Mod Podge "film" leaves.

Once upon a time I made glass clings with Mod Podge - and the world was good. But then my friend Pam came along and blew my little tutorial out of the water with her Mod Podge "film" leaves! They are essentially glass clings that she made with Mod Podge and food coloring - and they look just like real leaves. But they aren't real leaves, they are Mod Podge. Are you completely amazed yet? Of course you are. Now go visit Pam because I know you have to see how she did it.

Autumn magic at Gingerbread Snowflakes

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DIY fall napkin rings using raffia.

Hi Podgy People! It’s Shannon from Madigan Made back again. Today I want to show you an easy fall craft project that would be an elegant idea for your autumn table scape.

I’m always amazed at the versatility of Mod Podge. Not only can you cover and seal stuff with it . . . but you can shape things, too! Fabric, yarn, rope . . . decoupage is a wonderful sealer and shaper for these materials. I made a bracelet with raffia and Mod Podge this past summer and it inspired these fall napkin rings that I made this month.

There are some things to remember when you use Mod Podge to hold fibers together.  First, you need a surface that will serve as the mold for your material. But  you also need to ensure that the fibrous material and mold will separate once the glue is dry. When you are working with a small object like a napkin ring, how do you find a cylindrical object that will allow you to easily release the rings once everything is dry? I figured out that a long balloon works perfectly! Especially the kind that you can use to make balloon animals. The diameter is perfect for a napkin ring!

These napkin rings were also affordable to make… I found my balloon kit and raffia at the dollar store. And the gems were only $1.50 for a big box of them at the craft store!

Let me show you how I made these simple fall napkin rings.

Supplies needed:
Raffia
Mod Podge, Satin formula
Long Balloon Kit
Rhinestone leaf gems
Hot glue
Scissors
Foam brush
Pin

Step One: Inflate your party balloon with the pump provided and tie the end shut.

Step Two:  This is where we get a little messy! Brush a thick coat of Mod Podge around a section of the balloon. Take one end of the raffia and wrap it around that area. Keep in mind that you are decoupaging the raffia onto itself . . . not to the balloon. The cylinder is just there to support your shape. Liberally apply more Mod Podge as you continue to wrap the fiber around the balloon.

If you need more raffia, you can add it. But one strand of raffia gave me a decent width for a napkin ring. Secure the end down with more Mod Podge. (You may need to tuck the end into fibers to get it to stay put, too.)

Step Three: Repeat step two and work your way down the balloon. Wrap more pieces of raffia with Mod Podge to make your desired quantity of napkin rings. Hang the balloon to dry overnight.

Step Four: Now comes the fun part! Use a sharp pin or scissors and pop your balloon to release your pretty napkin rings. Pop! The balloon will peel right away from the decoupage and raffia.

Step Five: Use scissors to clean up some of loose or hanging raffia and dried decoupage from the edges of each ring.

Step Six: Attach a jeweled leaf to each circle with your hot glue gun. If you can’t find a pretty jewel, try a button or an acorn top. Personalize it for your table!

Enjoy your new napkins rings at your next dinner party this season! See how easy it is to use decoupage to turn fibers into a shape? I’m loving how the natural material resembles corn husks. The contrast of organic raffia with a pretty jewel is simple and understated.

Why not make a set of these napkin rings for your Thanksgiving table? You can tell your relatives all about  the amazing things you can make with Mod Podge over pumpkin pie. (Beats talking about your aunt’s latest bunion trouble, right?)

About the Podger: You might call Shannon the Clark Kent of craft blogging. By day, she is a pharmacist and by night she shares simple ideas for crafts, décor and much more with her readers. She also craves chocolate, loves a thrifty find and tries (often unsuccessfully) to avoid glue gun burns. You can find Shannon on her blog, Madigan Made, and on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest, too.

I’m participating in the following linky parties: I Heart Naptime, Skip to My Lou, Someday Crafts, Somewhat Simple, Tatertots and Jello, Tidy Mom, Tip Junkie, Today's Creative Blog, Creative Jewish Mom

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Mod Podge turquoise pumpkins.

