Pet supply organizer.

I haven't posted a project in awhile, so I wanted to share my latest. It's a toy bin that I did for my pooches. What I enjoy about this toy bin is how delicately they select their toys out of it, like they know I made it for them and how mad I'd be if they messed it up. I've trained them well, maybe?

Supplies and Tools:

FolkArt® Acrylic Paint
Coffee Bean
Sky Blue
Terra Cotta
Mod Podge® - Gloss
Wood bin - mine is from JoAnns from their everyday wood section
Wood balls for feet (1.5") - 4
Scrapbook paper - I used KI Memories Pet Shop purchased at JoAnns, 2 sheets
Embellishments - Spare Parts brand from Hobby Lobby, bones and paws
Ribbon - I used KI Memories Pet Shop, 2 rolls of striped purchased at JoAnns
Buttons - brown, a total of 8 (4 for each side)
Flat Paint Brush
Beacon's Premium Tacky Glue
Stencil tape
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil or pen

1. I always trace the shapes for my finished project first. Why? Because if pencil marks get on my surface, then I can paint over them. Start by tracing the side of your bin onto the back of both sheets of paper. Using the ruler, measure 1/2" on the inside of the tracing lines. Use the scissors to cut out the sheets and then set aside.
2. Use the paint to basecoat the inside of the bin Coffee Bean and the entire outside and bottom Sky Blue. Allow to dry. Paint the four wood balls with Coffee Bean and allow to dry.
3. When the paint is dry, use the stencil tape to make stripes on the sides with the handles. Paint a few coats of Terra Cotta on the exposed areas, and remove the stencil tape as soon as you are done. Allow to dry.
4. Use the Mod Podge to apply the two paper shapes to the sides without the handles. Completely smooth out all air bubbles and allow to dry for 15 – 20 minutes.
5. Coat the entire bin with at least two coats of Mod Podge. Do the wood balls at this time as well. Allow to dry completely.
6. Cut the ribbon to trim around the edges of the paper and glue down. Glue the bone and paw embellishments down on the striped side. Glue the buttons down where the ribbon meets. Finally, glue the wood balls to the bottom of the bin as feet.
7. Allow the bin to dry for at least 24 hours before using.

Mod Podged earrings . . . oh yes.

Aren't these beautiful? They didn't used to be - but Linds from That's So Cuegly! fixed them up with some fantastic papers and Mod Podge. You won't believe the before and after, so visit her blog right here to see it. Linds specializes in finding things that are "cuegly" (so ugly they are cute), so you should browse around. I personally never see anything ugly on her blog, only cute things, but that's just me!

Also, Plaid has released a survey on craft paint - make your opinions heard by clicking the picture below and answering a few questions:

Design your own fabric rosette cards.

Amy from Things We Make is just a really great person - remember she featured me once? She's very talented, and that includes coming up with quick projects that give insta-sults (my new combination word for instant results). This fabric rosette card does just that - plus it's quick and uses scraps. And Mod Podge. Which means Amy is a genius. Learn more about Amy's card creation process right here.

"Bee" my valentine love notes display.

Yea! We are excited to be guest posting at Mod Podge Rocks! And yes it does! We are big fans of it! As you know, Amy is awesome and works hard for this blog . . . so thanks Amy, for letting us be a part of your blog!!

HowDoesShe started when we {Missy, Alison and Shelley} kept asking each other 'How Does She' craft, coupon, organize, love her family, etc?

So we decided to start sharing ideas and building a blog to answer those questions! We have had a ton of fun learning and posting about some of the newest, funnest and most motivating things on the web. So here we go on our 'BEE My Valentine' post!

Moroccan tile meets decoupage.

Titti from Shoestring Pavilion inherited a scratched-up coffee table when she married her husband. Luckily she is very creative, so she was able to revamp something not-so-special into something very special. Titti wanted a Moroccan tile look but didn't want to mess with the tile itself - can you blame her? The next best thing. . . Mod Podge. She actually printed sheets out on her computer and tiled them herself; check it out right here. Titti's idea makes me think, what can I tile? Pretty much anything I want to!

A few more photos from CHA.

Click on any of them for more information.

Mod Podge display, Plaid booth, CHA, Cathie and Steve.

