Top Mod Podge posts of 2011.

2011 has been such a great year for Mod Podge Rocks! I wanted to do a bit of a recap for you so that the top posts were all in one post - and this goes by month. So for instance, in January the DIY bangle bracelets above got the most visits. I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane!

Two more great memories:

• Finishing my new book, which comes out in June of 2012. I couldn't have done it without all of you, seriously. So I owe you a huge thanks - thank you.
• Being asked to write for Babble.com's The New Home Ec. I seriously LOVE it. While I love Mod Podge, it's nice to write about (and do) other projects as well.

So let's get into the rest of the projects. And if you didn't see last year's top 5 favorite moments, take a peek.

DIY montessori color tablets-ish.

I went to montessori school, and look how great I turned out! Haha. I actually did go to montessori school - in Woodinville, WA, just outside of Seattle. I remember really liking it, and I'm guessing it contributed somewhat to the creativity I embrace today. For those of you who teach your children at home, just like to play games with them and/or have paint chips in your stash, this project by The Accidental Crafter is for you. This game is based off of the standard montessori color tablets, and according to this site can "provide the child with a key to orient himself in the world of color." I love color, so it sounds good to me. Find the entire step-by-step here.

Oh, and please check out Craft Test Dummies' best of 2011 post. Three of them are Mod Podge related!!

Upcycled popcorn tins.

Do you remember the Vera Bradley inspired decoupage candles from Lisa at Crafting Rebellion? She's back again with a creative upcycling solution for those popcorn tins that I know many of you received for the holidays. I love that she used napkins and especially love the extra chalkboard paint touch so that you know what's in them. Because I'm one of those people that would look in every single tin but the right one if they weren't labeled. Are you one of those people too? Visit the tutorial here.

December Flickr roundup.

With the holidays so Mod Podge crazy (in a good way), I haven't gotten to do a Flickr roundup in awhile. All of these projects are submitted to the Mod Podge Rocks Flickr group, I go through them and then share some of my favorites with you. I recommend you take a peek at the whole stream though - all of the projects submitted are good. I'm always impressed what everyone comes up with! My first project to share is this patchwork dresser by DitzaLee. I've never done a dresser like this, but I intend to once I move out of Mod Podge Command Central and into a larger place. I certainly have the room. Read on to see more Mod Podge goodness!

DIY glitter clutch numero two.

A few days ago I featured a chunky glitter clutch, and I can't help it but feature a second, more finely glittered clutch. You see, I'm in love with glitter clutches recently. This one is from I am Style-ish and started as a big yellow handbag. Now it's sparkly and amazing, and perfect for New Year's Eve - or any day, really. Don't be afraid to glitter your own clutch with the color of your choice. Find the step-by-step here.

Mod Podge slogan contest WINNER.

"45 years and still sticking"

A few people came up with this one, but Jersey 2 Idaho was the first to submit it. Thanks so much to all who entered for your participation. The responses were amazing, and Plaid had a very hard time deciding!

J2I, please send me your address so that I can make sure you get your prize.

How to make a glittered shirt.

I'm not nearly done with the glitter projects - I just can't help it. There are too many amazing projects to feature. Yesterday it was a glitter clutch, but did you know that you can do it to fabric as well? Stars for Streetlights recently featured a tutorial for a chambray shirt with pretty gold accents, and it looks designer . . . I can't believe it was done with Mod Podge. So of course I had to share! Are you interested in the how-to? Go here.

PS - You will not be able to wash a shirt like this if you use regular Mod Podge, but you can hand wash or delicate cycle if you use Fabric Mod Podge.

The latest posts on Babble.com.

I haven't given an update in awhile on my activities at Babble.com's The New Home Ec, so I thought it was time to share. As you can see I've written quite a few articles over the past few weeks on a variety of topics. Some that I think you will especially like are the New Year's ideas and the projects for National Organization Month (January). Check out these articles, and to keep up with everything on Facebook like The New Home Ec and Babble.com.

