Mod Podge Rocks!

Birth stats scoreboard wall decor.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 13:19:00 +0000

When I first spotted this scoreboard that Tam made for her son's sport themed room, I thought it was real. I realize that the real ones are enormous, but I thought it was a smaller, functioning version. Then I find out that she made it out of cardboard, with her son's birth stats - amazing! It looks perfect, and was just the right piece for the room. To see more pics and learn how Tam made it, visit her step-by-step.

Birth stats scoreboard at Sew Dang Cute

Big rich travel.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 03:26:00 +0000

Last night in Atlanta

Well, it's been an eventful trip so far! As most of you know, I'm moving across the country from Atlanta to Seattle (my hometown). I left Atlanta two days ago on the 22nd, and stayed in a hotel the night of the 21st so that it would be "easy" to get up and out (plus, I had moved out of my apartment). I didn't want to inconvenience friends and honestly, was too sad to say goodbye. The hotel seemed like the best choice. It was, except when I came outside in the morning to leave, someone had hit my car. And driven away.

Yep.

The damage isn't that bad, but there's damage. And the car has (had) 3,500 miles on it. I didn't freak out though. What could I do? I just continued onto Shreveport, LA - my first stop for the night.

I decided that before I reached the hotel I would fill up my gas tank and clean the windshield so that I didn't have to worry about it in the morning. I stopped at a gas station and started filling up next to a guy in a Jetta. I used the pump handle holder-thingy so that the gas was filling the tank by itself and proceeded to clean the window. The Jetta guy was using the squeegee in the bucket closest to our cars, so I had to walk across the gas station lot to get another one. During that time, I heard a scream. I looked over and gas was SPRAYING out of my car.

The auto thingy didn't work, so the gas kept pumping even when the tank was full. Jetta guy was kind and pulled the pump out, but gas continued to spray onto the ground. I had to clean it all up, and was reminded of this scene from the movie Zoolander:

Luckily there were no matches involved. I continued to the hotel, and night #2 was uneventful. Onward to Texas!

It took three hours to drive into Dallas yesterday morning, and the reason for driving into Dallas was to pick up my mom who had flown in from Seattle. I found out today that the reason she flew into Dallas rather than Atlanta was to make sure that I was *really* going to move to Seattle. I was always committed, but I guess she had to make sure?

Big Rich Dallas

Did you guys know that Dallas is under major construction? Oh dear. I wasn't used to driving in all of it. I think it was frustrating to everyone else as well, because there was a lot of tension on the road. I found myself referring to the show "Big Rich Texas," but applying it to other people in traffic. For instance, "move over, Big Rich Texas" and "slow your roll, Big Rich Texas." It morphed into calling things "Big Rich." Like "Big Rich pugs" and "Big Rich mom." Then I found myself being truly annoying to everyone in the car including myself, so I stopped. Big rich annoying.

I made it through Dallas in one piece, despite the construction. My mom and I headed to Amarillo. Which brings me to another adventure.

My mom can drive a manual transmission, but my car is a little bit different. I have a Subaru WRX STI with a factory installed short shift, and it's a six-speed. If your eyes are rolling back into your head, to sum it up I like fast, turbocharged cars and my shifter isn't the easiest to use. Which means that it's not hard to stall it if you aren't used to it.

Which she did several times.

My mom kept shifting from 2nd to 5th, which was driving me crazy - because it's my new car (my new, hit car) and it's also really bad for the clutch and motor. So what happens? The "check engine" light goes on and about four other lights start flashing. From the lights on the instrument panel you would have thought the car was going to explode. I started FREAKING out. My car is new, and I just got hit . . . and now this??? I asked her to pull over and called the Subaru dealership in Amarillo (which was two hours away at this point in our journey). Luckily someone answered the phone - he told us to continue on to Amarillo. We were kinda scared, but we had to keep driving, and I just figured if my car got more broken that it was under factory warranty. All we needed to do was make it to Amarillo!

Did I mention that Amarillo is WINDY?! I have never, ever experienced wind like that. It had been hot during the day (82 degrees) and it got very cold at night. The wind made me want to cry and I was wearing flip flops. I wanted to cry just getting my suitcase out of the car. Whew!