Still reporting live from CHA! I go home tonight - and I'll definitely have more to report when I get back. Cathie and Steve designed a display for Plaid's booth here, and it uses so much Mod Podge that I have to share pictures with you. It's very vintage/shabby chic looking, with small fashion and jewelry items on display. Check it out:





I especially love the Mod Podge shoes! Remember that I've posted Mod Podge shoes before - right here.

A polky-spotted suitcase.

I know what my next Mod Podge project is going to be, and that is an altered suitcase. Just like the one from Abbie at Down Abbie's Road. Abbie actually used Royal Coat, but that counts for my blog because it's the cousin of Mod Podge (same company). Don't you think?

Abbie posts a tutorial of the transformation right here. The inside really tickles me, and I have so much scrap paper and fabric you wouldn't believe it. I know that you do too. Now I just need a suitcase. Hello, Etsy!

It's my birthday. Giveaways, yay!

Thirty-three years ago I was brought into this world, and it's been quite a ride. God put me on this earth for a reason I think, much of which I'm still trying to figure out. I do know one thing, however - I'm supposed to be spreading Mod Podge love to the masses. I love creativity, and Mod Podge makes it attainable. Try it, you'll see!

I haven't forgotten the weekly starter pack giveaway, so here it is.

Remember the rules? Just in case:
1. Comment on THIS blog entry. This week I want to know what your favorite birthday present ever was. As a child, an Incredible Hulk doll when I was seven. As an adult? A signed Charley Harper lithograph. Be still my heart!
2. Only one entry per person.
3. Contest will close every Wednesday at midnight (EST).

Good luck and thank you for entering.

Oh, and I forgot to mention. . . I'm giving away five Neatnix small stuff buckets in Orange/Hot Pink, which just so happen to be Mod Podge colors! Planned? Of course. Stuff buckets are only the best crafty caddies ever, and I have boatloads of them. So what will be in the stuff buckets?

a) a pickle
b) a winning lottery ticket
c) Mod Podge
d) jack squat

Answer is c! To win a stuff bucket filled with Mod Podge:

1. Leave ONE comment on ANY entry this week. If you enter the starter pack giveaway, you are also entered for the stuff bucket giveaway.
2. Only one entry per person.
3. Enter by Saturday, January 30th at midnight (EST).

Have you maybe caught on to the fact that I don't joke around for birthdays??

CHA SuperShow on Saturday.

Finally updating you all after yesterday's events! The CHA SuperShow had a very busy Saturday, and I want to share some picture highlights with you below. It was hard to capture everything, but here's a taste of what I experienced:

Simply Screen demonstration/make-and-take with Candie Cooper

Erin from Schlosser Designs and her beautiful stamps

Jenny Barnett Rohrs from Craft Test Dummies, representing Craft Critique

Demonstration of the new Cricut Cake

Fabric for sale at the Hancock's booth

Digital scrapbooking station hosted by DCWV

Lots of crafty books for sale from Barnes & Noble

My favorite scrapbook collection from the show, Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses

It's been such a great time! I wish you all could be here.

Reporting from CHA SuperShow.

Hi everyone! I'm here in Anaheim, California at the CHA SuperShow. Click on the link above to see what the toots I'm talking about - but to sum it up, the SuperShow is a gathering of crafters with fun make and takes, crafty stars and previews of the latest crafty goodness entering into the marketplace! There are giveaways and goodie bags . . . free demos . . . and Mod Podge! In fact, Cathie and Steve are demonstrating how to use the world's greatest craft glue.

I'm going to do a bigger update later in the day, but I want to share a few tidbits now. I arrived late in the day on Friday and only scraped the surface of crafty wonders, so remember there is much more to come! First, the latest product release from Cathie and Steve that I think is really cool:

Learn more about what Hot Glue Gun Helpers are right here. I can tell you that the goal is to protect your work surface and prevent burns. There's a mat that NOTHING sticks to - not even Mod Podge! Cool huh?

Also want to share this photo of myself and Libby Dibby. We love each other's blogs, and got to meet because she lives not so very far away. I love her! Not only does she love Mod Podge, but she makes the most beautiful handsewn skirts (and other goodies). Visit her here - I'm so getting one of her skirts for some spring frolicking.

Okay, time to get ready for the day. Come see me later for more pictures and reporting - I'm an amateur in that department, but you know I'll do my best.

