It's Mod Podge Mania Day!

Put your party hats on - it's Mod Podge Mania Day! No, I didn't make it up. Xazmin did! The last day of every month she has a celebration of the world's best decoupage medium at her blog. In celebration, I bring you my Forest Name Frame. Yep - created by me. Here are the supplies and instructions. I get technical with item numbers but that is because my projects are published in several places and I personally like to know exactly what I need to buy! Cheers and I hope your Mod Podge Mania Day is the best one ever. Also, take a visit to Xazmin's blog for more Mod Podge projects and inspiration!

Supplies
FolkArt 2oz. – Sky Blue, 465
FolkArt 2oz. – Fresh Foliage, 954
FolkArt 2oz. – Dark Brown, 416
Mod Podge Gloss, CS11201
Colorblok Friendly Forest Paper Stack and Accessories
Craft Glue
Sandpaper
Candle (preferably a white taper)
Scrap piece of paper and ruler
Scissors or a craft knife and mat

Surface
Plaid® Wood Surfaces - Frames – Square – 96014
Plaid® Wood Surfaces - Letter Packs - Mixed Up – 78043

Instructions
-Use the scrap piece of paper and ruler to make a template of the inside of the frame. You are going to need to do this to cut your Friendly Forest paper to fit. Set aside.
-Basecoat inside of the frame with Fresh Foliage. Allow to dry completely.
-Basecoat the outside and wood edging of the frame with Sky Blue. Also paint the letters for the name you would like to spell. Allow to dry completely.
-Rub the candle on random parts of the frame that you would like distressed.
-Paint the outside and wood edging of the frame with Dark Brown. Paint two coats to cover the Sky Blue completely.
-While the above is drying, use the template you made in Step 1 to cut a piece of paper to fit the inside of the frame. Use either scissors or a craft knife and mat to cut the paper out.
-Once the frame is dry, sand in random spots where you applied wax. Sand more for a more distressed look. The paint should come off easily where you applied wax.
-Use the Mod Podge to affix the paper to the inside of the frame.
-Completely coat the entire frame in Mod Podge and allow to dry.
-Affix the letters and embellishments with craft glue.
-Allow project to dry for at least 24 hours before using.

Decoupage Pink Damask Bunnies. They exist!

Kimba of A Soft Place to Land learned to Mod Podge!  Not only are you going to love her bunny, but you are going to love her.  Her blog is very fun and creative.  If you are a beginning Mod Podger, please read her post about her Mod Podge problems and then the comments that the readers post to help her.  They are kind of great - and by that, I mean both the readers AND the solutions.

Fun learning magnets for kids.

In so many ways I am a big kid. If the striped knee socks don't tip you off, then the sock monkey collection will! Ashlee from Pretty Partridge created these fun learning magnets, and she summed it up best: "These little magnets are super easy to make, and they can help your little one learn numbers, letters or whatever else you want to put on them."  Please find her step-by-step tutorial with images here.

Most interesting bathroom decor.

I really hope you adore this bathroom pick-me-up as much as I do.  Janelle works at a fashion company, so the patterns used on the walls are very apropos.  Read about what she did and why here.  

It's very interesting and timely that she used fabric pattern sheets.  Why?  I've got a project coming up - a present for a friend's mother - that uses this very thing.  Details and photos to come in this blog!

Studio table re-do.

I'm completely inspired by this re-do.  Why?  I need a place to craft and I don't have one beyond the coffee table!  That's right.  World of Mod Podge command central is a one-bedroom apartment.  I know.  It's kind of a travesty.  I find myself working "off-site" on many a project.

Anyway, the first picture is what I like to call "the garage sale table."  The second is the finished Mod Podge table in all of its splendor.  Please view Pink & Polka Dot's tutorial here.

Mod Podged bike helmet.

Every now and again I like to post an unusual project - for inspiration - and just for fun! This is one of those times. I think this is a kids' helmet, but it could be for an adult. If you know me, you know that this 32-year-old would wear a helmet decoupaged with polka dots. What can I say, I like to ride in style!