This morning we got up at 6:30 to visit the Subaru dealership we had spoken with and have a computer read the car - it turns out one of the cylinders misfired due to my mom's previously discussed shifting habits. I wasn't mad . . . I was just happy we were in one piece and the car wasn't going to explode.

Though I keep reminding her of it, heh heh. I wouldn't be a good daughter if I didn't!

Rocky Mountain High

We left Amarillo and arrived in Moab, UT, this evening. It was nice to see mountains again, and I love the southwest because of the crazy terrain. The United States is truly amazing, and by car is such a unique way to see it.

I have mixed feelings about everything, but ultimately I think it will all turn out okay. We're stopping in Boise tomorrow. Sunday? Seattle!

Decorate a chest with decoupage.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

An image of a traditional dresser decoupaged onto a modern dresser . . . if someone asked me to picture it, I don't know if I could. After seeing it, I'm completely sold! I LOVE this idea from the creative talent at Martha Stewart. If you have a dresser in need of a revamp, I encourage you to use this idea as your solution. It takes some time to get the graphics made, but the results are well worth it. Take a peek at the tutorial on Martha's site, and while you are making a dresser, don't forget to make some magazine files as well.

Decoupage chest and magazine file at Martha Stewart

Manilla - organize everything in one place.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:57:00 +0000

With the "big move" happening as we speak, I've thought a lot about how I'm a horrible organizer. When I moved into Mod Podge Command Central, my good friend Rachel had to help me organize my linen closet because I didn't know how. I guess some people have the gift - and I just don't.

So I'm excited to share Manilla with you.

Manilla is a free online tool that can help you better manage all of your household accounts, including financial, utilities, subscriptions and travel rewards programs in one secure place online. Under a single password, Manilla provides you with an automated, organized view of all of your account information, text and/or email reminders to pay bills as well as unlimited storage of account documents.

Let's just say this is a dream come true for me. I have probably 30 different accounts between travel honors programs, credit cards, magazines and everything else. And I have a memory like a sieve, so remembering a gajillion passwords for online management at each website doesn't work for me. I LOVE Manilla - yes, I have an account - and if you are like me, you'll love it too. Signup at Manilla.com for free!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Manilla.

DIY ombre trash bin.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:38:00 +0000

Hi there! I’m Shannon from Madigan Made and I’m so excited that Amy invited me to share this project with you today.

But I guess every crafter generates a certain amount of trash as they create. It is unavoidable. What helps me corral my trail of scraps is to have a little garbage can next to me on my craft table. I recently made a new one and wanted to share it. I did not want to go out and buy something new just to knock around in my craft space.

And, being a creative gal, of course I wanted that container to be cute, too!

You can make this waste can (or any storage canister) with pretty paper. I chose to use gradient shades of color to match my color blocked craft storage area in my basement. But I think any coordinating prints or colors could be clever, too.

Want to know how to make one of these (practically free) little garbage cans?
Well, first you gotta eat a tub of pretzels. (usually not a problem in our house!) Or, if you don’t have a plastic tub, you could use the approach below to jazz up a plain trash can from the home goods store. Just grab some fun paper and start decoupaging!

Supplies Needed

Colorful scrapbook paper
Mod Podge (satin)
1 large, clear plastic container (like a pretzel tub)
Sponge brush
Paper cutter or scissors
Razor blade

How to make a striped and decoupaged trash can

Step 1: Prep the container
Remove any labels off of your container. Using the blade, very carefully trim the top of the plastic container off to make an open can shape.

Step 2: Plan your design
Figure out where your strips of paper will be placed on the can. I chose to fill the center area of my container between two horizontal lines/bumps that were already there. The bumps served as a natural guide for me to work within.

Step 3: Cut up your paper
Using your paper cutter, trim up a bunch of strips of paper to fit in the specified area. All of mine were the same length, but the widths differed a little for some variety. (I like to live dangerously! :D )

Step 4: Decoupage each strip down
Grab your first length of paper. Brush a thin stripe of Mod Podge in the area you want the paper to cover. Place the strip over it and be sure to press and smooth out any bubbles. Select the next piece of paper and brush more glue next to the first strip. Slide the next strip of paper just under the edge of the one before it and press it down.
Continue repeating this process as you work around the can. During that time, keep an eye on the prior stripes that are drying and smooth out any bubbles you see pop up. After you work around the circumference of the can with the stripes, do your best to have the last strip meet up and overlap with the very first one.

