I've an obsession with deer heads. Fake ones.

Luckily, I'm not the only one. Cathe from Just Something I Made also likes them. Please refer to her post here about the bottom deer head, which she purchased for nothing and then decoupaged. You know what I would do? Glitter the horns. With Extreme Glitter! What do you think?

Alter a locket.

My friend Cathie of Cathie & Steve sure knows how to make a necklace!  She revamped this old locket from her vintage collection.  If I had to guess - you too have something in your jewelry collection that could use a facelift.  I know I do, and Mod Podge can be used on jewelry (and it wears well)!  Find the supply lists and the instructions for this project here. 

Just Something She Made - vintage dress form.

I found this project at Just Something I Made, a crafting blog by Cathe Holden.  Reading her blog is very inspiring (I wish I could come up with a better word), but I just love the way she uses found materials and surfaces to make the coolest schtuff!  

Check out her explanation of this project process here.  It's simply the dress form, an old German horticulture guide and Mod Podge.  Cathe then dressed it up with a few of her own creations.  Pop over to her blog - you will love it!

Samantha's chair is the greatest chair.

Hector the Collector is my favorite poem by Shel Silverstein.  Why do I mention that?  Well, Laura Hartrich has decoupaged a Shel Silverstein poem to this cutesy little children's chair - Hug O' War!  A chair like this is very easy to find at the Goodwill, and even easier to Mod Podge!

First you'll need to paint it.  As usual, I recommend FolkArt paint.  As far as craft paints go, I find it to have the best consistency for a great price.  Basecoat the entire chair in one color first.  Another other painting should be done with painter's tape (unless you have a really steady hand, which I do not).  Stripes on the seat MUST be done with painter's tape (unless you have a robot hand, which I also do not).

Allow the paint to dry completely before decoupaging.  When you apply the Mod Podge to your paper design, do it to the paper side first.  Several thin coats are best - turn the paper down and smooth completely.  Allow to dry and THEN Mod Podge over the paper for best results.

Once you are done - Mod Podge the entire chair to seal.

The coolest birdbrained dresser.

Oh dear. I'm in love.  I found this dresser on Flickr and begged for Sugarswirl's permission to post it!  She was kind enough to let me.

It was quite simple, she says.  Painted front, and she freehand cut the design out of newspaper.  One coat of Mod Podge, allow to dry and then apply a second coat.  That's it.
Tip:  Apply several thin coats rather than a few thick.  Try it, you'll find it works much better.

Before and after frames. A great an inexpensive gift idea!

I'm going to start posting some of my projects on this blog. And what you are saying is - it's about time, right? I'm actually constantly working on projects of some sort, but all are in various stages of completion, and between knitting, taking care of dogs and maintaining this blog. . . well. . .

you know.

So here is the before and after!

Let me emphasize how easy this frame transformation was - so easy, you don't even need to see the steps! Here's what to do:

1) Paint the frame with FolkArt Azure Blue and allow to dry

2) Using the end of the same paintbrush, make random Calypso Sky dots all over the frame and allow to dry (practice dotting first on a paper towel so you get the hang of it)

3) Coat entire frame with Mod Podge (I used Gloss)

4) Apply Colorbok's Friendly Forest accents using craft glue! The whole line of Friendly Forest stuff is currently available at Michaels. It's very fun and colorful!

I didn't use an old frame - the one I used is from the wood section of a local craft store. It was relatively cheap. Add the paint and the accents and you aren't too bad for cash out of pocket. But here's a tip: If you have several old frames laying around, use one of them, even if it's plastic! Just be sure to spray primer before painting. Cheers!

Mod Podge fabric coffee table.

There are so many things I like about sillie.smile's table.
1) You would NOT believe how easy this is.
2) The fabric is from IKEA and reminds me very much of Orla Kiely, whom I love.
3) This table is so easy to make.

So?  How do you do it?  First of all, you need a table.  IKEA as some great ones, cheap, but so does your local Goodwill if you are not located near the great IKEA or just want to recycle.  Secondly, you obviously need a piece of fabric.  You may have a great local fabric shop or live near a JoAnn.  If you want to go completely outside of the box, I recommend Reprot Depot.  The fabrics are a delight!
All you are going to do - and yes, it is this easy - is cut the fabric to fit the table and then Mod Podge it down.  My recommendation to you is that you cut the fabric just slightly smaller than the table, because during your smoothing operation the fabric will expand.

I would work from the middle out - applying Mod Podge to the table as well as to the fabric, and then smoothing outward to the corners.  DO NOT put Mod Podge all over the table at one time, as it will dry before you even have a chance to work your way out.   Good smoothers include squeegees, rulers, even a rolling pin.  Be careful that the edge of your smoother is not too sharp as you run the risk of tearing the fabric.  Smooth gently but consistently and you shouldn't have any problems.

Finally, I recommend Hard Coat Mod Podge to seal any furniture piece, for added durability above and beyond the regular stuff.  Now you can wear and tear your finished project!

Decoupage eggs, revived by Martha.