A project like this is very easy. Don't be intimidated by the curves. Simply take each piece of paper one at a time, smoothing as you go. Don't cover the entire surface in Mod Podge first or by the time you get to the end you'll be working on a dry surface - apply as you go for the best results!

You are going to love this fabulous egg.

Jessica from Oh So Happy Together is absolutely amazing.  I'd like to say that I have the patience to make something like this, but I really don't know that I do.  Which is a shame - because look how amazing the result is!  And that's just one of the eggs she created.  Inspired by her grandmother's Christmas eggs, she did these for spring.  She uses many an ingredient, and of course she uses Mod Podge.  Please view her tutorial with images here.  I'm still in awe.

Please enjoy the Mod Podge Squad.

MPS
Originally uploaded by gbyrne2

A funny photo to start off a hopefully crafty week!  Cheers to you.

Artwork a la' Warhol.

I'm crazy about my dogs, and I'm guessing if you have them that you are too (cats also count)! My friends Cathie and Steve have created this project to capture your favorite pet, Warhol style. Yes, you can do it with Mod Podge! Get the supply list and the instructions here.

A bracelet for you jewelry enthusiasts.

Would you believe me if I said this bracelet was made with napkins? Check it out, because it was! Most of these supplies were purchased from your local craft store - all of the jewelry findings are at Michaels or JoAnn. Find the supply list and instructions here. And don't be intimidated by the holes you have to drill. If you don't own a drill, take the circles to the nearest Home Depot. They will do it for you. Or you can ask your dad!

Cereal Box Tote - Recycled, and for kids.

The word on the street is that April 22nd is Earth Day. In celebration of this day, I have a fun and easy project for you. It isn't quite that time yet, but you should get this cereal box tote ready to take with you on the big day!

Yes, I said cereal box tote.

You can do this project with: a cereal box (I like the big ones myself), scissors, decorative papers, a paintbrush and Mod Podge. Please view the tutorial here. It's easy. It's cheap. And even a kid can do it. The great news - Mod Podge is safe for children to use!

Capture your child's face - on a plate!

My favorite age is first grade; about 6 - 7 years old.  What I love about kids that age is that they say what is on their mind, because they don't yet have the adult filter.  That plus the fact that their perspectives on life are hilarious makes for some good times!  For this and many other reasons, children deserve to be commemorated.  

Seemingly unrelated, I am aesthetically a very graphic person.  I notice the larger outline rather than the small details.  Silhouettes are for people like me.  

So what is my point?  Combine the two paragraphs about and you get a really cool Mod Podge project!  Yep, silhouette plates to commemorate your favorite child.  Easy and perfect for home decor.  Check out the tutorial here.

Make this spring fling headband!

My pals Cathie and Steve designed this project for Plaid using a headband from the $1 store!  You'll need scrapbook paper, ric-rac, fake flowers, rhinestones, craft glue. . . and of course. . . the best crafting product ever (do I really need to say it?)!  Please view the tutorial here.

Recycled matchbox "chest of drawers."

Let's face it; times are tough for a lot of crafters. I don't just mean money - I'm actually kind of referring to something entirely different. At least for myself, inspiration is always a challenge that lives on a sliding scale. Sometimes it's a "1" and I know exactly what to do - other times it's a "10" and I stare at the Mod Podge bottle.

Monday's can be so ho-hum, so I challenge you on this fine April Monday. Use what you already have in your stash to inspire you and create a project. Paint. Yarn. Buttons. Fabric. Beads. Ribbon. Wrapping paper. What do you have around the house that can be decoupaged? What surface are you about to throw away - and what can you do with it besides add it to the landfill?

I'm posting this matchbox project because it completely fulfills the challenge that I have given to you above. Get the supplies and instructions here. Now don't be scared. Grab that old, tired frame you are sick of looking at or the milk carton from Easter breakfast yesterday and get your Mod Podge on!

Happy Easter to all of you decoupagers!

Have a good one! 

You asked for it - Scrabble tile pendants!

