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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Cardstock scrap bowl.

I remember being very young and making paper bowls - maybe around first grade or so? It was so much fun. I particularly liked smashing the paper bits into my hands and making a huge mess. What kid doesn't love that? You can make paper bowls at home with your children very easily, and then all you need to make it very sturdy is Mod Podge painted on the outside. This idea will keep kids busy for awhile, and adults will love it too. Head to the link below to learn more.

DIY paper bowl at Core'dinations

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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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Neon feather storage boxes.

I absolutely love feathers. I've been obsessed with them for quite awhile - and always wanted to do a project with them. So when I got the chance to use some Astrobrights papers in bright neons . . . and I had some empty wood storage boxes laying around . . . I took a chance. And I love how my boxes turned out. There's a special surprise inside as well, which you can see at the end of this post. In the meantime, here's how I made them.

Gather These Supplies

Unfinished wood boxes
FolkArt Acrylic Paint - Wicker White, New Leaf Green, Aqua
Mod Podge Satin
Astrobrights paper in multiple colors
Paper
Pencil
Tape
Sheet of white paper
Paintbrush
Scissors

Astrobrights won me over by sending me their paper in lovely packaging. Isn't this cute? I'm a sucker for good marketing.

Paint the bases of your boxes Wicker White and let them dry.

It's fancy feather time now! I traced the size of the boxes onto a piece of paper so I would know how big to make my feathers. You'll need one larger feather and one smaller feather. Be sure to trace the template on the back of the paper as well (you can use a window to do this - hold the feather up to the light).

I used the leaf shape as a template. All I did was cut strips of neon paper in different widths and taped them on top of the leaf shape. Do one half of the leaf first.

What I love about the Astrobrights paper is the vibrancy. These colors are amazing, seriously.

Once one half of the leaf is covered, put a strip of tape down the center of the paper pieces. Then turn the paper over and cut one half of the leaf out - this is why you traced the leaf shape on the back as well as the front.

Repeat with the other half of the leaf. Then do the smaller leaf.

Paint both lids of your boxes and let those dry.

Place your lids on the boxes so you know where to place the feathers. Put a strip of Mod Podge down onto the box and then place the left half of the feather down onto it (tape side down). Smooth it out with your hand, then Mod Podge over the top. Don't swipe the brush back and forth too many times or you will cause the paper to bleed. A few strokes are okay. Repeat with the right side.

Remove the lids and Mod Podge both boxes with two coats of Mod Podge (the lids too). Let dry.

Now it's time for the special surprise. I painted the insides of both boxes with neon shades. The larger box is Neon Pink and the smaller box is Neon Blue. Don't you love them? I'm so pleased with my boxes.

And they'll hold lots of supplies. And that is wonderful.

Disclosure: This post brought to you by Astrobrights Papers by Neenah Paper. All opinions are 100% mine.

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