This is a hard picture to capture...not that I'm very good at the picture-taking art to begin with. I conceived an idea to make an I Spy table over a year ago. I've been collecting this junk since that time. The other reason the table took so long was that I didn't have the know-how. My MIL offered to help and so the table finally became a reality! This is how it came together...
We used trim and strong glue to build up the edge of the table. My hubby cut tiny pieces of the trim to glue together for the corners of the table. Then we caulked the seams and sanded. We also screwed the table together where it would usually pull apart for a leaf.
We used trim and strong glue to build up the edge of the table. My hubby cut tiny pieces of the trim to glue together for the corners of the table. Then we caulked the seams and sanded. We also screwed the table together where it would usually pull apart for a leaf.
Next came spray painting and varnishing the table top.
The real fun begins! We layed most of the junk out on the table and placed it where we wanted it. We then did a layer of Mod Podge to keep all of the items where they belonged.
Mixing and pouring the resin. So much fun!!
This is after a layer of resin. We ended up doing 7 layers (7 gallons) of resin! After each layer, we added more junk. After each resin pour, we would pop bubbles that came up for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Then the resin would be set enough to start putting in more junk.
You may ask how long all of this took us? We started the process on a Wednesday night and poured the last layer of resin the following Wednesday. Now, since you are all just dying to put all of the junk in your house into a table, I'll give you some pointers of what I learned and what I would have done differently.
*I would not use a black background or put more things down on the bottom to hide most of the black. The reason being that many objects don't show up well against the black once the resin is on.
*We used way too much Mod Podge for what we were doing. (I omitted that picture) I would use a very thin layer of Mod Podge for papers, fabrics and the like that are directly on top of the table so that they don't shift when pouring the resin. Dry completely. Then use a very thin layer of resin to stick objects directly into. You don't want to use Mod Podge on metals or edibles.
*We built the table up one inch. Three-quarters of an inch would have been sufficent.
*MORE JUNK!!!! When all was said and done, I wanted even more junk to embed in the table! Can you believe it?
Things I love about this finished project:
*Hundreds of memories and stories are embedded in our kitchen table!
*The glow-in-the-dark junk.
*We really do sit around and play I Spy!
*One of a kind art!