Step 5: Add another layer for protection
Use more Mod Podge and brush on at least 1-2 layers of the glue over the area to seal and protect the paper. After those layers dry, you can start throwing out the trash! ;)

I love that I made this garbage can with stuff I already had around the house! It is the perfect size to sit next to me as I ~~make a mess~~ create stuff. It matches my paint-chip inspired ombre craft storage area and I store it here when I’m not crafting:

This tutorial could be used to make a personal garbage can or canister to match any room in your house.
And can I tell you my favorite part about this project? The circular rainbow of stripes that you see on the inside of the container! So pretty!

As much as I need a place for my trash, I gotta tell you something: this garbage can is so cute I almost don’t want to put junk into it. But I don’t think I have a choice…I need it! Remember, I’m not a tidy crafter? :)

Reader's Digest and Mod Podge crafts.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:47:00 +0000

Cathe from Just Something I Made has a pretty awesome Reader's Digest condensed book collection, which she's acquired for quite awhile from thrift stores and yard sales. Depending on the quality she uses the book pages for her crafts - and her secret ingredient is Mod Podge. Cathe reinforces the pages with Mod Podge before she crafts with them, which is a little known secret. Yes, Mod Podge makes paper harder to tear. Cathe has done so many amazing crafts with book pages, including this butterfly shadowbox (that butterfly was printed on the book pages first!). Visit Cathe ASAP to see what else she has done with Mod Podge and book pages. It's pretty cool.

Reader's Digest condensed book crafts at Just Something I Made

20 FREE St. Patrick's Day printables.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:00:00 +0000

What do you think about St. Patrick's Day? Do you wear green? I always forget! An inevitably end up getting pinched. This year I will absolutely not forget. And since I love green, it shouldn't be a problem. I'm also realizing that St. Patrick's Day is a great time for baked goods . . . and why have I ignored that all this time? Anyhoo, I've rounded up 20 free printables for you by some very talented folks, starting with these cupcake toppers by How Does She. I love the sparkle of the gold! To enjoy more, keep reading.

Goodie bag labels at One Charming Party

A little Irish at The Hands-On Housewife

Printable "Lucky" banner at HGTV

Straw flags (and several other party goodies!) at Somewhat Simple

St. Patty's printables collection at Blooming Homestead

DIY pillow box at Good Gravy

LUCK printable at The Answer is Chocolate

St. Patty's Day cupcake wrappers at Penny Candy Studios

Lucky to have you printable at A Little Tipsy

Pot o' gold bag toppers at It Is What It Is

St. Patrick's Day cupcake toppers at Living Locurto

St. Patrick's Day party decor printable at Anna and Blue Paperie

St. Patrick's Day subway art (lots of colors) at Today's Fabulous Finds

Treat bag printables at Prudent Baby

St. Patrick's notecards at 74 Lime Lane

Lucky printable at Funka Polkadot Giraffe

Lucky brew printable (great for root beer too!) at Benign Objects

St. Patrick's gift cards at Hello Gravy

Lucky art prints at The Tomkat Studio

Decoupage map chair.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:53:00 +0000

Okay, I'm going to be the first to admit that it doesn't say that this cool map chair was made with Mod Podge - in fact, it was a thrift store find. The point is that you COULD make it with Mod Podge, and you could do it very easily. I love decoupage with maps, and I want either a dresser or chair with them Mod Podged on top in my next place. Yay!

3 good reasons at roddy and ginger

Introducing Shannon from Madigan Made.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:48:00 +0000

I'm so tickled to have Shannon from Madigan Made as a new guest poster here on Mod Podge Rocks. She's amazing. And don't worry, the Man Podgers haven't gone away. I love them still - we are one big happy family. "Madigan Podger" doesn't sound good, so we'll just call her Shannon. Though what about "Modigan Podge?" Never mind.

Shannon is such a great Mod Podger that it's a huge honor to have her posting here. Let me show you some examples of her wonderful work:

Magnetic memo board from a stove cover

Dimensional Magic business card holder

Easy outdoor placemats

You see? Isn't she delightful? I hope you are looking forward to Shannon's first post on Thursday, and in the meantime, please follow Madigan Made on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter. The girl has got great taste!

