Polka-dotty shelf makeover for $1.

I'm seriously amazed by the Mod Podge talent out there, and Kimberly from Seriously Daisies is no exception. You all know me well enough by now to know that she had me at polka dots. In addition, I absolutely love the color combination, which gives me the good funny stomach tickles. Visit Kimberly here to learn more about the shelf and to see the before. You'll be amazed - she did this for one buck!

Project of the Week #66 - Patchwork top dining table.

I get so consumed with the color blue, stripes and polka dots that I sometimes forget to mention other things I love - other things like patchwork. When I discovered this table at Addicted 2 Decorating, I let out a squeal of delight. I mean seriously, the dogs all tilted their heads to one side.

Kristi from Addicted 2 Decorating bought the table base at a local thrift store, added the table top and then got kri-zazy with Mod Podge. I absolutely love the results and I just keep looking at the picture because the colors make me so happy. Go here to see Kristi's table and then poke around to see some of her other treasures. Yay for patchwork!

Chrissie Grace give thanks and a giveaway.

Now that we are safely past Halloween, we can move onto another falltastic holiday - Thanksgiving. This project is not so much about Thanksgiving day itself but what you are supposed to do around this time of year. Wait for it. . . . give thanks!

Meet Chrissie Grace, mixed media artist and painter (in addition to being a wife and mother to four children). Chrissie created this piece using mosaics, Mod Podge, paper and more. She's not only very talented but very kind, as I learned from exchanging e-mails with her. She's so kind in fact that she is offering her amazing artwork as a giveaway for Mod Podge Rocks and Chrissie Grace readers. Yep, you can win this Give Thanks hanging for keepsies. Here are the rules, which are pretty simple and give you three chances to win. You must do one of the following, but doing any of the other two gives you extra entries:

1. Become a follower of Mod Podge Rocks (in case you are lost, that is where you are right now)
2. Become a follower of Chrissie Grace
3. Leave a comment telling us one thing that you are grateful for (besides friends and family)

To get the ball rolling, I'm thankful for shaved ice. Not the regular cubes that come out of the dispenser on the front of your fridge, but the chopped kind that makes a drink extra cold and oh-so-delicious.

Giveaway closes this coming Saturday, November 14th at midnight. This is your chance for some original and very cool Chrissie Grace artwork - now get over to her blog and thank her! Please?

Old books become new wall storage folders.

My friend Pam from Gingerbread Snowflakes has come up with a very creative and ingenious way of using old books - she's turned them into wall storage folders. The one she has pictured is making me kind of hungry, actually. It's also making me think that wall storage folders would be perfect for me, would there be an office in Mod Podge Command Central. You see, I love organizational stuff, because I am by nature NOT organized. Except for my sock drawer. You would be totally impressed by my sock drawer.

Visit Pam here to see her very detailed tutorial, very helpful if you are going to create this project. Also note that you could paste pictures or words corresponding to what's on the inside of the folders if you want to impress all your friends and say (in not so many words) "you should be jealous of my organizational skillz."

Guest blogger, Fawnda from Fireflies & Jellybeans.

Hello Mod Podge Rockers! I can not tell you how excited I am to be swapping blogs with Amy today! She is like famous! She does some awesome stuff with Mod Podge - but you know this already - you read her blog! : )

Here is a little about me:

I'm Fawnda from Fireflies and JellyBeans, a little DIY craft blog I co-author with my best friend Jeannine! I am a SAHM (that is a stay-at-home-mom) to a son. I am married to most amazing man (sorry ladies - I found him first!) We adopted our son from Korea about 10 months ago! He is 19 months old and he is truly a joy and probably one of the cutest kids in the world (right along with yours)! I tutor High School Math students (before I became a SAHM I was a math teacher).

I love to craft!

I rediscovered my sewing machine about 8 months ago and I love it! I also love to make cards. I am addicted to the scrapbook paper packs (they have a theme for everything and I want them all)! I also think that Mod Podge Rocks and I have a fun craft for you today!

Monogram fabric-backed plates:

Here is what you will need:
clear glass plate
fabric (enough to cover your plate)
Scrapbook paper (enough for your monogram)
X-Acto Knife
Scissors
Mod Podge and brush

1.) Make your monogram. I free handed my "N" but you could print a letter off of your computer on the back of your paper using the Mirror Image Printing option. I also traced around the bottom of my plate to know how big to make the letter.

2.) Cut out your letter using an X-Acto knife.

Optional: I distressed my letter with some brown ink.

3.) Cut a piece of fabric into a square that is about an inch bigger on each of the sides of the plate (I know the plate is hard to see but it is clear).

4.) Place your plate on a cup with the bottom facing up. I found it was easier to work with this way!

5.) Brush on a coat of Mod Podge on the inner circle only for now.