Flickr roundup! And more coasters.

I've been getting ready for CHA lately and haven't had much time to tend to the Mod Podge Rocks Flickr group like I should. Just know that I see your projects (we all do!) and I so appreciate your contributions. I promise I'll do better when I get back from California - promise. Here are five notable projects for the week:

$3.99 tray from Goodwill spray painted and mod podged

For the love of coasters.

I like coasters, and if you came to my house you would see that because I have about 1,000 of them. There's always some sort of beverage on pretty much every coaster, even when I'm here alone. What can I say? It's important to stay hydrated.

I bring you a very female-looking set of coasters by Kristy of Light Refreshments Served, and then a very male-looking set by Kari of Handmade Mommy. Not only are coasters a great beginning Podger project, but they are truly a great (and inexpensive) gift. As Kari shows us, it's a great gift idea for the dude in your life. Personalize a set for that special person in your life. For instance, my coasters would . Visit here for Kristy's instructions and then here for Kari's. Kristy said it best: then you can live happy in a spot-free coaster world.

Create a family triptych.

Uniquely personalized, colorful and downright fabulous - that is how I describe this family triptych made by Pink and Green Mama. I'm teasing you with just a few pieces of it, so that you can see some of the details closely. The paint, bits of paper, photos, and of course - the Mod Podge! To understand how amazing the set of three really is, you need to visit here to see the rest of the photos. I really want to do something like this with my dogs (kids are great too though, of course!).

Inspired and pretty decoupaged table.

I'm happy to say that sometimes this blog inspires people AND I get to see the results - like this table from Kristin at Pacific Northwest Cottage. She got her inspiration from Christina's magazine end table as well as Kristi's patchwork top dining table. I'm so proud of the contributors to this blog.

I have to commend Kristin, first because I like the fabric she chose, and secondly because she continued working with the stretchy fabric even though it is a huge pain in the rump. The result is a vintage-y looking table that is truly pretty. Go here to learn more and get Kristin's tutorial.

Rock Band magnets.

Youngmi from The Toki Cafe serves up yummy morsels of cuteness at her blog. These Rock Band magnets are one of those things. Rather than assembling all of the pieces with sewing, she decided she'd Mod Podge some of the bits. Brilliant! I know a few Rock Band fans who would like these. I've only played Rock Band once, and I was given the drums. Big mistake. I got all turned around and was hitting red when I should have been hitting green, etc. Basically I let my band down, and yes, I'm still recovering. Anyway, visit Youngmi here to learn more about these magnets and see her parade of cuteness.

Giveaway, giveaway - week three, here we come.

I hope you all had as good of a time as I did reading about the weather around the world last week. It's been so cold where I am - so last night I baked some pumpkin bread. I promptly ate half the loaf and now I feel like I'm wearing it. Pumpkin bread is truly my favorite dessert in the whole world, so that prompts this week's comment question. Here are the starter pack giveaway guidelines again:

1. Comment on THIS blog entry. This week I want to know what your favorite sweet treat is. I also love cheesecake, by the way. Um, yum!
2. Only one entry per person.
3. Contest will close every Wednesday at midnight (EST).

Good luck and thank you for entering.

One more thing I wanted to post - on Tuesday I introduced you to Mod Podger KotiBeth and her Etsy shop - I also asked Mod Podge Rocks readers to post links to their Etsy (and Zibbet!) shops. Here they are again, for your viewing pleasure!

Krafty Kali's - homeschooled sixth grader's handmade items
Stellalola - prints and soft sculptures
Honeybeebzz Boutique - home items, accessories
Sumo's Sweet Stuff - accessories for baby girls
Hindrance - home items, clothing, jewelry
burlap + blue - vintage-inspired goods for home and family
Ethereal Enchantments - candles
RowanMayfairs Designs - sewn outfits & accessories for young girls
Clips By Kelley Boutique - hair accessories for girls
Sheep and Resheep - home and kitchen goods, teas
Aelysium - original and eclectic accessories
Whimsy art studio - paintings and sewn items
In My Head Studios - mixed media jewelry and greeting cards
beckyjames - candles, photography, jewelry
Stitches By Sara - sewn accessories
Libby Dibby - skirts, purses, jewelry
So Cute By Sarah - baby items
Wistful Wrists - hand-knitted home items
Prairie Peasant - unique ecofriendly journals, cards and envelopes
Joey and Aleethea - baby boutique
Artangel Original Art - paintings and mixed media
Aradiadiane's - geeky house decor

Amy's notebook and a giveaway.

