Refinished owl stool.

I'm not done with owls - no, not even close. I hope that doesn't upset you. In fact, I hope you love this stool from Erin at Lemon Tree Creations, with its cheeky little cutout owls. Erin cracks me up when she says she can't draw and paint, but she can cut paper. I can cut paper too, and so I can make a stool just like this one. I like that. See the tutorial here.

One more thing. If you like food, and you like cookbooks, then submit your recipe to the ReadyMade Community Cookbook. ReadyMade is my favoritest magazine in the whole world, and I even submitted my great-grandfather's Swedish pancake recipe. Submit your favorite recipe today!

Project of the Week #107 - Lap board for back-to-school.

I know it's back-to-school because my commute to work is about 15 minutes longer. I'm sacrificing for the children, right? It's really okay. I jam out to my iPod and decompress for 15 minutes longer. I don't mind.

In celebration of back-to-school, I had to share this guest post on The Crafting Chicks - a post by Lara of Less Cake, More Frosting. It's a very sweet lap desk that she calls a "Larry board," and you have to read her post to find out why. After reading the story, I think our mothers probably know each other. The best part about the lap desk besides the Mod Podge is the metallic paint. I love metallic paint lately, and there's no explanation. Visit here for the full post, and have your staple gun ready.

Art Glitter Halloween birdhouses and a giveaway.

You probably know by now that Halloween is my favorite holiday - and Halloween requires glitter. That's just my opinion, but if you share it, you're going to like what I have to share. I've been blogging for Art Glitter twice a month since June, and this past Thursday I did my last post. It was bittersweet, because everything must end and yet I've really enjoyed my glittering adventures. I'm not a natural glitter-er like many of you, so this was a learning experience. My final post uses Black, which is my favorite glitter color. Maybe because glitter is happy and the color black typically isn't, so it seems like any oxymoron? I'm not sure. Anyhoo, visit my last post of Halloween birdhouses here. I've posted a little preview above.

Photo by pbrigitte zombuki

The good news? I'm giving away a gift package of Art Glitter today with my Mod Podge starter pack. I have several colors to give away - kind of a sample pack, if you will. If you like glitter at all, I promise you are going to enjoy the selection.

Rule reminder:
1. Comment on THIS blog entry. What is your favorite glitter color?
2. Only one entry per person.
3. Contest will close this Wednesday, September 1st at midnight (EST).
4. PLEASE leave your e-mail address if it's not attached in Blogger - I need some way to reach you.

Last week's winner of the Simply Sublime Gifts and starter pack giveaway was Dana.

Photo frame mat covered in fabric.

You might have a few photo frames laying around, and you just might be able to fix them up with Mod Podge. Exactly like Amy did on her blog Delightful Distractions. Amy uses fabric scraps to make things beautiful - not just photo frames - and she used to sell these at craft shows. They are definitely purchase worthy, and she's kind enough to share the tutorial so you can make your own right here.

Dimensional Magic cuff links.

I've been using Dimensional Magic a lot lately, and I wanted to share a project you could do for dudes. These are cuff links. It's kind of funny because I didn't use dude colors (and the glitter?), but I thought you could customize for the man in your life. Who knows? He may like turquoise and irridescent sparkles. I won't judge him.

Guest Blogger: Rachel from Bubbly Nature Creations.

Hey there Mod Podge Rockers! I'm Rachel from Bubbly Nature Creations and I am SUPER excited to be blogging here among such great Mod Podging talent. Amy is the sweetest and her blog is simply amazing- she should be dubbed the Mod Podge Queen! That is why I was stoked when she told me she loved these little apples that I made and was willing to host me as her guest blogger. So without further ado I present to you . . . .

Dappled Apples!

XO game. Meaning tic-tac-toe.

I've done a few posts on crafty games - this memory game, personalized checkers, family Yahtzee and even a version of Hi Ho Cherri-O.

I haven't done tic-tac-toe.

There are so many things I love about this little game by Emilie Handmade, it's hard to know where to begin. The wood boxes from Dollar Tree, one of the best stores ever. The mixing of two chipboard alphabets. The use of Cosmo Cricket paper. I'm feeling woozy! I think you need to go see how to make it for yourself, and the instructions are here. I know you will love this game as much as I do.

Wood bangles with a resist.