6.) Place your monogram upside down on the Mod Podge.

7.) Brush on Mod Podge over your monogram. Make sure to keep the monogram flat and to press out any bubbles. Now - let dry (have a sandwich or something).

8.) When it is dry, bush on more Mod Podge all over the whole plate . . . be generous with it.

9.) Place the fabric over your plate and flatten out any bubbles.

10.) Brush on more Mod Podge over the top of the fabric. Let dry. . . this can take a while so just put it off to the side. Or, you can do what I did and check on it every 10 minutes or so. . . is it done yet? - nope. . . is it done yet? - nope . . .

11.) When it is FINALLY dry cut off the extra fabric by cutting around the plate as close as you can. If you are worried about the edges frying you can brush a little more Mod Podge around the edge.

12.) Flip it over! Very Cool!

Wouldn't this be so great as a hostess gift? You can bring it with cookies, bars, or other sweets on top of it and they get to keep the plate! Be sure to check out Fireflies and JellyBeans for other great ideas! Thanks so much Amy for swapping with us! It was so much fun!

This Mod Podge-r tries papercutting.

I'd like to introduce you to the work of Judy Carrell, an artist from Indiana who created the amazingly beautiful rooster papercutting piece you see above. Through a conversation with Judy about papercutting and how she got started, I was inspired to try it . . . thinking that I could somehow incorporate Mod Podge into this fabulous art form. I like to incorporate Mod Podge into everything I do, including baking. Just so you know, Mod Podge doesn't make a good non-stick coating. It's too gummy!

To give you a little history, papercutting dates back to 6th century China, and since that time there have been several variations within several cultures. One of the most popular is Polish papercutting, also known as Wycinanki. German papercutting, or Scherenschnitte, is another popular type. This is the type that inspired Judy, a retired-German-teacher-turned-crafter. Interestingly enough, she began papercutting when the sun ruined a piece that her husband had received as a gift. She thought it was a shame that it had been bleached, so she grabbed some gummed-back paper she had gotten from Germany and (with some little scissors) went to Re-creationville. Since that time she's created a wide variety of pieces, ranging from flowers to birds to other nature items. Check out the intricate detail of her rooster piece:

All of the papercuts that Judy does are simply gorgeous and inspiring! During my conversation with her, I asked if she could share a few tips with me. Here's what she said:
-First timers (like myself) should probably try copying something to practice. Judy also looks at the world around her to get inspired (she's even used postage stamps), and doodles to create backgrounds. I'll get there eventually!
-Carbon paper is great for tracing designs to paper and then cutting out. She also uses regular typing paper to create templates.
-She uses everyday items for templates, ranging from a dime to a pizza pan. Brilliant!
-For detailed pieces like the above, keep organized with labeling and envelopes. I particularly liked this tip because my usual route would be to spread the pieces around the coffee table and then watch them fly when the ceiling fan goes on. I get hot when I'm crafting!

Following Judy's advice to a tee, I decided to copy something to practice for my first try. I grabbed a sheet of owl scrapbooking paper and enlarged Mr. Blue Owl on the copier. I made two black and white copies. With some blue scraps of cardstock, one light and one dark, I used the template to cut out the larger dark blue body and the smaller light blue overlay. I even cut out some feathers with my craft knife. The eyes, feet and beak were easy - also done with scissors and scraps of cardstock. A little paint + Mod Podge + papercuts + me = the following:



Okay bloggers, now I want to hear what you think. Anyone tried papercutting? Do you love it? Do you have any tips? Ever used it with Mod Podge? Please share with me! I'd love to see what you've done and hear your opinions as I begin my foray into the world of papercutting.

Misty re-did her dresser with wallpaper.

I'm so proud of Misty - and I'm such a bad craft blogger. Let me explain. First, the reason I'm proud of Misty is because she sent me photos of her dresser re-do, and look what she did! She turned this dresser below into the dresser above. Isn't it amazing?

A little paint, wallpaper and Mod Podge and this dresser turns from ugs to fabulous. That brings me to being a bad craft blogger. Awhile ago (meaning September) I featured this filing cabinet and said I was going to do something with wallpaper and decoupage. I've also posted these coasters, this train case and this cart. All done with wallpaper and Mod Podge. And I haven't done it yet. I hope you will forgive me, forget about my slacking and be inspired by Misty. She doesn't yet have a blog, but I'm encouraging her to do so. And I bet she will keep her promises, unlike me. Just remember, dear readers, that I do care. I'll do better.

The wallpaper featured is from the Daydream collection by Julia Rothman for H&W. You can typically get scraps of fancy wallpapers from local shops, just as a tip. I'll leave you with the second project that Misty did, a keyholder with a different colorway of the same pattern.