Vintage wood table numbers.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:27:00 +0000

If you have a wedding or party coming up soon with a rustic theme, you are going to love these vintage wood table numbers. They were created using the inkjet transfer process that you may have seen before. In fact, these might be cool in another DIY project, not just for a wedding or party. What would you do with them? To learn the technique, visit the tutorial.

Vintage wood table numbers at Green Wedding Shoes

Cute no-sew cloth gift tags.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Are you a no-sew kind of a person? I can sew, but sometimes I just want to make it easy on myself, since I have to get the sewing machine out from a closet. I completely appreciate these no-sew chalkboard gift tags made with chalk cloth (which I had never heard of), felt and Mod Podge. While these were used at Christmas, they could also be made with any colors for any time of year. And the best part? Just wipe them clean and use them again.

Chalk cloth gift tags at My Very Educated Mother (she also has a cute sewn version if you DO want to bust out the sewing machine!)

Craftsy daily deals.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:30:00 +0000

If you haven't signed up for Craftsy yet, you should! Craftsy is the fastest growing online community for crafters - with over 500,000 monthly unique visitors, having just launched in May 2011.

It's easy to sign up for Craftsy and you will love:
1) Over 20,000 projects in their crafting library.
2) Astonishingly good deals on crafting supplies: organic yarn, lovely fabrics and fat quarters from top designers, high quality needles and more.
3) Right now Craftsy has some great classes in furniture remodeling, jewelry, home decor, sewing, knitting and paper crafting. I highly recommend checking them out!

Full post disclosure here.

Vintage print side tables.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Looking to add a vintage touch to your decor? These faux woodgrain floral side tables are just what you need. They are actually stools, but I am one of those people that likes little stools as side tables next to the bed (I have a green one now). Whether you use them for a side table or a stool, the vintage graphics add a bit of pretty to your home decor. Visit dottie angel for the tutorial.

on the 8th day of joyfulness at dottie angel

Moving update.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 04:58:00 +0000

Yep, this is me - in 2001. Outside of the last apartment I occupied in Seattle. My friend Cody and I were doing a fun photo shoot with thrift store buys that day, hence the crazy clothes. I lived above a wine shop, I had survived an earthquake and phone numbers didn't require area codes (as you can see from the "For Rent" sign). That was 11 years ago.

Now I'm moving back.

This move has been a long time coming. I moved to Georgia because of my parents. My dad was a long time employee of UPS in senior management, and as a result we were transferred to Connecticut and Kentucky during my childhood. Transferring was really hard on me, so when I had the chance to go back to Seattle and attend college in 1997, I did. My parents moved from Kentucky to Georgia in 1999, and they wanted me to leave Seattle to join them - but I wasn't ready then. So in September 2011 (right after the WTC disaster) I made the move, and proceeded to go through the greatest depression I'd ever experience. It took a doctor from a small clinic to diagnose it, and then medication and counseling to be okay. But I have to be honest with you, I've never fit 100% here.

I'm one of those people that, yes, it does matter where I live. I think of places to live like boyfriends. Sometimes a guy can be really nice, but just not a good fit. Not every man is good for every woman. There's nothing "wrong" with Atlanta; it's just not for me. And I also understand that there are some people who don't see it that way - some people are okay anywhere. I envy those people to a certain extent, because it can be a real pain in the bum to have to be in a certain place. It does make sense for me, though. As a child, I cried on extended trips from home, even slumber parties. I always wanted to go home (though it also could have been the fact that my best friend had floor-to-ceiling New Kids On The Block posters and it freaked me out).

I have to confess: now that I've been here for a little over ten years, I have mixed emotions about leaving. Do I want to leave? Yes. I want to go home. But I have also made friends and built relationships, and it's much harder to move in my thirties than it was in my twenties. I look at my life - I'm 35 - unmarried - apartment dweller . . . and I wonder when I'm going to have it all together? And I get a little bit scared, because I do want a child, and I feel like I'm running out of time. Can I really be 35 and still not know what the next five years are going to be like? AT ALL?

