Hip Coffee Table: Part I

Sometimes it's nice to put down your real camera.

Inspiration: Mr. Anthony Soufflé left the top of his Ikea coffee table at my house when he took off for Illinois (he took the legs). He had previously varnished a copy of the New York Times on the table - the Damon Winter Hipstamatic photos from Afghanistan front page. I wanted to do something else with it, and inspiration came to me while laying in bed one night. Hipstamatic photo collage coffee table. Why not?

Step 1: Solicit help from friends with iPhones. Thank you Chris Detrick, Trent Nelson, Djamila Grossman, Ramin Rahimian, Nicholas Draney, Matt Nager, Anthony Soufflé and my sister, Kaleigh, for contributing to my insanity:


Step 2: Google "epoxy" and "polymer" and figure out what those things are. Procure necessary supplies:


Step 3: Make vague estimation of how many photos will physically fit on the table and pick favorites:


Step 4: Size all the photos, because Costco doesn't do custom sizes or fit-to-scale, apparently. Order prints:


Step 5: Trim all photos to square. Get blisters. Decide, on a more realistic level, how many and which photos will go on the table (sorry, Trent):


Step 6: Decide just how many photos of Mike Terry are appropriate on one coffee table:


Step 7: Make vague estimation of layout for photos:


Step 8: Test adhesive methods:


Step 9: Test Polytex solution in well-ventilated area. Protect area from cats:


Step 10: Initially attach photos with tape and trim the edges:


That's it so far. The Polytex "liquid glass" takes several hours to set on the test piece, then I will know the best way to go about adhering and sealing the Hipstamatic prints on the actual table. Until tomorrow!

E