Marie from Make and Takes was so kind to let me feature this very popular Mod Podge project. Sometimes the best things come in the simplest packages! For this project you need Scrabble tiles (who doesn't have those laying around, and do you really play anymore?), Mod Podge, images, and jewelry findings (very cheap at local craft stores). But don't let me say any more about it - please visit the tutorial here.

I'm not the only one who loves it.

So Mod
Originally uploaded by shock.value

It's so very easy to think "the girl is nuts - her unhealthy Mod Podge obsession makes her impartial and completely incapable of an unbiased opinion on this topic." The good news is that I realize such an accusation is quite possible and even likely, so I defer to my friends at Craft Critique for this awesome and very worthwhile review of my favorite craft product. You'll see I'm not the only crazy one.

Painted fabric silhouettes. She said Modge Podge!

I absolutely LOVE Anna Maria Horner's silhouette project featured on Martha's show earlier this year.  Please view the instructions as well as the show video here.  Let me tell you - what they say is absolutely right.  These painted fabric silhouettes are "a clever and inexpensive way to brighten up any wall."

Credit, photo and project: Martha Stewart 2009.

Quilting and a utensil holder for the kitchen - they just "go."

I like fabric, but I rarely have time to sew.  Between work, pug walking, knitting and Mod Podging - there just isn't the time!  What's the solution?  Here's the good news: Mod Podge is easily used with fabric.  No sewing, just gluing!  

The project that I am focusing on above is the utensil holder and let me start by directing you to the tutorial here.  Notice the several awesome things about this project.  First of all, the metal container is recycled.  Eat your stewed tomatoes like you should and you'll have the perfect surface!  Secondly, all you need is scraps of fabric.  Come on crafters - you probably have several of those laying around.  If you don't, head to a Jo-Ann or other local fabric store and ask for scraps or buy some fat quarters.  They're cheap!  And speaking of cheap, that leads me to the third great thing about this project.  It's so inexpensive, and you can make several of them at once.  Just think - office, teacher gifts. . .  the possibilities are endless.  

Dress up a glass vase.

I'm so happy that I've discovered the blog How About Orange.  I really am.  Besides the fact that she is super cool, she also uses Mod Podge.  This vase is so easy - check out her tutorial here.  Also read through her blog while you are there.  I promise you'll enjoy it!

How to decoupage a magnet board.

There are so many cool things about this magnet board, created by the very crafty Christy Nelson.

Take a peek at the tutorial here. You'll find it doesn't require that many materials, although you will need to go to the nearest home improvement store to get the tin cut if you don't already have a piece (what's at the bottom of your purse, right?). I agree with her suggestion of having a clerk there help you - why do for yourself what you can get others to do for you? :D

Once you get the tin cut, you need a piece of scrapbook paper, Mod Podge, ribbon and a paintbrush!

Secondly, browse around at Christy's website because she is offering five readers a chance to win Martha Stewart's new book Encyclopedia of Crafts that just came out this week!

New crafting blog alert!

Checkity-check out the crafts dept. - by the talented buggers behind Martha Stewart.

-Photo galleries

-How-tos

-Inspiration

-Parties

-Projects

So far, I love it! I hope you love it too.

A giant dahlia table.

Check out this amazing table crafted by Jessica L. at Juicy Bits!  

Table from IKEA

Paint - not sure what Jessica used, but I recommend FolkArt

Cool fabrics

Mod Podge!

This looks complicated - but it turns out it wasn't.  I asked Jessica how she created the symmetrical dahlia pattern and this is what she said:

"First I made a pattern using a giant dahlia quilt pattern as an example.  I cut out enough pieces for a little less the 1/2 of the flower to get an idea of how it would look.  Then I used the pieces to make templates out of cardstock.  And keep track of how many pieces I needed out of each one.  Then I used the cardstock to trace on the back of each fabric.  Of course you could use thick, clear template material instead.  I used a thin Sharpie to trace it and when I cut them out I cut just inside the line."

Try it!  It's easier than you think.