I went through a dyeing phase in my early 20s where no sheet or old shirt was safe from my wrath. I bought all of the Rit Dye shades that Fred Meyer stocked, and my roommate/friend Cody and I would go to the thrift store and pick things to turn new colors. I still love Rit Dye, and I'm a faithful follower of Edie's Fashion Factory (Jr. Rit Ambassador). The good news is that Edie loves Mod Podge, and sometimes she posts projects using the world's best decoupage medium. These bracelets are a perfect example.

I have a lot of girlfriends that love bracelets, and after reading her entry I think it would be very easy to make a bunch for gifts, you know, just because. It's a really fun project so I will let you read the tutorial right here. You also have to see the graphic at the bottom of her blog - I just love it.

Project of the Week #106 - Animal book.

I love cute animals in any shape and form. Have you seen the site Cute Overload? Cute animals nearly every day to make you happy! More cute animals to make you happy can be found in this animal book by Bobbi at Casa Camancho. Bobbi took an old brag book and make it into a learning book for her daughter; the best part is that because none of the animals are full-sized pages, she could use her paper scraps. My stash somehow grows every day despite my best efforts to reduce it, so I love a project like this. Go here to see more cute animals. I particularly like the ele-phunt.

Simply Sublime Gifts book review and giveaway.

This is my first book review, and I'm more than thrilled. Why? Not only is the book awesome and I'm honored to review it, but I get to give away a copy to one of you, my favorite readers. I don't know how you roll, but I have a treasured craft book collection that no one is allowed to borrow from because I'm afraid I won't get one back. You can read one, but you have to sit in no further than my periphery vision while you're doing it. I know, I know, but I use them constantly for inspiration. That is why I'm happy to be adding to someone's craft book collection this week.

Introducing Simply Sublime Gifts by Jodi Kahn! If you don't know of Jodi, she's a talented crafter and author, and it's immediately obvious when you pop open the cover on her most recent title. The subtitle describes the book to a tee: high-style, low-sew projects. My first impression is this - in my vast collection of craft books, I have many that detail complicated sewing patterns, crafts with three pages of steps or knitting patterns that I'd work on for at least 17 years to finish. I love these books, but it's so refreshing to have a book with projects that I can do in an afternoon. Without tons of supplies. That still look GREAT. Besides this, here are my top five favorite things about this book:

-The hostess gift section. I decided when I moved to the South that I should be more . . . Southernly. This entails giving hostess gifts, which is very satisfying because it really pleases the recipient. Jodi has some great ideas in this arena, especially the Wonder-ful Apron.

-The tips throughout the book. I love getting inside crafters' heads.

-The materials she uses - moving blanket, Shrinky-Dinks and recycling to name a few. So many of the projects had me saying "Wow, I never would have thought of using that!"

-The crafty variety. There is something, multiple things, that you will want to make in this book. The biggest variable in whether or not I will purchase a craft book is the number of projects I want to do. If it's only one, I won't buy. There are 30 projects in this book, and you can even get a free project here courtesy of ReadyMade.

-The dishtowel projects. O. M. G. You are going to love the dishtowel projects. You are going to go CRAZY about the dishtowel projects.

So, is this a good buy? Yes, definitely. It's quite perfect for anyone really, but if you have a friend/family member/pet who wants to get into crafting, this is a great place for that person (or animal, I guess) to start. My dog Roxie would love to make the Heartthrob Headband - I'm so not even kidding.

Before you go, you should know that this week I'm giving away a copy of Simply Sublime Gifts in addition the Mod Podge starter pack. Read the rules below, and don't forget to visit author Jodi's blog for more crafty fun and inspiration.

Rule reminder:
1. Comment on THIS blog entry. Say anything you would like!
2. Only one entry per person.
3. Contest will close this Wednesday, August 25th at midnight (EST).
4. PLEASE leave your e-mail address if it's not attached in Blogger - I need some way to reach you.
5. US residents only on this one.

PS - I don't get paid for book reviews; my only compensation is a copy of the title to give to you. If I write that something is good and that I like it, you can trust me. I really mean it.
PPS - last week winner was cheekymonkey.

Comic hair clip.

I try to give you a wide variety of projects on this blog, including some unique crafts you might not think of. This comic hair clip from Thera at Crafty Pirate definitely fits into the unique category. I never think of using plastic container lids, nor do I remember that comics are great for decoupage. The good thing is that Thera thought of it, and her hair clip is worthy of some attention. It would make such a great gift for that comic lover in your life - visit here for the complete tutorial.

Trash man marionette.