Did I mention that I'm giving most of my stuff away? I have been amazed at the amount of CRAP that can fit into a one bedroom apartment. Where has all of this stuff been hiding in Mod Podge Command Central? I've decided it's time to pare down, and it was kind of forced on me anyway when the ReloCube arrived today and got plunked into its parking spot. Let's just say this cube is supposed to hold the goodies of a one-bedroom apartment, but it's not big. I am also officially the worst packer/mover in the entire world, because I'm slow and not a good judge of space. I kind of hate it. I guess no one really likes moving - though the bright side is that I am getting rid of SO much stuff that I don't need and haven't seen in years. It's freeing, really. Stuff truly weighs me down and stresses me out. Making my life fit into a cube is quite satisfying. My life fits into a parking spot.

Emotionally I'm holding up well . . . and physically, I feel like I need to exercise. My move is bloating me (gross!). Can a move make you retain water? But this is the difference between moving when you are 24 and when you are 35. I'm not saying I'm old, but when I was 24 I just threw all my crap (of which there was even less) into a box and didn't think about it. I remember that when I moved here, I sent some of my boxes by train and they got lost for awhile. I thought, "oh well!" It just wasn't that big of deal.

I leave next Wednesday, February 22nd, first thing in the morning. I'm driving to just outside of Dallas, and picking my mom up at the Dallas airport the next day to join me for the rest of the trip. From Dallas we'll be heading west on I-20 and then I-10 . . . we might need to keep south depending on the weather. Plus, I've been to the southwest but never driven that route, so I think it's time. The dogs are going to be in the car, so this should be an interesting trip.

I'm thinking about all of you who are also going through things . . . especially those who commented on my last entry about the changes they are experiencing. It feels good that at least we're not alone. We're all going through something together, right? Send up a prayer for me over the next few days as I struggle to get my cube packed, my stuff given away and my butt on the road. And let me know if you need a prayer too - I will be glad to reciprocate. I'll give you another update soon!

Simple and pretty Mod Podged $1 frame.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:31:00 +0000

Hello, beginning Mod Podgers! Melissa from 100 Billion Stars recently decorated an $1 wood frame with fabric and Mod Podge, and you won't believe how easy it is. I love her addition of decorative trim around the opening of the frame . . . it's a nice touch. I think most of you know how much I love blue as well, so this whole setup is really my favorite. If you are just starting with Mod Podge and need a great project idea with a tutorial, visit Melissa and she'll show you how to make this frame.

Quick and easy project from 100 Billion Stars

DIY Miu Miu inspired booties.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:54:00 +0000

I've shown you a wild shoe revamp before, and I've got another one. This time the bling is maximized with the addition of chunky silver glitter. The final result looks nearly identical to the designer shoes - and for a fraction of the price. If you need to make these for your next night out, visit Maggie to learn how.

DIY Miu Miu sparkly booties at Mag's Rags to Riches

8 tips for how to use acrylic craft paint.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:15:00 +0000

I am a long time user of craft paint. I pretty much paint every Mod Podge project before the Podge goes on, and I use it on projects that I don't Mod Podge as well. If I can get away with using acrylic, even on a furniture re-do, I will. Why? Because it's easy to use and it's non-toxic. It's inexpensive and clean up is simple.

I've been thinking about my most important tips for decorating a project with craft paint, and I thought I would share them. Hopefully these can help you, especially if you are making home decor projects that need to look fabulous. These are my top tips for using acrylic craft paint.

1. Choose the right type of paint and the right color. Make sure you read the bottle carefully while you are in the store as opposed to just throwing it in the basket. I know the acrylic paint aisle at the craft store has a ton of selection, but you need to look carefully because it's better than getting the wrong thing and making multiple trips. You should also look at the bottom of a bottle of paint to tell what the color is, rather than the label. While you are looking at the color through plastic, it's more accurate than the label color because it's the actual paint.