Remember these scraptastic ornaments from Amy at Mrs. Schmenkman Quilts? Well, she did another cool project with her selvage edge collection (and her Mod Podge) - she covered a moleskin notebook! I commend Amy for saving her selvage edges and proving that NO part of a piece of fabric should go to waste. Now bust out a notebook, your Mod Podge and go to town!

Go visit Amy's entry here for more information, and also for her giveaway. Yep, she's giving away once of these fabulous little notebooks, which would be good for tracking your crafting projects or just life in general.

Upcycled drawer organizer.

Useful things built out of old, gross drawers are quite wonderful - just like this jewelry organizer by Mikaela Danvers. Mikaela's drawer project was actually inspired by yesterday's lifestyle blogger Becca, who turned drawers into ribbon organizers. Mikaela's drawer idea is particularly great if you have a craft room that needs organizing. . . maybe you are an Etsy or crafty show seller and you need a place to hang your wares? Look no further. Her hooks are even made from old coat hangers! Go visit Mikaela here to see the before.

Oh, and the weekly giveaway winner? Hunny & Poppa Lewis. Congratulations!

Lifestyle: Becca from Blue Cricket Design.

Hey everyone - I told you in my first post of the year that I was going to start featuring a craft blogger "behind the scenes" look - what I like to call the lifestyle post. Here she is - after you read about Becca, come to Mother Huddle to see a fun post she does called the Bullet List (and I'm featured).


Hi friends! It's me Becca! I'm the creative mind behind Blue Cricket Design! I've discovered the best way to enjoy a good blog is in pajamas, slippers and while eating a bowl of Coco Pebbles! Trust me! It's heavenly!

My resume is probably similar to yours! I am one part Wife, three parts Mother and the rest is a mixed bag of Genetic obligations, Sass and Reality!! I hit the jackpot when it came to my matrimonial mate! I married my High School Sweetheart (AHHH! I know!) and if I weren't 98.9% sure my husband would kill me I'd share our endless cheesy photos together from Proms, Winter Formals and Sadie Hawkins! But alas, I'll save public humiliation for a different day!

( They get their good looks from me!)

I'm the boss of three busy girls! I say busy because it's nicer then saying "Crazy!" It's an adventure being a mother to a Drama Queen, A Sensitive Flower and a Crawler! They are all sorts of wonderful and keep me constantly laughing and grateful for my own parents and what I must have put them through!! It's amazing how much you can love a group of misfits, isn't it? In all honesty, my kids are my greatest joy! They are my main source of inspiration! I'm in the throws of motherhood and the journey is for sure an adventure!


For as long as I can remember I've been knee deep in some sort of a project! I come from a pretty creative family! My mom was always painting or making jewelry, and my sister can work miracles with a camera! My Creative philosophy has evolved over the years. I'm completely in my element if I can recreate and improve upon a favorite find! I'm all about creating a version of something I love at a fraction of its retail price! I also am a HUGE fan of re-purposing and recycling! Projects that are born out of something old are my favorite! I also believe that anyone can do what I do! I'm nothing special! I just see things differently and once you get into the practice of looking at something with a creative eye, the ideas just seem to start taking over!

If I had to pick a favorite form of "Crafting," I don't think I could! It's like picking a favorite child! Impossible!!! I'm rooted in self taught sewing! I could sit behind my sewing machine all day if I didn't have my real life to live! I received my first sewing machine 8 years ago when my husband's grandmother got word that I spent 7 hours hand sewing curtains for our humble basement apartment! The passion was born right then, and thanks to Sweet Grandma Alice who forever I will be grateful for!

I'm a huge fan of creating my own patterns and making clothes for my girls! Fabric in general is my drug of choice! I can't get enough of it! Any project that calls for fabric I'm pretty much going to love and dream about at night!!

I also love to refinish furniture. Visiting the paint section of Home Depot is my idea of a romantic date night! I just love color! I've learned some pretty amazing tricks and techniques over the years. There hasn't been a piece of furniture able to take me down yet! Taking something old and ugly and transforming it into an updated useful piece is my specialty! Everything has potential!

