DIY Vintage Postcard Table

I did some spring cleaning yesterday. I hate spring cleaning. It's just not my thing. I have a tendency to get distracted. For example, I found this box of old postcards.

This box was owned by my Grandfather and consists of our entire family fortune. It contains dozens of vintage postcards dating all the way back to 1951. Grandpa loved collecting postcards. He would buy them everywhere he went. He went a lot of interesting places. Especially during the time that he served the US Navy during WWII and the Korean War. They are fascinating to look at.

Here are some of my favorites:

I love this Hawaiian lady with her giant pineapples. So 1950's.

I also love this one. She's holding a fishing reel. The caption on the back reads " A REEL Beauty". Hilarious.

These from Tokyo have never even been out of their original package. Aren't they sweet?

The only problem is that they have all been in a box for the last 50 years and have never seen the light of day. What good is that?

I am not a saver. My motto is "Use it or Loose it". So, in a moment of inspiration, I whipped up this little project.

I have had this funny little table beside my bed for a long time. It is rather blah. I decided to decorate it with Grandpa's postcards. Here's what I did.

I started by choosing cards with a common color and them. I liked the dashes of pink and red in these. Some of them are beach scenes which appealed to me. I decided to use both sides of the cards, so I choose some with hand written notes and interesting postal stamps as well.

To add interest, I varied the position and angle of the cards. I also cut out some of the words on some rather boring cards. My favorite phrase was "Bonjour de Montreal".

I spread them on the table to get a design I liked. Then I carefully removed them to add the adhesive to the table top.

The product I used is called Mod Podge. It is available at any craft store. It runs about $5.99 a bottle. Don't forget to get a little foam brush for the best application.

The first step is to brush a thin layer of Mod Podge on the table top to use like a glue. It will hold the cards in place.

Wipe up any excess spills with a damp cloth. Try to spread an even coat over the entire surface. Then wait a few minutes to dry. When it starts to turn clear, you can begin laying the cards into the glue.

Press the cards into the glue being careful to push down all the edges. When finished allow to dry to the touch, about 15 minutes. Then add the sealer coat.

Paint over the entire surface with a light coat of the Mod Podge. Try to keep your brush strokes straight and even for the best finish. Let dry. The manufacturer recommends up to five coats of Mod Podge to completely seal it. I used only 3 for this project. In between coats, I added some heavy books to be certain the cards were really flat and completely adhering to the surface of the table.

Let dry completely before using.

When I go to bed at night, I see Grandpa's cards on my table and it makes me smile.

Have a peaceful evening!

Linking up to I gotta Create, Imparting Grace.