2. Prepare your surface thoroughly. I've found that good surface preparation can make a project. Not preparing a surface can break a project. Here is how you do it:

Wood – Sand smooth with fine grit sandpaper, wipe off sawdust.
Glass - Thoroughly wash in warm, soapy water to remove dirt, dust and grease film. Then rinse in warm water and let it dry.
Canvas – Wipe primed canvas clean; if unprimed, apply 2 coats of gesso primer or acrylic paint.
Plaster – Wipe clean with damp cloth.
Plastic – Clean with soap and water. You will need a special plastic paint though - "regular" acrylic paint doesn't stick to plastic.
Papier-Mâché – Wipe clean with damp cloth.
Terra Cotta – Wipe clean with damp cloth.
Tin – Wash with soap and water, then wipe with a white vinegar dampened cloth if it’s really dirty.

3. Use good quality brushes and take care of them. It's important to me to use soft natural bristle or taklon brushes. A cruddy brush will show brushstrokes or leave brush hairs in your project. I have wanted to throw a project across the room because I couldn't get a brush hair out of it - they are very elusive! Also, wash your brushes between projects and leave them to dry on a paper towel (use your fingers to shape them while they are wet). Well cared for brushes are worth the investment because they will last a long time. The same goes for rollers or sprayers. Don't scrimp and clean them up throughly afterwards.

4. Don't put too much paint on your brush. Paint should stay from the tip to the middle of the brush. It's better to go back and get more paint than to have a ton on the brush. Too much paint can make the brush go wacky and make the paint harder to apply (especially important for detail work). If you need to cover a bigger surface, get a larger brush or use a roller.

5. Consider priming, and definitely basecoat dark items with white. If you don't, you will spend a lot longer covering an item, and you may not get the adherence of paint or the brightness of color that you are looking for. I recommend using gesso or a highly pigmented white (like FolkArt Titanium White). Kilz is also great if you need a large amount of primer or a product that acts oil-based.

6. Keep water nearby so that you can add it to your brush frequently. Acrylic paint, when put on a palette, tends to dry out somewhat quickly. It's not THAT quickly, but it's enough that the paint could start drying while you are painting an item. Don't thin out the paint too much because you'll dull the color, but it's okay to dip your brush into the water and swirl it around into the paint to get it going again.

7. Use a sealer to finish. Acrylic paint has a somewhat chalky feel (well, depending on the finish) without a sealer applied. Some acrylic paints are Satin or Gloss and have a built-sealer, so then you won't have to add anything on top. If there is no built-in finish, I would use a clear acrylic spray or brush on sealer so that the surface doesn't scratch easily.

8. Make paint chips. Use cardstock to create "chips," or small squares that show the colors you have in your stash. That way you know what you have for the next project. Plus, you can take the chips to the store for home decor matching . . . rather than hoofing a table to the fabric store to get those curtains!

Plaid has a great painting education center with more tips and videos. Enjoy - and if there are more questions you have that I can answer, leave them in the comments. I'll do my best to help you.

Personalized matching game craft.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:03:00 +0000

Is there an upcoming birthday in your life, possibly for a child? This personalized matching game from Linda makes the perfect gift, because what child doesn't want to play a game that includes pics of family member's faces? You could even include the dog, cat or guinea pig. This game is not only a great gift, but it uses up the paper stash on the back of the game tiles. Visit the blog post to see the tutorial and the cute little bag that holds the final project.

Personalized matching game at burlap + blue

Put a bird on a canvas - the Crafterminds trends challenge.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:34:00 +0000

When you first see this picture your thought is probably that I am nuts. Well, yes, that's true, but I made this "bird on a trend canvas" for a reason. I am a more-than-willing participant in the Crafterminds Trends Challenge! The goal? Get as many crafty trends on one project as possible. AND put a smile on your face during the process. I had a great time making this, and I can't wait to hang it in my future craft room (AFTER the move). Keep reading to see what trends I incorporated.

Trends: chevron, "Keep Calm" reference, bunting, baker's twine, "Put a Bird on It," book pages, antlers, ruffles and mustaches. That's a grand total of nine on one project! Oh dear.

If for whatever reason you want a tutorial for this project, I'm providing one. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Gather These Supplies

11" x 14" canvas
Mod Podge Gloss
Apple Barrel Gloss - White and Cool Blue
Paper Mache bird (from Michaels $1 bin)
Craft foam - black and brown
Scrapbook paper, one sheet of Linen
Glitter adhesive letters
Baker's twine
Ruffle ribbon
Book pages
Painter's tape
Ruler
Pencil
Paintbrush
Scissors
Craft glue

"Tweet tweet! I don't want a mustache or antlers! Someone help me!"