I'm also a lover of all things created in the Kitchen! I've become one of "those" ladies that prefer baking from scratch! My trusty KitchenAid "Sally" and I have been known to get a little crazy in the kitchen! Baking is my skill of choice! I love to reinvent a classic recipe, dabble in experimenting and always prefer adding my own twist when it comes to following instructions! My success rate isn't 100%, that's for sure, but my "Going Rouge" approach to cooking has produces some new favorites!

(Getting pretty into it in the kitchen! I showed those pretzels who was boss!)

I've been told I have a style all my own! Not sure if Eclectic, Thrift Store, Clearance Rack Ensembles work for everyone but I seem to be able to pull it off...or so I think! I love being different! I love a surprise in an outfit! A bold colored shoe or hair accessory. I love color! LOVE Color! I have a few favorite things that I've found over the years that seem to speak to me! My Pink Winter Coat, A Burnt Orange Jacket, a Crazy Ribbon Skirt and check out these "Climbing to the top of the Fav's list" Blue boots I fell head over heels in love with and had to make mine...

Don't hate me because they're beautiful!!! Just one more colorful article of loveliness I have added to my wardrobe!

So that about sums me up! Now for a little 411 about the 'ol Bloggy Blog...

I created Blue Cricket Design for a few reasons... First it's a fun way for me to archive my creative adventures! It's my form of recording the creative process and proof that I was more then just a mom who cooked and cleaned my way through the childhood years of raising my family! Secondly, I wanted to share my ideas and get a little joy back in my life! For years I was crafting for profit. I'd bust my butt cranking out products for Boutiques. It would consume me! My house would fall apart, my kids would be in Pj's till 4 pm and in the end I'd come home with a fraction of the cost it took to make everything! I was ready to give my craft room away and quit entirely. I did actually... I stopped crafting completely. . . but that only lasted about 4 months! It wasn't until I decided to share all my ideas on my blog that Crafting became fun again! So selfishly I'm using all of you to fill all warm and fuzzy inside!

A million thanks for sitting so still and quiet while you learned a little bit more about Lil' 'ol Me! I'd love to meet more of you! Come on by and say hello! My all time most favorite part about blogging has been meeting new friends! That why I HEART Amy so much! We've become fast friends because we two crazy girls connected on line somewhere between washing Mod Podge out of our paint brushed and staying up too late writing posts!

You can always find me and my antics over at http://www.bluecricketdesign.net.

Child's desk, brought back to life with decoupage.

I love it when a project finally comes together and is finished - don't you? Brenda from Cozy Little House spent a lot of time thinking about how to decoupage this children's desk (came already red from a furniture swap), and recently completed her labor of love. Isn't it delightfully cute? I love the alphabet letters and vintage-y looking alphabet pictures on the top. Fabulous job! Learn more about the project here. Brenda is a great re-decorator and seamstress, so you'll want to check her blog out for some great inspiration.

Meet Etsy seller Kotibeth and her cool stuff.

Many of my readers sell on Etsy, and if you are I want you to know that I support you! Especially if you use Mod Podge, tee hee. One Etsy seller I recently met is Kotibeth, who crafts cool stuff with Mod Podge like the clothespin magnet clips and keepsake box you see above. Aren't her goods delightful? Please visit Kotibeth's Etsy shop right here, and if you want to learn more about a fellow Mod Podge crafter, check out her blog right here.

OH - and if you are an Etsy seller and a reader of this blog, please leave your store link in the comments today. Give us all a chance to see your fabulous handmade items . . . and buy ourselves some gifties!

The winning stick.

You are probably wondering what this is - it's a winning stick, silly! This stick is actually a brilliant idea for rewarding your children by Lori from Designing Moms. She was having some whining problems with her 4-year-old, and so designed this stick to nip it in the bud. The basic premise? You do good things, you move the clothespin up the stick. It's a great concept, and I think I should use it for my co-workers.

Some will wonder why their clothespin is moving down.

Anyway, visit here to get more information about how to make this fabulous stick. My only other piece of advice is to somehow attach it to the wall so that it doesn't become a beating stick. I grew up with four brothers, so I know these things.