You need to run through a checklist before buying the piece.

• Is the piece well-constructed?
• Are the joints firm?
• Are there any broken bits (legs, decorative parts)
• Do I like the shape?
• Will it be useful or decorative once I've fixed it up?
• If you still want it after close examination, buy it.

You've bought your treasure and taken it home. What now?

• Sand well. You need to remove any old varnish and oil. Sanding will help even out any dints or gouges.
• Fill any holes or dints with gesso. You may need several coats. Lightly dry sand between coats and wet sand the final coat.
• Seal.
• Paint, unless you like the grain or colour of the wood and want it to show.

Now the piece is ready for decoupage. Proceed in the usual manner.

Below I have a *before* and *after* picture of a piece I bought at a garage sale. This little table cost $5. I think the transformation was worth it.

New Zealand découpeur Leonie Norton created this wonderful child's desk from a pre-loved piece of furniture.

Leonie's work has featured in the New Zealnd Womens Weekly Magazine.

Leonie describes how she did this project.

The aquarium desk was a commission that I received after the article in the New Zealand Womens Weekly.

The desk was supplied by the client. She had painted it in bright primary colours and the paint was oil based.

I began by stripping the drawers with paint stripper and lightly sanding the top and sides.

I then sprayed the desk with dark blue spray paint then metallic blue and green paint in wave like motions across the top.

I then painted in seaweed and sea plants with brown, green and black oil based paints.

The paper I used was on a roll of wrapping paper. I used only half the roll of tropical fish and another few cut outs from another sheet for the dolphins,seals etc.

The drawers were lined in another fishy paper. Again only half a roll was used.

I varnished with gloss polyurethane, about 5 coats, sanded in between. The desk sold for NZ$250.