Cover your poor little birdie with cut book page squares, using Mod Podge.

I prepared the canvas with white and let it dry. Then I made a chevron pattern with painter's tape. If you can believe it, I mostly eyeballed this. My only measurements were three lines down the canvas at an equal distance (approximately 2.75" apart). Then I just winged it.

Paint the canvas with Cool Blue, and give it several coats. Remove the painter's tape after the last coat and let the paint dry - then touch up as needed.

While the canvas is in process, draw antlers on craft foam and then cut out. Do the same with your mustache on black foam.

Proceed to humiliate your bird by adding a ruffle collar, the antlers and then the mustache with craft glue.

Cut out five bunting flags from the scrapbook paper (use the ruler to measure). Plan your spacing on the canvas.

Add the message to the bunting flags with glitter letters.

Mod Podge the bunting flags down onto the canvas. Cover the whole canvas and let dry.

Use craft glue to apply the baker's twine to the bunting. I used a paintbrush since my glue wasn't coming out of the bottle top.

Let it dry and you are one lucky crafter - look at your new art piece!

My apologies to the little bird . . . but isn't he funny?

Visit Crafterminds to see the rest of the trend challenge participants!

Spool candle holders.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I think I've discovered the cutest tea light holders I've ever seen. In the whole world. They are made from spools and recycled candle holders, and I can imagine an entire row of these on my windowsill . . . if not for all year round, definitely during the holidays. I also picture cute little hostess gifts, don't you? If you are lit-candlephobic, just pop in an LED tea light. Either way, take a peek at the tutorial for some budget friendly crafting fun.

Spool candle holder at Recycled Lovlies

Make a sewing kit valentine card.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Happy Valentine's Day! My pal Haley from the Zen of Making made a lovely sewing kit valentine card, which I like because this is a sweet sentiment for a friend as opposed to a "lovah." And sometimes it's difficult to find goodies for this time of year that are not for your husband or boyfriend . . . and so many of us have crafty friends that this fits the bill (all hail button lovers!). Visit Haley's post for the complete tutorial.

Sewing kit valentine card at CRAFT

My Colortopia - My Image Inspiration.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:27:00 +0000

If you didn't see my post before about My Colortopia, I'm back to talk about it again. I've been using it for some projects and wanted to share my results! My Colortopia is a new community by Glidden that helps you select colors with confidence. If you are overwhelmed by interior design decisions, head there immediately to get guidance, advice and inspiration. My Colortopia helps you select your paint colors and tools as well as get your painting questions answered.The fancy color tool called "My Image Inspiration" is what helps you select the paint colors. This is especially great if you have a paint color in mind, but you have no idea what to pair with it.

The reason I've been using this tool is that you can use your OWN image to select your paint colors.

I uploaded an image of a chair project I did - I particularly like the blue that was in this project, and I want some ideas of color combinations for other projects.

You'll click on one of the colors in the middle, and it will give you a palette on the right. I'm liking the three blue-ish grays down at the bottom of the color palettes that were given to me. I absolutely love this tool! It gives me ideas and color suggestions when I have absolutely no idea what goes together. And as a crafter, I sometimes draw a blank . . . or I have paint colors that I have no idea what to do with. You could even take a picture of a paint chip and put it into My Image Inspiration - and get some great suggestions for what to pair it with!

I hope this helps you the next time you get stuck, have a project you want to spruce up or are looking for home decor inspiration.

Disclosure: I have been sponsored by Glidden brand paint to write this post but the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

How to make paper pencils.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Just when I think there are no more good ideas on the internet, I find projects like this. I'm kidding, there are lots of great ideas. And this one from Scissors.Paper.Wok is a GREAT idea. Yes, you can use origami paper, Mod Podge and lead to create these pretty paper pencils. There's a fancy video to teach you how to make them, so head over to SPW to see it.

How to make paper pencils at Scissors.Paper.Wok

DIY fabric covered mini clutch purse.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:18:00 +0000

Hi there! It’s Ellen here, from Ellen Medlock Studio, and I’m so glad to be writing a guest post for Amy!
Today we will show you how to make a fabric covered clutch purse using Mod Podge (love it!) and my DIY Minaudiere Set. Minaudiere is French for "little case." The best part of this project is that the actual crafting time is quick and easy, but produces a professional looking clutch!

