table how to

I picked up this table at a church rummage give away.  Several of the churches in the area will collect items you no longer want and set them up as a service to the community.  Of course most of the things are clothes since it's back to school time.  This large coffee table was one of only three pieces of furniture being offered, I also picked up a small end table.  I took my goodies home cleaned them up and added a coat of Kilz primer.  This stuff will block out just about anything so you can paint over it.  Two coats of gloss black spray paint, finished the bottom.  For the top I used a base coat of white then scumble painted with off white, grey, and cream.  This technique has no right or wrong way to do it and looks great when finished.  First I pour 2-3T of each of the colors on a foam plate.  Starting with the darkest color and using a very beat up chip brush I pounced the color randomly over the table.  Working quickly so the paint was still wet I did the next two colors.  You want the colors to blend together and overlap, and for some of the background to show through.  If you think the color is too strong or light you just put more color over it.  Keep adding paint until it looks right to you.  DO NOT OVER THINK THIS!!!!! This table is 3X4 feet and took less than 20 minutes. Don't try to make a pattern or have exactly the same paints every where.  Let the paint dry for at least 24 hours then spray with clear acrylic spray at least 3 coats for a table top that will get wet occasionally. This beauty is already at the resale store.
NOTE:  don't use a fancy expensive brush for this technique you will ruin it.  A 2" chip brush is under a dollar  and the more used and abused it is the better it works.

perfectly fine but kind of boring before

updated after

close up of top paint