Easter is coming, and everyone knows what comes with Easter.  No silly - not Cadbury's, or Sweet Tarts.  Eggs!

Decoupaging on eggs has been around forever, but Miss Stewart revives the trend in her latest issue of her Living magazine.  She provides tutorials on decoupaged speckled eggs, oversized eggs, German style eggs and graphic floral eggs here.  All of the eggs call for Mod Podge.  What a sure way to have an elegant Easter.

Decoupaging fabric onto furniture. And how!

I love this nightstand.

It gives me the good funny feeling!  Please visit J. Caroline's tutorial here.  You will get the step-by-step with images!  Bet you didn't know you could decoupage fabric to wood, did ya?

Spring tweet necklace.

Mah friend Candie Cooper is a jewelry designer who happens to also understand quite well the art of decoupage.  This is her delicious Tweet necklace!

She used:

-a blue beaded strand

-a jump ring (find your local beading store now!)

-mini paper cutouts (the bird and flower)

-stick-on rhinestones (available at a local craft store)

-Fresh jewelry pieces (get at Michaels)

and Mod Podge!  It's easy - my only recommendation on this project would be to use tweezers to place the paper cutouts, especially if you are sticky fingers like me!  It's hard to apply any glue to such a small surface, but it can be done. 

Another tip: Mod Podge applies to small surfaces quite well with q-tip.  Happy crafting!

Kitchen table revamp!

I'd like to give Karen, a crafter, a lot of credit for her beautiful finished Mod Podge table:

Because before it looked like this!

Check out the instructions for this project here, on her blog.  It's actually quite easy - easier than you would think - and it doesn't take many supplies to do it.  She makes recovering the seats seem effortless!  

What do you think about her wonderful creation?

Does this shirt make me look crafty?

Check out what I made today!  It was REALLY easy.  Ingredients:

-Mod Podge logo

-t-shirt from Target

-June Tailor dark t-shirt transfer

-iron and ironing board

-ink jet printer

-scissors

Follow the instructions on the package.  All you do is print, cut out, place down and iron!  Now you are super cool.

Spring Craft Contest - decoupage and Mod Podge!

Plaid is celebrating the arrival of spring with a contest! Here's your chance to show your stuff and win great prizes!
Entering is easy, just send us a photo of your best craft project (created by you) that uses Mod Podge and is inspired by spring.
You will get a chance to win one of these fabulous prizes

Grand Prize: $75 worth of products from Plaid; you and your work featured on Plaidonline.com
Second Place Prize: $50 worth of products from Plaid
Third Place Prize: (2) $25 worth of products from Plaid

To Enter:

Submit your favorite craft project. Projects should be inspired by spring, use a spring color palette or have a spring theme.
Projects must use Mod Podge
Projects must be created and owned by you.
Email a photo of your project to promotions@plaidonline.com along with the following information
Name:
Email:
Address:
Project Description:
Products Used:
What are your crafting plans for the summer and the original reason you created this project (specifically for this contest, gift-giving, home decor, etc.)
Entries will be judged by a panel of judges on originality, creativity and use of product.

You may be asked to provide project instructions and/or send actual project by mail if selected.

Contest Dates:
March 19 through April 2;

Winner Selected : April 9

Spring into action and enter today! Contest rule details will be posted shortly.

http://www.plaidonline.com/springmpcontest

Resin jewelry - and Mod Podge!

I've noticed that jewelry making is big big big right now, and I think I should represent.

I know about Mod Podge (at least one would hope), but I don't know how to make resin jewelry. This is a GREAT tutorial (he says Modge Podge but we'll forgive him):


Just so you know, I found resin supplies at Create for Less!

Possibly the coolest recycled pencil organizer ever.

Check out this absolutely awesome pen and pencil holder from the website Chica and Jo!

They even offer a tutorial here.  How many people have phone books they never use?  I think I threw six away when I moved last (I mean recycled, ehem!).  Try it for your first Mod Podge project.  It's easy, and you don't have to buy anything if you already have the Mod Podge.

Vintage childrens' toy blocks.

You know what I've learned about children recently? They often times don't need fancy toys, bells and whistles or constant stimulation from a third party. Sometimes they can sit there and play with a piece of Tupperware for hours, completely entertaining themselves. I love it!

This project by Kristena Derrick is so much better than a plastic bowl, but the concept still applies. Sometimes the simplest toys are the best. I know when I was little, I loved playing with blocks. Kids blocks are REALLY easy to find. You can get them in the toy section of most mass merchandisers, but they are also available at the Goodwill or other thrift store. Make your life easy and while you are there, buy a children's book for $.99 that you are willing to cut up. Let me tell you how easy this is - you simply cut the paper into a shape the same size as side of the block and adhere with Mod Podge. Repeat until the block is covered. For a project like this I recommend Hard Coat Mod Podge just for added durability. These are probably going to be played with regularly. . . maybe even thrown around. . . so make 'em last!

As an added note - Mod Podge is completely safe for children to play with and even use. It's certified AP non-toxic and waterbase.

That means you don't have to worry!