To get started, choose your set - The Classic Minaudiere or The Heart Minaudiere. Today we will be working with the Heart set.

The sets include the front and back shells, a cutting pattern, instructions, and the metal clutch frame.

You will also need the following:
Mod Podge
Flat craft brush or foam brush
Fabric for the front and back (Two 8”x 7” pieces, ironed)
Scissors
Beacon 527 Glue
Wax paper
White primer spray paint (optional)
Clear Acrylic Spray

Step 1. Cut your fabric per pattern into a heart shape. You can use the same fabric on the front and back or switch it up with a coordinating fabric on either side. I am using 2 coordinating fabrics from my first line of fabric, Enchanted Damask.

Step 2. The Minaudiere shells in my kit are made from a sturdy black molded plastic. We suggest using the optional white primer spray paint (I prefer Kilz Spray Primer) to spray the shells white due to the fact that quilting weight cotton fabrics tend to appear bright and crisp on top of the white background.

Be sure to account for drying time if you plan to spray your shells white. I let mine dry for around an hour – drying time varies per brand.

Step 3. Set out a sheet of wax paper for your work surface. Apply a thin coat of Mod Podge to one shell. Try to keep this first layer as thin and smooth as possible while leaving no bare spots on the shell – we want to avoid Mod Podge seeping through the fabric, but also avoid any loose spots.

Step 4. Gently lay the fabric over the coated shell. Starting in the center and working towards the edges, smooth and press the fabric onto the shell. Take care to smooth out any air pockets that form.

When you get to the edges there will be a few creases and small folds in the fabric. This is normal and can’t be completely avoided, however, you can minimize the appearance of these creases in your finished bag by manipulating the fabric so that the creases start as close to the edge as possible. By the time your bag is in its frame the creases will be mostly hidden.

Repeat Step 4 on with the second shell. Allow both shells 10-15 minutes to “set” so the fabric doesn’t move around in Step 5.

Step 5. Carefully trim the edges of the fabric covered shells using your scissors. Take care when cutting the “creased” portions that you don’t overcut. These creased areas and small folds might need a small touch up with the Mod Podge so that they are totally stuck down.

Notice that one of the shells has a small indent near the top. Trim carefully around the indent. Go ahead and touch up any spots that need to be secured around the edges with the Mod Podge.

Step 6. Apply a second coat of Mod Podge to the fabric covered shells. This coat can be a little thicker than the first coat. Allow to dry completely.

Step 7. Once totally dry, spray the finished shells with the clear acrylic spray and again dry completely according to spray acrylic’s directions.

Step 8. Almost finished! Locate the shell with the indent. This shell will fit over the locking mechanism – the indent allows room for the bag to open and close properly.

It is a good idea to take the time to do a pre-fit of the shells into the frame and get comfortable with popping the shells in and out, before you add the glue. The shells will fit snugly.

After a pre-fit, place a line of Beacon 527 glue inside the channel of the metal frame. Do not put glue into any area where it might seep thru, such as the hinged areas. Also, do not put any glue near the locking mechanism.

Step 9. Working quickly, add the shells into the frame – double checking again that the indented shell goes into the side with the locking mechanism. Once the shells are in the frame, weigh the whole clutch down with a book or other object to ensure that the shells are fully immersed in the glue filled channel. Allow to dry overnight if possible.

Add an optional purse chain (also available at EllenMedlockStudio.com) and get ready for compliments on your darling new Minaudiere!

Thank you so much for sharing, Ellen! Your minaudieres are absolutely gorgeous and would make such an awesome gift. It would be awesome to have one to match every outfit.

Happy Valentine's Day (tomorrow!)

Denim corner heart bookmark.

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Anderson) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

With Valentine's Day on the horizon, heart projects are not only desired but required. This is a super cute idea that is good for any time of year, and for anyone in your life that you love. I think you could make about 432 heart bookmarks from one pair of jeans, so I suggest you get cracking now. You only have a few days left to make your gift. Visit the step-by-step tutorial to see just how easy it is.

Old denim corner heart bookmark at The Cheese Thief