• 13 Ways to Decorate a Bulletin Board (shown above)
• 10 Daring Dresser Revamps
• 10 Inspirational Ideas for Christmas Lights (most of these you can make for year-round)
• 10 Pretty Chandeliers to DIY
• 10 Kids' Handprint and Footprint Crafts
• 12 Cute Ideas for DIY Children's Games
• 12 Festive New Year's DIY Projects
• 11 Unique Uses for Old Vases
• 14 Projects for National Organization Month
• 10 Geeky DIY Projects for Your Gadgets
• 12 Flirty DIY Fashion Ideas for New Year's Eve

Make a glam glitter clutch.

Yesterday I shared glitter shoes and today I want to introduce another awesome New Year's Eve project - the glam glitter clutch. The Fashion Spot has a great tutorial for just such a clutch, utilizing a purse from the thrift store. You too can look fantastic for the entrance of 2012 with accessories on a budget. Find the how-to here.

Sparkling glitter pumps for New Year's Eve.

If you are a shoe connoisseur then you might know how expensive Christian Louboutin shoes are - they are what I like to call a "king's ransom." This is pretty much true of any designer shoe, but you can get the look for less. I spotted these glitter heels on Pixie in Pumps, and they are so awesome that I had to share. These would be perfect to make for New Year's Eve, and you can even paint the bottoms red if you are so inclined. No one will know the difference! Get the tutorial here.

Merry Christmas!

I think this says it all. Have a safe and happy holiday! I love you all.

Awesome holiday thank you card idea.

Happy Christmas Eve! You might be one of those people, just like me, who has to do something while watching television. With the relatives in town, you may be watching A Christmas Carol or Elf for the 537th time. You know these movies by heart, so you don't have to fully "watch" them - and you can craft at the same time. I spotted a really cute project on The Hairpin made from magazines. These holidaycoupage postcards make the perfect thank you notes are easy to whip up within the typical two hour movie timeframe. Curious as to how they were made? Visit the post here.

Picture bottle cap magnets - last minute gift idea.

If you're looking for a gift idea today, then you are WAY late. But don't worry, I'm not judging you. I've been in this predicament before myself. So I'm here to help. These personalized bottle cap magnets found at The Creative Salad are a great idea, and once you have the pictures it doesn't take long to put them together. If you don't have bottle caps, wood circles would work as well. Just hit these puppies with a bit of glitter and you are good to go! And who doesn't love pictures of their children/grandchildren as a gift? Find the complete tutorial here.

Holiday cards with MOO.

Sometimes I do posts about products I love. These are not sponsored posts but rather products I enjoy personally and want to share with you. There are a few brands I am loyal to, and one of those is MOO. I recently ordered a selection of their holiday cards and had to share because I am very impressed not only with the printing but the service level. And let me tell you this - a few weeks ago I helped a friend get Christmas cards at FedEx Office, and it was the most awful experience ever.  I went back three times because of changes and misprints, and I was so frustrated that I told my friend next year he was going to MOO or else!

This isn't the first time I've ordered from MOO. My business cards are from there:

Yep, I have personalized business cards with images of my projects. MOO carries the mini business cards which are my absolute favorite.

My favorite part about MOO is that the ordering process is simple. For instance on my holiday cards I picked a stack of their pre-printed designs (which can also be seen in the first image of this post). 

It was easy to customize the inside.

I was tickled when I could put my piggie on the back of the card with a message. You can add your own photos to any of the MOO products.

And in case you want to see that picture a little more closely.

I got the product quickly and it was done correctly. Sometimes that is hard to find. I hope you enjoy some MOO cards in 2012, because I know I will. Happy Holidays!

Joyful holiday mobile.

