Game of Thrones Distressed Map Coffee Table

i found an old coffee table that for some reason just jumped out at me and said put a map on it. with all the hype behind game of thrones i decided to go with a map of the known kingdom

i did this using a decoupage technique and a finishing coat of epoxy glass cast 3 table top resin

materials

table tray or any other medium to receive your chosen map

pva glue

poster map

paint brushes

spray bottle

wire wool

sand paper normal and wet and dry

1kg epoxy resin

acrylic paint

plastic filler knives to spread the resin

duct tape

wood dyes / stain-- optional

danish oil or other ---- optional

sponge

pint cup disposable

mixing sticks

heat gun gas torch

The modge podge ( PVA & Water)

mix up pva and water to a good printable consistency doesn't matter if it a little runny just add more pva

once your surface is sanded and prepped wipe over with a damp cloth to remove dust and begin to apply your PVA mix to the table top making sure its not to thick or your map /poster will wrinkle this can be done by yourself but is easier with 2 people place the side closest to you down then using a brush begin brushing from the center as you lay your map / poster down

once you have stuck the map / poster down gently brush over it with a cloth or brush the same as if you where applying wallpaper. moving any wrinkles and air bubbles to the edge

now this will vary on the thickness of the map / poster of choice but as mine was quite thick i gave it a few coats of PVA over the top to really penetrate the paper then leave to dry

once dry take some fine grit wet and dry sand paper and lightly sand the map / poster giving it that distressed look rubbing harder on the edge to break the straight line edges up and give it a worn well used effect

i then took several wood dyes walnut , chestnut , light oak, ebony and brushed over bits in different places and wiped off with a fresh clean sponge then using a small art brush used bits of each dye and applied to the poster edge letting it bleed in to the fibers of the map / poster leave to dry

------- EPOXY TOP COAT ------

Epoxy prep

once all the above is clean and dry apply the epoxy top coat. i only wanted a skim coat so did 1mm and as its my 1st epoxy project i wanted enough for a second coat if needed you may notice i put a trim round the top to stop the resin going over the nose of the table top if i did it again i wouldn't bother

1kg of epoxy will do 1sqm

my table dimensions were 700mm long by 300mm wide so 1kg would do 2 tables 1mm thick or

one table 2mm thick

i mixed up 333g of glass cast epoxy 3 and 167g of catalyst hardener in separate cups and placed in front of a heater to get nice and warm as it more malleable and works better when spreading

with each weighed out in to individual cups and warm take a 3rd cup and pour both at the same time to mix in the empty cup repeat several times and mix with mixing stick and pours a few more times making sure its fully mixed. now leave to settle for 5-10 min in front of gentle heat

now pour round the table top dropping some in each corner and a run along the center now spread it out

------- NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO MENTION MAKE SURE ITS LEVEL 1ST-----

using a plastic filler knife or silicone spatula foam brush etc

give it 30 mins and if you see any air bubbles hit with a heat gun or gas torch keeping about 6" away repeat until happy and leave to dry for 24 - 48 hrs but as long as you can is better

------- THE LEGS ---

now the top is done and you wait for it to dry if like me and wanted them with shabby looking legs i used a crackle effect dying them with a chestnut and other dyes before applying PVA letting it almost dry and then painting with a brown acrylic paint then letting that dry and spraying with water and rubbing with wire wool and an old cloth to take off parts of the paint and dye

now its all done put it together and marvel at what you have created

hope you like and the information is enough for others to try please vote for me in the contests thanks Stan

To start

i started by sanding the surface of the table it was marked underneath may 1946 and had a hard life looked as if it had been planned badly at some point with big ruts in so i got it as smooth as possible i then did the legs and later decided i should have left them as i liked the shabby worn look so i re shabbed them more on that later as i decided i like the worn look i left the table sides and draw front and concentrated on the top and map ----------- MARK YOUR MAP EDGES ON YOUR TABLE TOP SO YOU KNOW WHERE TO PLACE IT -------- measure your table top and your map and split the difference mine was 100mm each side

The modge podge ( PVA & Water)

mix up pva and water to a good printable consistency doesn't matter if it a little runny just add more pva once your surface is sanded and prepped wipe over with a damp cloth to remove dust and begin to apply your PVA mix to the table top making sure its not to thick or your map /poster will wrinkle this can be done by yourself but is easier with 2 people place the side closest to you down then using a brush begin brushing from the center as you lay your map / poster down once you have stuck the map / poster down gently brush over it with a cloth or brush the same as if you where applying wallpaper. moving any wrinkles and air bubbles to the edge now this will vary on the thickness of the map / poster of choice but as mine was quite thick i gave it a few coats of PVA over the top to really penetrate the paper then leave to dry once dry take some fine grit wet and dry sand paper and lightly sand the map / poster giving it that distressed look rubbing harder on the edge to break the straight line edges up and give it a worn well used effect i then took several wood dyes walnut , chestnut , light oak, ebony and brushed over bits in different places and wiped off with a fresh clean sponge then using a small art brush used bits of each dye and applied to the poster edge letting it bleed in to the fibers of the map / poster leave to dry

------- EPOXY TOP COAT ------

Epoxy prep once all the above is clean and dry apply the epoxy top coat. i only wanted a skim coat so did 1mm and as its my 1st epoxy project i wanted enough for a second coat if needed you may notice i put a trim round the top to stop the resin going over the nose of the table top if i did it again i wouldn't bother 1kg of epoxy will do 1sqm my table dimensions were 700mm long by 300mm wide so 1kg would do 2 tables 1mm thick or one table 2mm thick i mixed up 333g of glass cast epoxy 3 and 167g of catalyst hardener in separate cups and placed in front of a heater to get nice and warm as it more malleable and works better when spreading with each weighed out in to individual cups and warm take a 3rd cup and pour both at the same time to mix in the empty cup repeat several times and mix with mixing stick and pours a few more times making sure its fully mixed. now leave to settle for 5-10 min in front of gentle heat now pour round the table top dropping some in each corner and a run along the center now spread it out ------- NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO MENTION MAKE SURE ITS LEVEL 1ST----- using a plastic filler knife or silicone spatula foam brush etc give it 30 mins and if you see any air bubbles hit with a heat gun or gas torch keeping about 6" away repeat until happy and leave to dry for 24 - 48 hrs but as long as you can is better

------- THE LEGS ---

now the top is done and you wait for it to dry if like me and wanted them with shabby looking legs i used a crackle effect dying them with a chestnut and other dyes before applying PVA letting it almost dry and then painting with a brown acrylic paint then letting that dry and spraying with water and rubbing with wire wool and an old cloth to take off parts of the paint and dye now its all done put it together and marvel at what you have created hope you like and the information is enough for others to try please vote for me in the contest thanks Stan