Ten Creative Things You Can Do With Mod Podge

We have put together five 1000 piece puzzles this winter. We've been using the Mod Podge Puzzle Saver so that we can frame them for our basement. It made me think about all the things you can do with this craft supply.

Mod Podge is one of those things that every crafter should have on hand.  It's a glue, it's a sealant, and it's a finish.  What more could you ask for in one product?

You can buy Mod Podge in several finishes and varieties, making it great for a wide range of projects.  Here are ten things you can do with it:

1. Make a plaque or sign - Whether you want to create an award for someone or make a welcome sign for your front yard, Mod Podge can help.  It's ideal for decoupaging, and you can use outdoor Mod Podge to create a water-resistant finish on anything you would like to use outside.

 

photo credit: balanced.crafts

2. Embellish your denim jacket - Mod Podge is probably the last thing that comes to mind when it comes to customizing clothes, but Fabric Mod Podge was designed for such applications.  It might be a little stiff for a thin t-shirt, but it's great things like denim and canvas sneakers.  It's also good for adding your own touch to pillows, blankets, fabric lampshades, and other household items.

3. Jazz up your wood furniture - Decoupaging with Mod Podge can help you add a decorative touch to bookshelves, chairs, tables, and more.  The Classic variety is sufficient for many projects, but if you need a durable finish, Hardcoat Mod Podge works better.

4. Enhance your light switch covers - Decorative switch plates are quite popular among decorators, but you don't have to spend a fortune on them.  You can easily make your own.  Covering them with fabric or paper and coating with Mod Podge will make them more fashionable.

5. Make jewelry - Mod Podge is ideal for adding accents to handmade jewelry.  You can use it to glue on patterned paper or fabric, then coat to seal and finish it.

6. Create a faux oil painting - If you have a poster, photograph, or canvas project that you want to look like an oil painting, Mod Podge can make it happen.  This is a great way to use up Mod Podge that you've let set out too long, because its thicker texture is just right.  Or you can buy some Brushstroke Mod Podge, which was created for that purpose.  Simply brush it on as though you were painting the picture yourself, and your project will end up looking like an oil painting.

7. Use it for scrapbooking - You can create your own scrapbook embellishments using Mod Podge.  There's also a Mod Podge designed for use with paper crafts that you can use to seal your photos or add a nice finish to your pages.

8. Make custom mousepads - You don't have to pay someone else to put your photo or artwork on a mousepad.  It's a cinch to do it yourself!  Just buy a plain mousepad and use Mod Podge to glue your picture to it.  Add embellishments for a special touch, then coat it to finish.

9. Create lovely picture frames - Decoupaged picture frames make beautiful home décor and treasured gifts.  All you have to do is add some pretty fabric, customize with lettering or embellishments, and coat with Mod Podge.

10. Jewelry box - You can easily transform an ordinary shoebox into a unique jewelry box.  Just glue some scrapbooking paper to the outside of the box and lid with Mod Podge, coat to finish, and add some coordinating ribbon.

photo credit: trenttsd

Learn how The Simple Dollar made these photo cubes.

What craft ideas do you have?

Crafting With Kids Can Be Messy

Crafting together is a great way to bond with our kids.  It gets them thinking creatively, and it provides for real quality time together.  The biggest drawback is that it can get very, very messy!

 

photo credit: clarissa goodncrazy

Certain crafts are just messy by nature, and when you add small hands to the mix, they become even messier.  But you don't have to choose between letting your kids be creative and keeping your sanity.  With a little preparation, you can prevent most messes before they happen.  And for those you couldn't avoid, you can often clean them up before they do any permanent damage if you act quickly.  Here's how:



 * It's best to have a craft table to use for projects, but that's not always practical.  If you're working at the kitchen table, remove the tablecloth and cover it thoroughly with newspaper.  If your child is using watercolors or other thin mediums that could soak through, use a double layer.

* Avoid carpeted areas at all costs.  Some carpets release stains easily, but others hold on to them for dear life.  Replacing carpet isn't cheap, so it's better to be safe than sorry.  If you have nowhere to craft that isn't carpeted, put newspapers or old rugs on the floor around the crafting area, including underneath the table and chairs.

* Make sure everyone wears a smock or apron, or at least some old clothing.  Crafting in frilly dresses and suits is a disaster waiting to happen!




* Get washable markers, paints and crayons for your kids to use.  They wash right out of fabrics and are easy to wipe off of surfaces.

* Forget about loose glitter.  Buy glitter glue instead.  It's easier to use, and you won't be cleaning tiny bits of glitter out of the carpet for weeks to come. (Yes, loose glitter will make its way there even if you're crafting far away from carpeted areas.)

photo credit: cuttlefish 

* Give kids a wet washcloth to clean their hands on as needed.  This will make it much easier to get their hands nice and clean when they're done.

* Keep cleaning supplies close at hand.  Having paper towels, surface cleaners, and clothing stain removers nearby will make it less likely that any messes that do occur will leave their mark permanently.

