Author: Autumn
I was visiting Brooklyn Limestone the other day to download some of her paint can labels for an organizing project we are about to tackle. While there I looked at some of her completed computer art projects.
One of them was wall art she created with copies of her passport. That gave me a great idea. I, too, have some old passports lying around, but instead of making copies of the pages, I decided to use the real mccoy (should that be McCoy?!?). I had an old tray that needed a cosmetic overhaul, and so, one thing lead to another. I gave the tray a face lift by decoupaging the old passport pages onto it.
Take a look.
To make a cute and updated tray, all I needed was my scissors and an old passport to get started.
I cut out the pages that had the most interesting stamps or destinations.
Then I lined them up on the tray, which I had previously spray-painted with an ivory paint. In its last life, the tray was red and spackled which gave the new paint a nice texture.
I couldn’t apply them randomly because I didn’t have enough pages to cover the entire tray. So, after they were positioned the way I wanted, I added about five layers of decoupage. Of course, I waited for each coat to dry before adding the next one.
While the decoupage dried, I sanded the edges a little so that some of the old paint would show through. This photo shows the nice texture the tray has.
The next morning when I was sure everything was dry, I coated it with a layer of Briwax. I learned about this wax from Kitty Bartholomew. Do you remember her? Anyway, it gives a nice glazed/aged look. Again, there was some drying time involved, but about 30 minutes later, the tray was ready.
The wax adds a nice patina look and character.
The colors are nice and subtle but are still the colors we use in our house.
Now it is ready for accessories.
I topped it with a post card I bought in a Paris museum, a silver tray with stones I found in Botswana, and some fern fronds from our garden.
It looks perfect sitting on the table in our foyer.
We are really pleased with the way it turned out.
This is an easy project you can do with any documents that are special to you. If they are too dear, though, please use copies of them.
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Take care.
I like this idea but will probably copy my old passports. It’s time for my renewal & have heard that the old passport will not be returned. I plan to make copies as it has been a lot of places.
Thanks for the idea!
I absolutely love this idea! I have never seen anyone use a passport to do something like this and you are just so clever. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by today and leaving such a sweet comment. We always love your visits and also that you join us at Inspiration Friday!
Vanessa
Oh, you two are the most creative ones! I love this idea. My husband and I have traveled quite a bit during our life and I showed this to him. He said he loved this idea and would like me to do this too!
Thank you so much for following my blog!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
fantastic! I’m thinking about all the kid-art I have in storage containers in the attic. hmmmmmmm…..thanks for the awesome idea!
This is SO COOL! Our current PPs expire in November and this is a great inspiration! Not sure I need a tray…but you can decoupage pretty much anything, right? Thanks for sharing, Teresa
I love this–a genuinely tres` cool bright idea!!
This is just beautiful! I wish I had a passport to make something like this! 🙂 Such a great conversation piece. Thanks so much for linking up to Transformations and Treasures!
what a great idea to use old passport…
this is really kewl…
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Thanks
Maggie
Wow what an awesome job. It looks perfect as if there had never been any paint pulled off. You are just so smart and talented!!
Love it!! Perfect for you and your new pad! I have heard of Briwax and it has been recommended to me. Is there someplace in Lexington that you can get it?
Thanks,
C
I bought the Briwax in Atlanta at Scott’s Antique Show. Google it. I am sure it can be ordered on-line.