I spotted this festive branch mobile on Dottie Angel and I squealed because of its cuteness. It's definitely Christmas-y, but it's not the bright and bold colors that were used to, and that's what I like about it. This branch mobile is also to make - just attach fabric to the branch with Mod Podge and then tie on baubles of your choice. Joyful is definitely the right word for it. Learn more about the project here.

Glitter Christmas light magnets.

I just mentioned recently that I have a hard time with glitter because it's so messy - but I'm pleased to tell you that I've found one of those exception projects that would get me to bust out those shiny devil sprinkles. I really love these Christmas light magnets from Courtney at A Diamond in the Stuff. These would make such a cute last minute gift idea . . . for let's say, a hostess gift over the next few days. If you love them as much as I do, visit the tutorial here.

DIY hot cocoa mix jars.

Red alert! Last minute gift idea in the house. I don't know about you, but the time has gotten away from me even more than usual this year. So when I spotted these DIY hot cocoa jars at All*You, I knew I had found the perfect last minute gift idea. These are so simple that I can make them quickly, even the hot cocoa mix that goes in them. If you're interested in a last minute sweet gift as well, learn how these were made here.

Recycled gift box ornaments thanks to Starbucks.

It wasn't so very long ago that I bought two cake pops at Starbucks, and each of them came in a fancy box. The boxes were sturdy and had amazing sliding action, so at the time I thought that I should keep them. I just knew they would come in handy, and sure enough, I made some gift box ornaments out of them. These are perfect for those little tricks - you know, when the gifts are all opened but you still have something small to give. Tell them to pick up that ornament on the tree and look inside!

Of course, the gift would have to be small, but there is more room than you think. And I'm sure you noticed the washi tape. Now it's time to show you how they were made.

Fabric scrappy ornaments.

I know, I know - it's almost the big day. But I haven't stopped my DIY ornament obsession this year, and you can still make these for last minute gifts (if you are the ornament giving kind). I spotted these at Sew to Speak, and they are the perfect way to use up some of those fabric scraps that I know you have. The packages of clear ball ornaments aren't that expensive, so with a bit of Mod Podge in the mix you can have these for a few cents. Take a peek at the tutorial here.

Hot chocolate ornaments from paper tubes.

I just about died when I saw this hot chocolate cup ornament on Mega*Crafty. It's ridiculously cute! This lil' guy is also made out of recycled materials. You never would guess that this was a paper tube, would you? I can't do it enough justice by talking about it, so visit Meg here to get the full tutorial.

DIY washi tape Christmas tree.

I've had a wood tree laying around for several years, and I decided that it was finally time to use it. Right now all my Christmas supplies are in a cotton tote, so I had to dig through, but I finally found some Martha Stewart washi tape that I purchased last year. After some continued digging, I found other supplies that matched and decided to throw it all together and make this DIY washi tape Christmas tree. I'm absolutely loving the colors - and you can put this anywhere in your home. You can hang it on the wall or prop it up on the mantle. Keep reading to find out how I made it.

Glitter ombre ornaments.

I recently featured some no-mess glitter ornaments for those of us who are scared of glitter. But I know good and well that there is a contingent of you who absolutely LOVE real glitter and have a huge collection of it. With the ombre trend, I thought you might enjoy this gorgeous ornament spotted on Instructables. I love the colors chosen. They are so pretty that they might even get a glitter-fearer to try it. Visit the instructions here.

Mod Podge starter pack giveaway.

Want more Mod Podge?  Okay.  You don't have to jump through a flaming hoop.  Just leave a comment.


Here are some other things to know for today's giveaway:
1. Comment on THIS blog entry. Say anything you like!
2. Only one entry per person.
3. Contest will close this Wednesday, December 21st at midnight (EST).
4. PLEASE leave your e-mail address if it's not attached in Blogger - I need some way to reach you.

Full contest disclosure here.

Winner of last week's starter pack giveaway was Cheryl @ That's What Che Said.

Stocking stuffers for your gentleman.

