Everyone loves a shabby chic moment, especially in the baby photography world! There are so many sweet vintage props around, and I couldn’t wait to add a bunch to my studio. After buying a few, I realized they’re not really vintage at all LOL. I looked at the designs closely and realized they were prints, not painted, and a little fingernail tap felt like a plastic coating, not the patina I was hoping for.

After some internet sleuthing, I learned about decoupage, the art of gluing paper to objects and sealing them. My DIY spidey senses started tingling, of course. I found some 1920s drawers for free on Facebook Marketplace and ran to grab them because I knew they’d be heavy and made from solid wood. The drawers plus some gingham print lunch napkins and a bottle of Mod Podge and I was ready to go, all for under $10.

Shop the post!

I started by lightly sanding the landlord special off the drawers, then brushed on a layer of matte Mod Podge. I peeled away the backing layers from a napkin so only the top printed layer remained, and pressed it onto the glue. I let it dry for about an hour and then sealed everything with another coat of Mod Podge and left it overnight.

The next day was the fun part: distressing! I scuffed up the edges with a sanding block and nail file until they had that authentically worn look. To make things look more aged, I brewed a cup of tea and quickly wiped it across the drawer face, then blotted it off. While it did add an aged look, I’m not sure I love the yellow tone. I might skip that step next time depending on the napkin print. I sealed it one last time with another layer of Mod Podge and swapped out the hardware for pretty ceramic knobs.

And that was it, a simple transformation that gave this drawer a whole new life.

Why I Love It

What I love most about this piece is that it feels personal. It’s not something mass-produced or labeled “vintage” in an online shop. It’s a drawer with history that I got to reimagine in my own way. The gingham print feels sweet and timeless, and the chippy edges give it character without looking overdone.

I had my first round of test shoots this past week and the drawer photographed beautifully! It feels good knowing it’s unique to my studio and made with my own two hands.

Ready to Book

I have a few more test shoots this week, and then I’ll officially be open for bookings! I just want to make sure my lighting and props are exactly how I envisioned them, so everything feels perfect for your babies. I can’t wait to start styling sessions with handmade touches like this. If you’d like to be one of my first sessions, you can get in touch here.