goob's room - bookshelf reveal

finally - something big is complete in the ever ongoing saga of goob's room makeover!

here's a before of the bookshelf in question in the room in 2005 -

just your basic cheap pine bookshelf - which we painted white - but over the years that has changed to a yellow-white and there's been quite a bit of wear and tear.

here's the bookshelf cleared and the painting has started......with help from triple j.....

the bottom two shelves have their first coat of primer.
this baby took 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of top coat. final colour we used = dulux 1/4 strength fair bianca semi gloss. (it's a lovely milky white)
i didn't take photos while painting - it was all rather dull and a pain really.
once painted i rubbed back some of the edges lightly - and wiped on some walnut stain that we had in the garage - then wiped it off again - just so the raw pine that i sanded back to in places had a little more detail.

then i decided to either go with a paper or fabric on the back panels.
i printed out a few patterns from the internet - mostly black and white - plus we played with placing some fabrics in there.
in the end we decided on fabric.
using mod podge - this is how much we ended up using.....(there is not much left in each bottle).....

fyi - at spotlight - these cots $9 (small)  and $14 (medium)

this is the first big project i've used mod podge for - and i would probably just use a craft glue mixed with water next time - (here's a diy mod podge recipe i found on pinterest - here) - as the result is similar to what i've used in the past (a long time ago before this blog) - and it would be a lot less inexpensive in the end.
anyhoo - lessons learned!

this bookshelf has fixed shelves - so i had to work on each section individually.
i held fabric in the space - worked out how much i would need (top to bottom) - cut a nick in the fabric and ripped! i'm sure there are more accurate ways with tape measures etc - but this way worked for me.
i made sure i had a little overhang at the top and the bottom and both sides.
here's some pics of the pasting and cutting.....(click to enlarge)

i always worked from the left - and pasted the section of fabric right next to the selvage so that the pattern would be more or less the same on each shelf. (the selvage i then cut away)

i painted on some mod podge/glue in sections on the backboard - then placed and carefully stretched and pressed the fabric into place with my hand. (making sure to ease out air bubbles and wrinkles)
then i'd do a little more.
be careful to keep it straight along the shelf so as not to run out of fabric at either the top or bottom.
i let it dry a little - then cut along the edges (in the corners) carefully with a sharp knife.
for each shelf - when i finished cutting - i then painted 1 coat of mod podge over all the fabric - working again from left to right.
this coating would ensure all the fabric was secured well - especially in the corners - and the fabric has a thin protective coating.
the fabric does end up feeling rather stiff after this coat. (just fyi)

here's a finished shelf.....

and here's the final full length reveal.....

and some more photos cause i can!!

tissue paper blossum flowers posted about here

and here's a before and after photo - cause i like before and after photos!!

it looks so so pretty in goob's room - and ties in nicely with her new bunting flags that i posted about here - and i may have made some pom poms too.......here's a peak.....

i'll be back tomorrow with a look at the loaded up bookcase.
if i've been too confusing with my instructions - please feel free to drop me a line in the comments and i'll try to make things clearer.

what do you think - nice??
it's nice to finally have it all coming together.

hope monday is treating you well.
cheryl xox.

i'm linking up this project to a few great blog parties - do pop by if you get the chance.