If you love turquoise as much as I do, then you are going to love these pumpkins. At first I didn't even think they were real because the shades are so interesting . . . but a quick look at the project revealed that they are in fact real, and were painted at Brave Girls Club! I've actually been to Brave Girls Club and it's amazing experience. Amazing experience, amazing pumpkins - what more could you ask for? Visit BCG to see how they did it, and to learn more about this awesome art camp for women (you NEED to go!).

Beautiful turquoise pumpkins at Brave Girls Club

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20 Mod Podge shoe projects - revamp your footwear!

You are going to laugh - I've only Mod Podged shoes one time. For my book, Mod Podge Rocks. BUT I have a pair of heels as we speak that are ready to be Podged. There are so many reasons to Mod Podge shoes. You can customize them to fit your personality, you don't throw something away AND is the perfect budget craft. Some of these shoes are easier than others (go for glitter if you're a newbie to Mod Podge) but all are amazing. I can't wait to Mod Podge my own shoes and share with you. In the meantime, enjoy these 20 projects!

Shoe re-do: red ruffle flat at Grosgrain

Twinkle toes at A Little Glass Box

Make your own map shoes at Something Monumental

Fall overhaul: Mod Podge boots at Cathie Filian

DIY glitter heels at Lauryn Galloway Photography

Spring has sprung . . . and so has neon at The Pinterest Project

Killer DIY comic strip high heels at Bit Rebels

Mod Podge shoes at Sugar Bee Crafts

Summer city shoes at Joy the Baker

Mod Podge shoes at Make It and Love It

Nerd shoe craftacular (these are R2-D2 from Star Wars!) at Geek With Curves

Did you know that you could Mod Podge these? at She Wears Flowers

Mod Podge shoe makeover at My 3 Monsters

Floral boots DIY at A Beautiful Mess

Mod Podge shoe makeover at Art By Jacy

Glitter heel fix at Wobisobi

How to makeover a pair of shoes with Mod Podge and fabric at Design, Dining & Diapers

Mod Podge shoes at Plaid

Shoe makeovers part 1 at The Diary of Dave's Wife

Too many black pumps at Etcetorize

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Gilded pumpkin lights.

It may be after Halloween, but pumpkins are still perfectly acceptable for Thanksgiving decor. In fact, this display by Lindsay of Shrimp Salad Circus would be a gorgeous addition to any holiday table. I'm not only thrilled that they are real pumpkins, but also that there are tealights involved. How does she use Mod Podge in this project? You'll just have to pop over here and see. Be advised that there is cutting of pumpkins involved (disclaimer for sensitive audiences).

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Halloween coasters and candy totes.

You may be sitting on your couch right now wondering what you are going to do with your old instant oats and ice cream containers.  The good news is that I have a solution, and it's pretty fun and fitting for the season.  These candy totes found on CRAFT are perfect for your sweet carryin' needs, and are a fun place to store the candy when the big haul is collected.  Plus I just love happy pumpkin faces, don't you?

My second Halloween find for the day is this set of cute character coasters found on 19Eighty Expressions. Are you serious?  I love that silly little Dracula with his red bow tie.  This takes Halloween coasters to the next level.  Store these carefully (with wax paper between each) when not in use so that they are around for years to come.

More Halloween later in the day.  I can't get enough!

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Make some glitter and fabric pumpkins.

I'm telling you, I've never seen as many decoupaged pumpkins in my entire life as I'm seeing this year.  What is going on my friends?  I'm not quite sure, but I like it.  First up are these glitter pumpkins from Brunch at Saks.  Perhaps you are aware (because I talk about it every other day) that I love black glitter?  I'm fond of both of these glitter pumpkins, but especially the black one with the polka dot embellishments.  Ooh la la.

If you are feeling a little less glittery but still pumpkin-y, then perhaps these fabric wrapped pumpkins from Jarfly will tickle your fancy.  I actually the the fact that the fabric doesn't go on perfectly and causes some wrinkling, because it looks vintage-y and handmade.  A little collection of these would look pretty sweet.

Looking for more Halloween ideas?  I've got some coming this afternoon, so I'd love to have you back later in the day.