There's an ugly truth that most men don't want to accept - exfoliation is important. Women love men with smooth skin that smell good (and that go drive to get them ice cream at 1am, but that's a different story). Alison from Oopsey Daisy has made her husband some spa-ish pampering stocking stuffers, and Mod Podged the fancy containers. She's right about most guys wanting to go to the spa if no one could see them. Give your man the same treatment at home for one of his gifts - see Alison's tutorial here.

No-mess DIY glitter ornaments.

For those who don't love glitter, I salute you. I don't love glitter either. I love what it does and how it looks, but I don't love having it in my underwear and up my nose for three years after I use it. If you're looking for a no-mess sparkly solution to the holidays, Jill from Homemade by Jill recently used glittered cardstock to make fun ornaments. I think they are perfect. They are also Mod Podged and kid-friendly, so that makes them even better. Learn more about her project here.

Pretty yarn wrapped angels and trees.

Pam from Gingerbread Snowflakes is the place to go if you are looking for some cool and unique holiday projects. She did a mini pinata advent calendar last year that tickled me, and she's done some yarn wrapped projects that I had to show you because I love them. The trees were done last year, and this year she's onto these beautiful angels:

Pam's Mod Podging just gets better by the years! Not only are these angels pretty, but I love the intricacy and detail of the yarn patterns. You definitely have to visit her tutorials, but this is a project you're going to want to take up this weekend. Visit the original post here, and more tutorials for the angels here and here. Pretty soon you'll have a house with an angel choir (and make Pam proud at the same time).

DIY glitter snowglobe.

I may have mentioned it before, but since it pleases me to talk about I will tell you again - I have a huge snowglobe collection. I love it. There is something amazing about those little magically worlds with fake snow in them, and it's even more fun collecting them from different locations that I visit. I've never made one, but I need to. Check out this one spotted at Camile Styles, and I think you'll really love that it's filled with glitter. I've got a few little characters to make one, so I'm going to get on the stick in the next few days. If you want to make one too, visit the post here.

Joyful Mod Podge holiday tray.

Hi, my name is Anna, and I blog at My Life and Kids. I'm thrilled to be visiting Mod Podge Rocks today!

I had three kids in three years and whew has my life changed! Just a few years ago I had a job I loved, a house in the city and a social life. Now I stay home with my three kids, I live in the suburbs, I wear mom jeans, AND I drive a minivan! In my spare time, I blog about it all at My Life and Kids. Today, I'm going to share one of my favorite holiday projects with you.

Joy{ful} Mod Podge Tray

Keep reading to see how I made it.

New Year's party hats and cake banner with Lifestyle Crafts.

I know it's not even Christmas yet, but there isn't much time between Christmas and New Year's for crafting - so I had to share a New Year's project with you now. I'm a huge fan of Lifestyle Crafts products and cutting dies. I did a review of their L Letterpress kit on Craft Critique in April, and I've been hooked on their goodies ever since. So what did I create? I used their new Countdown products to make a New Year's cake banner and little party hat votive toppers.

My banner ended up being kinda large - but it would be the perfect size for a larger cake, and I like it big. Who doesn't, right?

The little party hat votive toppers make perfect party table decor (those are battery tealights). I'm excited to share how I made this with you, and also tell you about contests that Lifestyle Crafts is having from now until the end of January. Yay!

Celebrating holiday cheer with Mod Podge.

Everyone celebrates the holidays differently, and you can guess that I celebrate mine with crafting - particularly with Mod Podge! I use Mod Podge all the time, but I use it a lot more during the holidays. I love Mod Podged Christmas decorations, and I wanted to share a few with you today that tickle my fancy. Any of these can be made for not only your home decor, but for giving as gifts and spreading the holiday cheer. Click on any of the links below the photos to visit the tutorials.

Easy Christmas Tree Canvas at Cleverly Inspired

Wood Block Christmas Ornaments at How Does She

Christmas Present Frame at Craftily Ever After

Paint Stick Ornaments with Free Printable at Today's Fabulous Finds

Jingle Banner with Free Printable(MP to CDs) at Love. Obsess. Inspire.

