Advice Needed - Will This Work?

[Purplepig]

The decorating in the living room's nearly finished now and I'm getting rid of the dining table and having a 'proper' desk instead :clapping: which will be a walnut colour, so quite dark.

My daylight lamp and my printer are both silver coloured and I'm thinking they would look much better if I 'altered' them! :thinking: - has anyone already done it to theirs?

I've never altered anything before, but I was thinking a dark red, chocolate brown and gold mottled effect would tone in lovely with the room ...... or look absolutely revolting!

Do you think it would work? ... and what type of inks (?) and applicators would I need to cover the plastic surfaces?

... and can you think of any reason why it wouldn't work cos I can't replace them if anything should go wrong! :sad:

Thanks in advance for all (much needed) advice! :talking:

[Susan W]

You could try alcohol inks, then if you don't like it you can wipe it off. I have a large glass punch bowl which I have covered with ai a couple of times and I've just washed it in warm soapy water when I've got bored with the colour. It comes off glass easily enough and I would have thought it would be the same on plastic. Not tried the metallics on glass though, they might be a bit more stubborn.

[kitten_with_claws]

... and can you think of any reason why it wouldn't work cos I can't replace them if anything should go wrong!

I would be very wary of 'altering' a printer, unless it's several years old, as should it develop a fault of some kind, this would almost certainly invalidate the warranty!

Bear in mind too, that should you decide to go ahead with it, a printer is not a 'display item', not only is it constantly in use but it's a ruddy dust magnet, so you will need to be able to clean it as frequently & thoroughly as you did in its unaltered state!
Also, unlike a 'display only' item, it will be in use, so whatever you do to it must be able to withstand the knocks & general handling of everyday printer life!
Ditto the lamp, though to a somewhat lesser degree than the printer.

Not that I have ever 'altered' anything in my life, so what I know about the subject is minimal but those are the immediate & obvious disadvantages that spring to mind! LOL

[Susan W]

Kitten is right, didn't think about that - I just love splashing ink on everything!!! and constantly cleaning your printer would wipe off alcohol ink. :doh:

[genierose]

I have seen a normal metal uplighter altered on somebody's blog (can't for the life of me remember who it was though unfortunately). She had used a decopatch technique on it and it was fabulous! I know she had used mod podge over the top as a sealer. Not much help really am I, sorry!

[jr77]

You could try designing something and printing out on self cling vinyl. Be difficult to cover the printer without joins though and they could lift with time and be very annoying. My insinct, like Kitten's, would be to leave it as is.

[JAMMY]

What about making a cover for the printer, my first thought is fabric, decorate as much as you want and it will also keep the printer clean - so another job off the 'housework' list!

[morgana123]

I did paint my daughters wooden laptop table with emulsion and paint fusion it earlier this year then coat with varnish to seal and protect it. Havent altered anything plastic but I think I would personally go with Jammy's advice re printer and make a cover for it that matched the decor and wasnt a dust magnet lol. I have painted a floor lamp stand black to go with the decor but it was metal so I just got a tin of blacj hammerite because the hammered effect fitted perfectly with the room.

[Little Jan]

I agree leave it as it is.Printers do get warm so anything you put on might just melt off or even melt the plastic, I would make a slip cover for when its not in use,.When you say desk is this just a basic desk or proper pc desk,as they do nice ones with room for the tower and cupboard with a sliding shelf that you could put your printer in, thats what we have done.daughter and I have light wood and hubby has dark teak.helps free up the desk top

[Purplepig]

ooo thank you all for your replies; lots of good points I hadn't considered! :thinking:

and making a cover is a good idea too :up:

I didn't realise alcohol ink came off, I thought it was permanent so I would have ended up in a right old mess (as usual!) I haven't used the printer much but I am hoping to when I'm all sorted! I've got a laptop so it's just a normal desk LJ, as I'm desperate to make the living room look like a living room again instead of an untidy craft warehouse that 100's of elephants have rampaged through I thought it would be a good idea :dull:

I think I'd best leave the printer but I might have a play with the lamp if ever I feel brave enough!

Thanks for the answers, I knew it was a good idea to ask you all first! :clapping:

[Little Jan]

I have a dedicated area between 2 rooms in the loft space but at times my stash moves downstairs so the whole house can look like a herd of buffalo have stampeeded through LOL

[Marilynmcl]

You could get a specific paint for your light which is for plastic from B&q..which would be a spray I believe and comes in a variety of colours. The printer could be covered with a vinyl slip cover if you are handy with the sewing machine...and this comes in a variety of hues too if you look around the web. You are very arty!! My clutter is hidden inside a cabinet and a wardrobe....have to do this as all crafty stuff is inside daughters bedroom and needs to be kept tidy in case she visits and needs the travel cot up for g.daughter.:)

[Purplepig]

... ooo spray paint, another good idea! :D I could get dead messy with that!

My son thinks I'm after his bedroom .............. as if!!!!!!!! :cool2:

[kitten_with_claws]

There is also all the Viva Decor stuff, that has been on C&C recently, pretty sure they said that was for all surfaces PP......?
Like these:

http://www.createandcraft.tv/_186470.aspx

They also have their own webiste, which might give more info on using their products on specific surfaces:

http://www.viva-decor.us/

[Purplepig]

ooooooo off to have a look KWC :D

[kitten_with_claws]

ooooooo off to have a look KWC :D

I must admit, I watched some of the Viva Decor shows & whilst I usually hate anything of that ilk, I would have, had I had the money, bought the whole flippin' lot, as it really appealed to me! :rock:

[Purplepig]

I think I'll try the Viva Decor Precious Metal Color, sounds like it will do the job nicely!

http://www.viva-decor.us/precious-metal-colors

thanks KWC! :D