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Make recycled pumpkins with kids.

I get a lot of questions about whether or not children can Mod Podge - the answer is yes!  The formulas are all non-toxic and waterbase, so you are good to go.  A perfect example are these recycled pumpkins from Nici at Dig This Chick.  One thing Nici says in her entry is that it's more about the process with kids that the resulting project, and I totally agree.  But she doesn't have to worry because these lil' pumpkins are so cute!  Visit here to learn more about the project and see more pictures.

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Mod Podge DIY Halloween chalkboard bunting tutorial.

If there's one thing that fall and Halloween requires, it's a banner (also known as a bunting).  Luckily, Man Podger David is quick to deliver!  His obsession with buntings and chalkboards has led to this awesome piece that you need for your own home decor.  Okay, maybe obsession is a strong word, but it sounds serious so I like it.  I'll let David share his tutorial with you himself so that you can make a Halloween bunting of your very own.

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I like the idea of festive bunting and I like the idea of chalkboards. I thought it would be fun to combine the two so you could change your message or have no message at all. I made my bunting out of wood, but this idea would work with pretty much any material you had handy that would accept chalkboard paint: foam core, metal, veneer, heavy cardstock, etc. You can also easily buy ready-made flags (some already painted as chalkboards) on Etsy. This would also be a great project for using bits of leftover wrapping paper.

You will need: 

• Material For Bunting Triangles (in my case ¼ inch composite wood – very inexpensive) 
• Chalkboard Paint 
• Decorative Paper 
• Heavy cardstock (for templates) 
• Sponge Brush 
• Mod Podge 
• String 
• Drill 
• Paper Towels 

Life is easier with templates, so first up I created a template for my flag triangles that was 7 x 7 inches (with holes marked at the corners) and used it as a guide to cut each flag.

After I had the flags cut I painted one side with chalkboard paint according to the manufacturer’s instructions. As the chalkboard paint was drying I created a template for cutting my paper. I wanted a nice border on the chalkboard side, so I made my template 9 x 9 and cut off the corners of the triangle so that when I folded the paper over the corners would be neat.

After the chalkboard paint was thoroughly dry I set about attaching the paper. Step 1: Apply Mod Podge to the non-chalkboard side Step 2: Lay the Mod Podged side down on the back of your paper, center it and press firmly to get a good bond. Step 3: Flip the whole thing over and smooth out any wrinkles or bumps Step 4: Flip it back over and, working one side at a time, dab Mod Podge along the edge and fold the paper over and smooth it out. You will want to have a damp paper towel handy to immediately clean up any Mod Podge that oozes out from under the paper onto the chalkboard.

I repeated that with all the triangles and set them aside to dry. After about 20 minutes of drying I gave them a sealing coat of Mod Podge for protection and durability (being careful not to get Mod Podge on the exposed chalkboard paint). 

Next up was creating the holes for the string. I put Painters tape over both sides of the triangle and, using my template, marked where to drill the holes.

TIP: Make sure your Mod Podge is thoroughly dry or the painters tape will rip the paper when you remove it.

Then it was time for stringing them up.

Won't this banner be a nice addition to your Halloween mantle?  Of course it will - though you can customize the message to say anything you want.

Some Other Details and Tips

1) I discovered that thinner decorative paper was easier to use than cardstock (like you’d get in a scrapbook paper stack). You can use cardstock – I did on a couple of them- but it takes some patience as it needs a little help staying stuck when you fold it over the side. I ended up using alligator clips to hold it in place as it dried which worked great but took a little time. Whatever paper you use make sure to test first to make sure it holds up to the Mod Podge.

2) The Painters Tape: Often when you drill through something the opposite side tends to “blow out” meaning you get splinters and a rough edge where the drill comes out. By adding the painters tape you prevent that blow out from happening and you get a nice clean, smooth edge where you’ve drilled.

I’m participating in the following linky parties: I Heart Naptime, Skip to My Lou, Someday Crafts, Somewhat Simple, Tatertots and Jello, Tidy Mom, Tip Junkie, Today's Creative Blog, Creative Jewish Mom, The Frugal Girls

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