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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DIY paperweights from glass candle holders.

Hi! It’s Shannon from Madigan Made and today I want to show you a simple and inexpensive project.

I don’t know about you, but I’m an avid dollar store junkie. Next to the craft store, the dollar store is one of my favorite places for creative inspiration. I love going there just to look around for inexpensive craft materials. This month when I saw these shallow, rounded glass votive candles, I wondered if they could be flipped upside-down and decorated to make paperweights.

So, I grabbed a pack, got home and I made two paperweights in no time! All I needed was some scrap paper, decoupage and resin. I used pretty paper that I already had at home that would coordinate with the colors in my home office.

Want to make one for your desk or as a quick and easy handmade gift? It is so simple!

How to make a paperweight with decoupage and a glass candle votive:

Supplies Needed

• Shallow, glass candle holders
• Scrapbook paper
• Mod Podge (gloss or satin formula)
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Brush
• Pourable resin (and any needed materials to mix like: disposable container, gloves, Wooden stick, etc.)   

Step One: Find a round object that is a similar size to the circular inset of the candle. Trace a circle around the item and cut the shape out to fit inside the glass candle holder. Trim a strip of paper that will line the sides for the hole in the glass.

Step Two:  Brush a thick layer of Mod Podge on the interior areas of the glass. Press the two pieces of paper (the circle and the strip) onto the glass, with the back of the paper facing you (the ‘good’ side should be facing outward through the glass). Smooth out any bubbles (they will be easy to see when you look through the glass).

Once that dries, apply another thick coat of Mod Podge on top of the paper. Allow that to dry completely.

NOTE: You can technically stop at this point and you will have a pretty, decorated piece of glass that will function as a paperweight. I chose to go a little further and fill that open cavity with resin so that the piece looked more finished. Adding the resin also added more weight to the object, making it feel like a heavy piece of glass.

Step Three: Set up an area to pour your resin that is well ventilated.  Read the directions on the box carefully. Wear the proper advised protection. Mix the resin in a disposable container by using the two chemicals provided as directed by the manufacturer. The brand I used advised a 1:1 ratio. Stir and whip the mixture thoroughly (for about 2 minutes) and pour that solution immediately into the cavities of the candle holders. The resin mixture is self-leveling and bubbles will rise to the top on their own. But you can help eliminate the bubbles by breathing over the surface or using a propane torch. (The carbon dioxide, not heat is what helps release the trapped air.) Allow the resin to harden and cure for at least 48 hours.

Admire your pretty, new piece of “glass”!

Here is a close up of the top and bottom of the two paperweights I made: If I had planned ahead, I could’ve embedded something cute inside the resin OR decoupaged more coordinating paper to the inside of the glass hole so the print would be visible through the resin. Oh well! I like that just the simple white back of the papers show through.

The possibilities on this craft idea are endless! I think it would be cute to decoupage a circular photograph in the middle and then line the sides of the glass hole with pretty paper. That would make a great gift for any parent or grandparent.

I can’t wait to get back to the dollar store again. I definitely need to pick up more of these glass candle holders. Plus, I never know what I will find or what will inspire me!

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.

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DIY memo boards from cork trivets.

Hi gang! It is Shannon from Madigan Made! I’m back again to share a simple organizational craft using a little glitter and decoupage to upcycle a thrifted find.

I recently found this pack of cork trivets at the thrift store for $1.40! The trivets were originally from IKEA and still in the plastic wrapper. When I saw them I knew that they would make cute little corkboards.

I used the three pieces to create a long memo board area in my home office. This would also be an easy back-to-school craft to update your child’s homework area, too. You could decorate these trivets in so many ways: paint, ribbon, fabric, etc. But I settled on glitter and stripes… they were easy to make using Mod Podge. Stripes are fun and simple to create. Plus, the glitter added a little gold sparkle to room!

How to make glittered cork memo boards from kitchen trivets:

Supplies Needed

3 cork trivets
White craft paint
Glitter (I used 3 different shades)
Masking tape
Brushes
Mod Podge (satin or glossy formula)
Balsa wood or wood popsicle sticks
Strong adhesive glue
Picture hanging strips
Thumb tacks

Step One: Paint one side and the edges of each trivet with white paint. Allow that to dry and apply a second coat if needed for complete coverage.

Step Two: After the paint dries, use masking tape to create wide stripes on each trivet. Brush a thick layer of Mod Podge over each open stripe area. Coat  the glue liberally with glitter and shake off any excess (Over a big trashcan is highly recommended! Glitter gets everywhere, doesn’t it?). After the areas are covered with glitter, immediately rip off the tape, otherwise you’ll end up decoupaging the tape to your cork! Allow the Mod Podge and glitter to dry.

Step Three: Once dry, apply several coats of Mod Podge on top of the sparkly stripes and cork to seal them. Allow  the glue to dry in between each layer. I noticed that some of the loose glitter did shed a little into the white stripe areas as I did this. It did not bother me . . . I figured that the spots of glitter might camouflage any of the pin holes that will show up later on with use!

Step Four: The picture hanging strips will not securely stick to the cork (or freshly painted surfaces), so you need to put something on the back of the cork to attach the strips. I used scrap pieces of thin balsa wood. But popsicle sticks could work here, too. I just glued down my wood using a strong, fast adhesive (i.e. superglue) where I planned to attach the strips. Allow the glue to dry.

Step Five: To hang the boards, attach your picture hanging strips to the wall and the wood pieces on the back of each memo board, following the directions on the package. I used two sets of strips for each corkboard. Press each memo board against the wall or door until the strips latch with each other.  NOTE: The easiest way for me to hang the trivets was to use picture hanging strips, but you certainly could glue ribbon or a hook to the back of each board, too.     I decided to hang the cork boards in a vertical fashion on my closet door in the office. I love how this gives an often unused area of the room a purpose.