Jackie from My Submarine to the Future is one smart cookie. Not only does she have one of the best blog names ever (in my humble opinion), but she makes little dancing men out of recycled items and Mod Podge. Jackie puts these items together out of absolute junk and entertains her son and family. I wish I had such an eye for turning trash to treasure. I love "Mr. Man," as he's affectionately named, and I bet you do too. See more about him here and then get the tutorial here.

Wood plug earrings, lotion and a giveaway.

My friend Erika of Oops, I Craft My Pants recently did a review of Satin and Fabric Mod Podge for Plaid. She made some cute wood plug earrings and some fancy lotion labels which you can see above. Erika outlines her steps for Podging, recounts her successes and talks about some things she would do differently.

I love honest crafting.

Read about Erika's foray into earring making right here, her lotion labels here (with free graphics) and then go here for a Satin and Fabric Mod Podge giveaway. You should also poke around OICMP, because this girl has got some crafty talent. And that's just in one little finger.

Last chance bookshelf (and bins).

Do you see anything fabulous in this photo? Perhaps the top of this bookshelf or the magazine bins? They are Mod Podged. This bookshelf, by Clara at The Home in Paradise, was a total dog until she saved it. I'm very happy that Clara gave this bookshelf one final shot, because what she was able to do is wonderful and completely worth sharing. I'm thinking that there might be a few items in your household worthy of a second (or third or fourth) chance, and all you need to do is bust out the paint and Mod Podge. Just like Clara. See the before pictures and read about her process here.

Paint chip mosaic art.

I've got a stack of paint chips that I want to do something with but haven't. In my humble opinion, it's the best way to get a lot of colors on a project without having to paint! I really hope someone in charge of paint chips at Home Depot or Lowe's isn't reading this right now.

Jennifer from Hope Studios has put together a fine tutorial on how to make mosaic art using paint chips, and the results are above - outstanding! I love it. LOVE it. Time to start using those paint chips that I have in my stash. To learn how to do it, visit her blog right here.

Project of the Week #105 - W lap tray.

As a blogger, I'm frequently on my butt in my bed, typing away late into the night. The only problem with a bed is that it doesn't make a good desk. I squealed when I saw this lap tray by Lori of Paisley Passions. It's perfect. I need about five of these placed in various strategic positions around my king-sized bed and it will be the most comfortable work station in the whole world. Lori used letters and dowel rods for the stands, which is brilliant. See more about the project here.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway Fawnda is having for Dimensional Magic here. All you have to do is leave a comment.

CROQ Zine and a giveaway.

Did you ever read CROQ Zine? It was a little independent crafty mag started by Heather of Dollar Store Crafts. LOVED this publication, and I have all of the issues. CROQ Zine is hopefully coming back, with a little help from us, the crafty community. I donated today and if you are interested in helping the magazine get back on its feet, visit here

Now onto the giveaway!! THANK YOU so much for your supportive comments last week about my tiredness. I've gotten more rest and am back to it.

Rule reminder:
1. Comment on THIS blog entry. Say anything you would like!
2. Only one entry per person.
3. Contest will close this Wednesday, August 18th at midnight (EST).
4. PLEASE leave your e-mail address if it's not attached in Blogger - I need some way to reach you.

The winner of last week's giveaway was Doris.

How to make a watermelon.

I'm going to be honest, I'm not fond of the taste of real watermelon. It turns out, however, that I do like fake watermelons - decorations such as this one above by Alison at HowDoesShe. It turns out that it's National Watermelon Month, and I think we should celebrate. I like the kinda cattywompus slats and flower. I'm kinda cattywompus too, so I can relate. Visit here for the tutorial.

Easy art - decorating with children's books.

It wasn't so very long ago that I posted a project from Vanessa at Silly Eagle Books - and I'm back again with another. I like easy wall decor, and I like it inexpensive. This canvas fits both of those requirements. Did I mention I like it to look good as well? Yes, this fits that criteria too. Vintage children's books are so fun to decorate with, and this canvas is collaged with the pages. Go here for the blog entry to see how it's done.

Plaid (makers of Mod Podge) needs your help! Take a peek at this survey and answer a few questions. You get to look and pictures and give your opinion. It's fun!

Wild and crazy cabinet doors.

Today I'd like to give a shoutout to my overseas readers - thank you so much for keeping up with a blog written by an eccentric (yet loveable) American. There are a lot of Mod Podgers all over the world, and I truly believe it's the glue that can bring us all together.

I'm not just saying that.