* Beading and other crafts that require small pieces won't cause stains,
but the pieces can end up everywhere.  Give your child a small plastic food storage container to keep supplies in to help keep them from getting away.

Craft time is much more pleasant for everyone if you don't have to worry so much about messes.  By using less messy materials and protecting clothing and surfaces just in case, you can make cleanup a breeze and save yourself a lot of unnecessary grief.

Happy crafting.

The Difference Between Cross Stitch, Embroidery and Needlepoint

There are numerous crafts that are done with a needle, cloth and some type of thread.  To the aspiring handicrafter, it can be very confusing trying to figure out which is which.  Here is a quick primer on three of the most popular terms:  Embroidery, cross stitch and needlepoint.

Embroidery

The term "embroidery" actually encompasses several different fabric crafts.  In fact, both needlepoint and cross stitch are types of embroidery.  Its basic definition is the decorating of fabric and other materials by stitching designs onto it.  This can be done with thread, yarn, or ribbon.

There are several subcategories of embroidery.  Machine embroidery is done with a sewing machine, or with a specialized embroidery machine.  Free embroidery is done without taking the weave of the fabric into account, while counted thread embroidery uses patterns that are measured by the number of threads in the fabric.  Surface embroidery is done on top of the fabric, while canvas work requires stitching over the entire fabric, in effect making a new fabric.

Embroidery's roots are uncertain, but there is evidence that it goes back at least as far as the Iron Age.  Elaborate embroidery designs in clothing were a sign of status in ancient and medieval times.  Various forms of embroidery have been passed down through the generations in many cultures.

Cross Stitch

Cross stitch is a type of counted thread surface embroidery.  It uses mostly X-shaped stitches to create a picture or pattern.  Partial stitches are also used for shaping and texture, and back stitches are used for creating outlines and small details.

Materials used in cross stitching include embroidery floss and canvas or Aida cloth.  Today, cross stitching is most often used in creating pictures for framing.  It has historically been done on household items such as dishtowels and linens, and although not as prevalent, it is still frequently used for those purposes.


Needlepoint

Needlepoint is a surface embroidery technique.  Its basic stitch is like a half-stitch in cross stitching.  Usually worked on very fine canvas, needlepoint is used to create upholstery, wall hangings, purses, rugs and more.  It creates a look similar to that of tapestry, but instead of being woven on a loom, it is stitched by hand.

Needlepoint is most often done with yarn, but sometimes several strands of embroidery floss are used to achieve a different look.  Canvas types include mono, penelope and interlock.  The canvas is stretched on a frame to keep it pulled tight while working.

Embroidery goes back a long way, and it continues to evolve to this day.  Cross stitch and needlepoint are two of the most popular types, but they are not the only ones.  There are a wide variety of embroidery techniques out there to try.

Which needle and thread handicraft is your favorite?

Choosing a Color Scheme for Your Craft Projects

When planning a crafting project, one of the most basic considerations is what colors to use.  Sometimes, however, it's the hardest thing to come to a decision on.  There are just so many beautiful colors to choose from! 

Here are some things to consider when selecting a color scheme for any project:

* Who is the project for?  If you're making it as a gift for someone, does that person have a favorite color?  If so, try to incorporate it into the project, along with some complimentary colors.

* Is the craft for a special occasion?  If it is a wedding gift, doing it in the wedding colors adds a sentimental touch.  For a baby shower, the standard boy (light blue), girl (pink) and gender neutral (pastel green and yellow) colors are appropriate.  And most holidays have certain colors associated with them that you can use.

* Are you using items that include colors that are beyond your control, such as photographs?  This is a common concern in scrapbooking, but lots of other crafts use photos.  You'll need to find a color that won't clash with what's in the photo.  Look for color ideas in the photo itself, or consider reprinting it in black and white if it's too busy.

* What is the theme of the project?  Is it a nature item, or something in a futuristic theme?  Using colors that are commonly associated with a project's theme is a nice, safe approach.

* Consider where the finished craft will be displayed.  If it's an item for your house, or for a close friend or family member's, you can scout around in the room for color ideas.  If you're creating items for sale, think about common colors that people decorate with in those rooms.

* Use another piece for inspiration.  If you've seen something in a store, online, on television, or anywhere else that had an interesting color scheme, try using it on a project.  Interior design shows are a good place to look for unusual color concepts.

* Think outside the box.  If you're going for a formal look it's best to stick with traditional colors, but if you want to make your project unique and funky, use whatever strikes your fancy.  It's your project, and you can make the grass blue and the sky green if you want to.

Learning about color theory or color mixing can help make your color choices. You also might want to invest a little money into a color wheel. I have one and love it. I've used it for scrapbooking, rubber stamping and sewing!

Color is an important element of any project, whether you're sewing a dress or making a wall hanging.  The good news is that there's no right or wrong color to use for a given project.  You're not being tested on it.  So just go with your instincts and use the color scheme that you think is best.