally incorporate endorsements or testimonials. It is important to me to disclose this to you. The content of this blog is a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. Products provided to me by my advertising partners for my review are given to me free of charge with no cost to myself. This does not ensure a positive review of the product in any way. My truthful opinion will be what I state, no matter if I'm getting paid or not. Accuracy and truth are the priority for me on this blog's information, no matter if it's about a product or anything else. Not every product or service or store etc. may be mentioned in each and every post as an affiliate. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and always make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post.

Graphics Fairy

Graphics Fairy

Feedspot

Feedspot

Copyright © 2023 · Genesis Sample Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • Home
  • My Shop: FRAME AND FRILLS
  • DIY Tutorials & Tips
  • Shopping
  • Contact
↞
↠