M is for Mod Podge

I’m going to let you in on the ultimate Poor Girls’ Secret… ready… it’s… drum roll, please……

MOD PODGE

{Courtesy of Flickr}

You may laugh. Giggle, even. Mod Podge may be a remnant of your youth. A afternoon activity that involved making hideous ornaments (that, at the time, you thought were beautiful, of course) or kitchen magnets your mother never used.

Not anymore. I own one bottle of Mod Podge, and I’ve already gotten three projects of my own, plus two projects others friends did (sharing is caring… ah, more memories of childhood!). So, five projects. Two frames and three boxes.

Joanne’s offers a great selection of Mod Podges (the next kind I plan on buying is one of the shimmers or sparkles). Once you have your Mod Podge, you may be wondering what you’re going to be ‘Podging on. Well, Michael’s has tons of wooden frames, boxes, etc. They tend to be super-cheap – which is, of course, a plus! Then, all you need is some magazines to clip images from.

My most recent Mod Podge endeavor was a round box I got for about $2. I quickly decided that it would be the perfect place to keep my headbands in. Since this was my third Mod Podge project, I decided to do more of  theme with how I laid out my cuttings. I did darker photos on the lid, and lighter on the bottom. Then on the inside, I, for the most part, tried to go with black and white. Once the Mod Podge had already set, I realized maybe doing the light on the inside – DUH. Whatever, I’m happy with the result!

{Two coats of Mod Podge helped make it more shiny & smooth!}

{Summery, bright colors for the bottom half}

{Monochrome color palette on the inside}

{Inside of lid, har har har}

Other Mod Podging projects I’ve done…

{Wood box from Michael’s}

{“Les Lettres” – it’s a box where I keep all the special notes I’ve received}

{The inside, with a picture of my blogging idol: Emily Schuman}

{My “headband mirror.” It’s next to my closet & I can make sure my headband is well-adjusted before I head out the door!}

So, all you need is some Mod-Podge, a surface, some paint brushes, and time! Then there ya go – a great way to make new accessories for a room or a heartfelt gift for a friend!

Restore us, God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

Psalm 80:7

D is for Deals

Sunday, after church, my crafting friend and I planned on going to Joanne Crafts. We carpooled the short drive from church, and arrived to the shopping mall where our beloved store is located. We burst out of the car with excitement and wove our way through the aisles to the back corner where the quilting fabrics are displayed. As we approached, my jaw dropped. Two rows of fabrics that were all marked 50% off. Pardon my lack of eloquence here, but I almost peed my pants. There were tons of beautiful, quilting-weight fabrics. They were affordable to begin with, and with the discount were around $2.50. I was flabbergasted. I quickly filled my arms with bolts of lovely prints and marched myself to the cutting counter.

My true happiness came at the checkout counter though. For my four yards, plus a remnant I had purchased (pictured below) at 50%, I paid around $12. I still can’t believe it.

{New fabrics}

This Spring, it’s time to be more conscious of deals out there. Scour the ads in your local paper for special coupons or flip through that Entertainment book the neighbor girl guilted your parents into buying. Another great resource I’ve recently discovered is Create For Less. It’s a crafters dream. Tons of products, accessories, and tools at discounted prices. I purchased a  Fiskars Self Healing Mat for $17.99, an item that costs $22.99 at Joanne’s.

On an unrelated note, I got my camera to work again (fingers crossed)! So here’s a collage of some better quality pictures for B is For Bible. I would have some for C is for Carrot Cake… but that would be a picture of the inside of my stomach… hehehehe!

{Click for larger image}

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20