The cabinet above was done by Beatriz using fabric from the almighty IKEA. If you are looking for a simple way to revamp a cabinet, putting fabric on the doors is about as easy as it gets. I love the way it really brightens Beatriz's kitchen and even matches the tablecloth. Sometimes matchy-matchy is good. Visit here for Beatriz's post, and don't forget to prepare your fabric before Mod Podging. Preparing the fabric makes it so that when you cut it, it won't fray on the ends. See how I prepare my fabric here.

GIVEAWAY: Visit Fireflies & Jellybeans today for a fabulous Dimensional Magic giveaway.

Kimono doll with Yuzen paper.

Do you remember Mikaela Danvers and her really cool upcycled drawer organizer? She's back, and this time with some Japanese inspired projects coupled with the Podge. This little kimono doll is precious, and might be a great giftie for a child. How about party decorations or favors? The paper she uses is Chiyogami (Yuzen) for an authentic effect. See more of Mikaela's crafty endeavors here.

Pear canvas, made in Idaho.

I made this canvas at Brave Girls Camp, and I wanted to share it with you - share my pear, if you will allow me to. I can and will try to describe Brave Girls Camp at some point, but it takes awhile to absorb the experience and talk about it. I will soon.

I can tell you that one of the big things I focused on while I was at BGC was completing the projects I WANTED to do. I don't mean to sound selfish at all . . . I know that as women (the few men who read this blog too!), you can definitely relate to the pressure of meeting everyone else's expectations. And believe it or not, I have gone through periods with this blog of feeling like I was drowning, not posting projects of my own because I thought you would hate what I did. I didn't put the time or effort into those projects that I should have, for a million reasons. I accepted guest postings that I shouldn't have, not because I didn't want to, but because I over committed myself and that wasn't responsible.

Brave Girls Camp is about discovering truth. The nice part (and scary part) about truth is that it's there no matter what you do. I came to terms with a lot of things, good and bad, about my work. I accepted the fact that I can't do everything and that I owe people some apologies for the poor job I have done in the past. So to those people who I have let down, I'm sorry.

On the positive side I became more appreciative of you, the readers of this blog. I have the most amazing blog community in the world (in my humble opinion), and you are the nicest, most amazing people I've ever met. Thank you.

So how did I make this collage pear? Gather these supplies:

16" x 20" canvas
Fabric bits - all that you can find in coordinating colors
Mod Podge Gloss
FolkArt Acrylic colors - Brilliant Blue, Cobalt, Wicker White, Citrus Green, Lime Green
Flat paint brushes - two

1. Begin by layering your fabric pieces on top of your canvas with the Mod Podge. This is so fun and SO messy - I love it! Layer, layer, layer until every exposed part of the canvas is covered. Coat the entire canvas with Mod Podge and allow to dry.
2. Paint your pear shape (or the shape of your choice) with the Brilliant Blue. This is so loosey-goosey. I just eyeballed it, because it didn't matter that it was exact. Fill in the pear shape (it will take a couple of coats) and allow to dry.
3. Paint the shape of the stem with Lime Green. Fill in and allow to dry.
4. Go back with your Cobalt and Wicker White and add some accents to the pear. I actually used the Cobalt first and then used the Cobalt mixed with some Wicker White to create the main highlight. Play around. You can always go back over it until you are happy - trust me, I did! Allow to dry.
5. Accent the stem with Citrus Green. Allow to dry.
6. Allow the canvas to dry for 24 hours before hanging.

Let me tell you, after this first one I was ready to do a series! I love mixing fabric, Mod Podge and paint. It's one of life's little pleasures. Look for more posts about Brave Girls Camp coming soon.

Mod Podged cash register, cha ching!

I like surprising you with Mod Podged things you've never seen before, and I'm going to guess that most of you have never seen a Mod Podged cash register. This piece of art was done by Stephanie Corfee was a guest blog post for Scoutie Girl. It's definitely colorful and definitely a conversation piece. You may not have a cash register to revamp, but I think this goes to show that just about anything can be made wonderous with Mod Podge. See the post at Scoutie Girl here, Stephanie's blog here (she's a fab designer/artist) and then the Flickr stream with photos here.

The I'm so tired giveaway.

I'm SO exhausted my friends! I took a vacation this weekend and there was a lot of driving . . . sometimes vacations can be tiring, you know?

I'll get to the giveaway so that I can take a short snooze. zzzzz . . . .