Oh, and to add more golden shine, I just used simple brass thumbtacks to hold up my notes and pictures.

I’m so glad I saw these cork trivets… decorating them was a simple way to update my home office. Who doesn’t love organization that is both functional and cute?

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.

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Upcycle a cosmetic bag into a wristlet wallet.

Hi there! It is Shannon from Madigan Made again.

I don’t know about you, but I love using clutch purses and wristlets. They are perfect to hold my money, ID and cell phone when I want to run an errand or go out at night on a date with my husband. On top of that, I like to use a wristlet as a wallet and toss them into my larger purses.

I also love it when I can recycle and craft new uses for things around the house. I’ve had this ugly sage green cosmetic bag for years. I never threw it away because I always thought it would be the perfect size bag to turn into a wristlet.

All I needed was some hardware, a little paint and shimmery decoupage to transform it into something a little more sophisticated. I used Shimmer Mod Podge to help add color and seal the fabric and paint.     Want to learn how to make one? Read on, my friends! Adding the rhinestones is optional, but I think that they add a nice sparkle and dress up the bag for evening wear.

Supplies needed:
Soft woven or fabric cosmetic bag
White acrylic craft paint
Mod Podge Shimmer formula
Foam paintbrushes
Rhinestones
Craft/jewelry glue (a glue designed for gems or jewelry will dry crystal clear)
Swiveled metal snap hook (these can be found at craft supply stores… or from an old dog leash! :D ) Old bracelet (be sure it is sturdy and can swing open)

Step One: Paint a coat of white paint on one side of the bag. Pay careful attention to the bottom and sides and be sure not to get paint on the zipper (like I did).  Allow the white paint to dry. Repeat the process on the other side. Don’t worry if the paint does not fully cover or coat the bag. Splotchy areas area OK because we’ll be adding another layer on top.

Step Two: Apply a thick coat of Mod Podge Shimmer to one side of the bag. If you used a woven bag, make sure the glue gets into all the nooks and crannies of the material. Allow that side to dry and then flip it over and repeat the process on the other side.

Step Three: If desired, use craft glue to attach rhinestones to the bag in a pattern of your choice. I went for a simple square pattern in the corner, on each side. I also glued more rhinestones on the metal tag that was attached to the zipper.

Step Four: Attach the hardware.  Snap the hook to the zipper on the bag and then open up the bracelet and secure that through the other end of the hook. TIP: You want to use a bracelet that is very sturdy and solid. You also need to be able to open the bracelet to attach it to the swivel hook. Do not use a dainty charm or chain link bracelet, because it will not hold the weight of your wallet contents over time.

To wear your new wallet… if your bracelet is big enough and easy enough to open, you can snap the bracelet around your wrist. Or, I prefer to use the ring shape to just carry the clutch bag.

It may be hard to tell in these photographs, but the Mod Podge gives a soft, grey shimmer to the purse. And the splotchy white paint underneath it added some dimensional shades to the silver color. I love my new little purse! The metallic color and woven texture makes it a great bag to use this summer. And the best part?  I made it from materials I had around the house!

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.

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How to decoupage a tiny tin.

If you’ve ever read my blog, you may know that I appreciate teeny-tiny foods. I can’t get enough when it comes to sweet little desserts and bite-sized appetizers. But I ALSO love tiny and cute storage solutions, too. And if I can repurpose and recycle something for storage, that is even better!

I recently used decoupage and Mod Podge Dimensional Magic (DM) to decorate little mint tins that I did not want to throw out.

Have you ever used DM? It is a very thick decoupage medium that dries with a resin-like finish.  I love that you can embed fun decorations in it, too! It is just another way to personalize your tin a bit more.

What can you store in these cuties? Just about anything!!!

I use one to hold tiny craft supplies (like the caps for the blade on my crafty cutting machine). I keep my extra camera SD card in another one in my camera bag. The third one held my ear buds for my iPod for awhile. But it could even work for storing jewelry when travelling, too!

Want to make a fun little storage tin?

Just follow these steps:

Step 1: Gather your supplies.

You will need:
Scrapbook paper
Round corner punch
Small tin
Foam brush
Scissors or paper cutter
Decorations (buttons, more paper, ribbon, beads, puffy stickers, etc.)
Mod Podge Satin
Mod Podge Dimensional Magic

Step 2: Attach panel to the bottom. Cut two panels of coordinating scrapbook paper to fit snugly on the top and bottom of the tin. You can use a rounded corner punch to give the paper a more finished look if you want. For the bottom, brush a coat of decoupage onto the tin and press and smooth one of the pieces of paper on top. When dry, brush another coat of decoupage over top of the paper to seal it. Allow that to fully dry.

Step 3: Attach the panel to the top. Use the other piece of paper and brush more Mod Podge on top of the lid to adhere the paper down. Allow that to dry.

Step 4: Glue down decorations. You can add something decorative and cute on top of that panel to embed underneath the DM. I’ve used ribbon, buttons, beads, brads, puffy stickers, etc. Those objects can ‘float’ in the DM if you do not secure them. So, just use a little bit of Mod Podge and glue the decorations down and allow that to dry.

Step 5: Carefully add Dimensional Magic. Then very carefully, pipe the DM around the edges of the top paper panel. Fill in the remaining area with DM. Work slowly because the medium will spread a little. Taking your time also helps avoid creating bubbles in the glue. Allow the DM to dry thoroughly overnight. Enjoy your pretty new tin and….

Step 6: Repeat the process with other cute little containers!   Please tell me I’m not the only one that loves wee little (and fun!) storage solutions. So, don’t throw out those tiny containers you may have around the house. Decorate and use them!

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.

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