How to customise wardrobe?

[lindollars]

Having just recovered and repainted an old office chair, I'm gagging to customize my wardrobe! Just haven't a clue where to start...

It's a white wardrobe (hopefully pic has successfuly attached!)

I want to cover the door panels in either a collage of old sheet music, or old vintage photos of women. What type of paper should I print these on (hoping to use google images to find most of the pictures).

How should I glue the paper to the wardrobe? Sorry serious novice here, any advice appreciated! Have vague ideas about just papier-macher-ing it like when I was 5!

[mondubics]

As far as I know, you only need to use pva glue to stick on the images, then when its dry, seal it with clear varnish. But the experts will give you a better idea here. If it were me, I'd print on non-glossy paper if possible - and certainly not 'good' printing paper, as the shine would make it harder to absorb the glue.
Looking forward to seeing the result.

[Mickey]

If you look up Découpage, I think that is exactly what you will need to do. This will also give your printing a bit of interest as well as gloss and dimension. You really don't need to fork out for expensive equipment/supplies and mostly you get a great effect with PVA or some high gloss lacquer varnishes. Since it's furniture you may probably need to go the lacquer route for durability though.

Unless you have some pretty specific images that you want then magazine pictures are just perfect as well - paper it is printed on lends itself nicely to this as there are fewer coats needed to get an even, ridge free layer of glue.

Your first step would be to coat the area you want to cover with glue. Stick on images ensuring there are NO BUBBLES (EVERY time). You should do your areas one layer at a time, i.e. don't do half and then finish in stages. Get one layer of sticking and lacquering done at least at a time. Then rest and come back to it - patience required for drying etc. so don't rush it. Enjoy it.

http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/decoupage/a/012201a.htm
http://www.craftcreations.com/Section/758/3D-Decoupage,-Die-Cut,-Step-by-Step-or-Classic/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decoupage

Sounds like it is going to be an interesting finished project, looking forward to the before, during and after pics. Best of luck.

[lindollars]

Thanks a mil for the tips guys! Delighted to hear it shouldn't be too arduous a process and that I don't need any expensive/specialist glues etc, PVA and varnish for the win!

Great idea about the magazines, anyone have any idea where to find/buy old magazines? I'm based in south dublin, so was thinking of somewhere like blackrock market or would the dublin flea market be worth a shot?

Can't wait to get cracking now this weekend, will be sure to post up lots of pics! It just seems like such a great way to cheaply personalise something so generic.

[jessy8754]

just an idea...we covered our wardrobes in material...just stapled material to wardrobe directly...best of luck with your project...

[Eibhlin ni Sheambrai]

Hi was going to tell all but Mickey got there first and I agree with what she has said. If you decide on old music let me know by pm. I had a lot of it a while ago and divided it between a number of takers. Can probably get more and the old paper is good for absorbancy. Enjoy it whatever you decide. Eibhlin.

[Mensa6]

Hi....Just to say if you are going to print off images from the internet be sure to spray them with a thin film of cheap hairspray, this stops the ink from running when you glue them. Good luck & Enjoy!