Rule reminder:
1. Comment on THIS blog entry. Say anything you would like!
2. Only one entry per person.
3. Contest will close this Wednesday, August 11th at midnight (EST).
4. PLEASE leave your e-mail address if it's not attached in Blogger - I need some way to reach you.

Last week's winner was gardienne.

Mama's toolbox.

I believe every girl needs a tool set of some sort. Whether you live alone or you don't, you need tools that are yours. Tools that no one will mess up and tools that no one will ask where there are. Like Kristen from Never a Dull Moment talks about on her blog, some of the tools might be girly. Like lip balm with tint or magic plumping powers or something like that. Kristen re-did this tool box she found at a thrift store for her own tool set, and I love the fact that the used polka dots. I think a guy would rather die than have a tool box with polka dots decoupaged to it, so your tools are probably safe and sound in this cutie. Check out Kristen's post about her tool box right here.

Debbie's sparkly pendants with Dimensional Magic.

My friend Debbie is amazing with Mod Podge and she just so happens to love Mod Podge Dimensional Magic as well. She makes tile pendants with images and adds a little Extreme Glitter flair; then she adds the Dimensional Magic right over the top. With so many of you wanting to know about Dimensional Magic, I had to share her tutorial. Visit her right here, and then poke around for more Mod Podge-y type magic.

EAT sign for your kitchen, or your bedroom if you prefer.

I'm a bed snack eater, I have to confess. I try not to get crumblies everywhere but sometimes I can't help it. Thank goodness for pug dogs, who will hoover anything up off of my sheets. This "EAT" sign from Jen at Frame Fanatic could possibly go in my kitchen, but it could also go in my bedroom. I hope this is true for you too, because then it will make me feel better. One last thing: don't you love the colors Jen's used for her letters? And the papers? I do. Visit the tutorial here.

Doily project inspiration and sharing time.

I love sharing projects that are inspired by this blog/me/something one of you did. It makes me happy when anyone sees a Mod Podge project and gets motivated to decoupage! This trio of doily canvases by Becca of Bare Feet on the Dashboard is a perfect example. You can see Becca's project here and her inspiration by Jen of Tatertots and Jello right here. So I'm wondering today, what has inspired you? Either a post from this blog or another one? It's sharing time, my friends. Let me know in the comments.

One other thing. One of my friends from Plaid is seeking some jewelry designers. Her name is Mandy and she has this to say:
"Looking for jewelry crafters who also have a blog for future projects....
Interested in all styles and media, but especially those who focus on beading, stringing, and creating lovelies with all types of charms, chain, and pendants. If you have experience with creating projects and writing instructions, that's a bonus! Details to follow!"
If you are interested, send me an e-mail and I'll hook you up with her. Thanks friends!

Mod Podge map album.

I like this album from the Zutter Blog not just because of the license plate pieces on the front, but because I now know about Cover-Alls. I can decoupage pictures of my piggies all over these albums, or use fabric scraps or even lots of glitter. I've never seen albums like this, maybe because I've been in a cave? I like how Shelley, design team member, used maps on her Cover-All album - maps from a trip her family had been on. Isn't that nice? You should go see the inside here.

Project of the Week #103 - A minty fresh locket.

When I was young, my mom was obsessed with giving us breath mints. Especially in church. We'd lean over to ask her a question (we weren't supposed to be talking, but we were young), and she's quickly rip a breath mint out of her purse to slay the dragons that were apparently coming out of our mouths. If oral care strips had existed at the time, my mom would have been able to fill a room with the discarded packages. She would have been able to make about 5,000 necklaces from them, like this one from Michelle at Mich L. in L.A. I'm constantly amazed by what you come up with out there in Podgeland, and this is no exception. Michelle made a locket out of something that typically would be trash, and she even used Mod Podge to do it. You have to see the tutorial here, and I'm going to send this to my mom. Fresh breath AND a new piece of jewelry? It really doesn't get any better.

The "back to normal" giveaway.

After nearly two weeks of traveling on vacation, to Brave Girls Camp and then to Chicago for CHA, I'm DONE. All I can say is that it's nice to be home with my puppies and to see my boyfriend on a regular basis. I'm normal again. To celebrate, here's the regular Sunday giveaway.

Rule reminder:
1. Comment on THIS blog entry. Say anything you would like!
2. Only one entry per person.
3. Contest will close this Wednesday, August 4th at midnight (EST).
4. PLEASE leave your e-mail address if it's not attached in Blogger - I need some way to reach you.

Last week's winner was T.M.St.P.