Now I'd love to know, how do you spread real cheer with your holiday decorating? Show me with your photos! Click "Add me" in the Cheer Tree below to upload your holiday decorating photos and share them with your Twitter followers and Facebook friends. Be sure to click on "Special Offers" to unwrap the hidden coupons and deals exclusively from Sears. Keep checking throughout the holidays--new deals are unlocked every day! For all your holiday decorating needs and solutions, don’t forget to visit Sears and discover real deals, real cheer!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sears. The opinions and text are all mine.

Babble.com crafty post goodness.

I know you come here for Mod Podge, but I love to share other projects with you too. I post at Babble.com's The New Home Ec on a regular basis, and with the holidays being in full swing, there's been a lot going on that I want to share. I hope your holidays are going well and that you are indulging in a lot of DIY activities! Here are some great posts to check out.

• 18 Chilly DIY Snowman Ideas (shown above)
• 10 Cool Chalkboard Projects
• 10 Budget Gift Ideas for the Holidays
• 10 DIY Projects Using Old Dresser Drawers
• 10 Christmas Projects I'd Like to Make
• 12 On-Trend Feather Craft Projects

PS - If you've been following along as I craft with Martha's Handmade Holiday Crafts book, you might enjoy these cookie cutter ornaments.

DIY Simply Screen screenprinting kit.

I've always been a HUGE fan of screenprinting. I've done it with Mod Podge - do you remember my screen printed t-shirt? Well recently Plaid, makers of Mod Podge, released a Simply Screen screenprinting kit and let me try it. The exciting part of this kit is that you can 1) make your own design, 2) get detail that you can't get with Mod Podge screenprinting and 3) use the screens over and over. This makes this product great for personalizing, parties, school crafts or even Etsy selling if you are so inclined. It's way easier than traditional screenprinting and doesn't involve the expensive supplies, plus it's non-toxic. I'm thrilled.

I wanted to get started, so I quickly jumped in to making my own screen. I used free clip art of a deer (aren't they called stags when they're dudes?) to test the product and see what I thought. My experiment resulted in a basket with silver glitter and a hand towel with metallic silver paint. I can tell you that I was really pleased with how the projects turned out and LOVE my new screen. Take a peek at the process I went through, as well as some tips and tricks if you end up getting one of these bad boys for yourself.

Mod Podge starter pack giveaway.

Want more Mod Podge?  Okay.  You don't have to jump through a flaming hoop.  Just leave a comment.


Here are some other things to know for today's giveaway:
1. Comment on THIS blog entry. Say anything you like!
2. Only one entry per person.
3. Contest will close this Wednesday, December 14th at midnight (EST).
4. PLEASE leave your e-mail address if it's not attached in Blogger - I need some way to reach you.

Full contest disclosure here.

Winner of last week's starter pack giveaway was Lauren (ltatsch38).

If you entered the Mod Podge slogan contest, the winning entry is being selected this week and will be announced in a blog post shortly thereafter.

A funky Mod Podged clock.

Sometimes you need a quick piece of of home decor without spending big bucks - and that includes things like clocks. You can decorate an office, kids' room or even a crafty room with a cheapy clock, just like Tosha from teateepee. The only other things you need besides the clock are magazine cutouts (or scrap paper) and Mod Podge. Does Tosha's clock remind you of Eric Carle? I'm a big fan. Read her blog post here.

Mod Podge Christmas tree canvas.

Sometimes it's just nice to whip out a quick project that looks really cute - and with the holidays on the way, this Christmas tree canvas from Anna of My Life and Kids is both those things. I have so many holiday scrapbook papers that I haven't used, so I could probably make about 50 of these. Oh, and did you notice the ric-rac? I love ric-rac. For you beginning Podgers, this would be a great project. Everyone take a peek at Anna's tutorial here.