This is one of my favorite projects. I was going to sell it, but became a little too attached after it was all said and done. Plus it looks super awesome in my living room.

I bought this table for $6.97 at Red Racks Thrift Store. What a deal! The wood grain was beautiful and raw, and I knew it was perfect for a project. I taped it off with Edge lock Painter's tape, just like previous projects, then carved a tree design into the tape. 

I created a different design this time, one with a little more detail, more branches, more curves. I used an exacto knife to carve out the detail, which  created a small crevice that the stain seeped into that created an amazing outline that made the design "pop". A nice surprise. 

I wasn't sure which stain I wanted to use, so I tested a few on the bottom of the table. I chose the one on the far left, Minwax Wood Stain, Red Mahogany (2 coats).  

After the staining was complete, I used a satin finish. A little softer than the glossy finish. It looks perfect in our living room, if I do say so myself!