We had a girl’s night on Saturday night, and our always-creative leader, April, turned us all into hopeless addicts of a new craft.
I’m pretty sure that we all dreamed about our new love Saturday night, and have thought of nothing since then except how and when we would get our next fix.
It was beautifully simple, yet crazy-cool.
We started with five ingredients.
1. A $1 unfinished wooden frame from Michael’s, our local craft store:
2. An X-Acto knife:
3. The cheapest paint brush on the face of the planet,
4. My new best friend, Mod Podge,
5. And something that I’ve always, ALWAYS wanted to have a reason to buy because it’s just so darn pretty, a piece of scrapbook paper:
(Obviously, I couldn’t just pick one. Who could? All those amazing colors and designs..it’s like chocolate on paper.)
With our ingredients at the ready, we set off to work.
There was much debate as to whether we should share our secrets as to how unbelievably easy this project really was. We felt that the result was pretty impressive (we MIGHT have stood around our creations and oohed, aahed, stared, complimented, and admired them for 30 minutes at the end of the night), so letting you believe that we were more artful than we were was definitely tempting.
However, we’re nice people at heart, so here are the steps:
1. Brush Mod Podge on the front of the frame.
2. lay the frame carefully on the scrapbook paper, turn it over, and then push the paper down well to prevent any bumps or wrinkles.
3. Using the X-Acto knife, cut around the outside and inside of the frame, leaving only paper on the surface.
Editor’s note: I forgot to add sandpaper as an ingredient. After step 3, sand the edges with sandpaper to get the paper smooth.
4. Use a flat object to scrape any bumps or wrinkles out.
5. Paint another layer of Mod Podge over the paper.
And the result….
Piles of scraps of scrapbook paper.
Oh – and the frames!
Between the seven of us, we made fifteen frames, all works of art, in our humble opinions.
The plan was to each make one, but we had so much fun on the first round that we took a field trip (all squished between or in carseats in a minivan) to buy more frames and papers.
Bonus tips:
1. We found that the thicker paper seemed to prevent bumps and wrinkles better, and the glittery papers do work – they’re still glittery, even through the mod-podge!
2. Other extras that we used on some frames: Antiquing ink, rub on letters, scrapbook stickers, and wooden cut-outs.
I made three frames, including this funky one for Ali’s room (The heart is a 29 cent wooden cut-out from Michael’s, just covered in a different paper):
And these two coordinating frames for our guest room (You can see the the effect of the antiquing ink on the brown and white one):
Warning: I’m serious about this being addicting. I might have gone to TWO stores today and spent a bunch of money on supplies to make more.
Because I CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT IT.
AND, to make it all the more addicting, you don’t have to limit it to frames! You can decorate wooden letters, tables, dresser drawers, canvases, footstools, cabinets, bookshelves, cats, children…now I’m eyeing everything in our house to see if I it’s mod-podgeable.
I wonder what our siding and front door would look like covered in scrapbook paper…
These are super cute! I should wallpaper my foyer with scrapbook paper…just kidding…maybe.
-FringeGirl
Love them! Yes, Mod Podge is addictive. Ask me how I know. You can make SUPER cute clipboards with scrapbook paper and Mod Podge. I even did Grayson's name on a canvas over his bed with Mod Podge, scrapbook paper, and letters I cut out of scrapbook paper with my Cricut.
Thanks so much for sharing, after hearing Nikki's description of the frames I was dying to learn how to make one myself!
Your frames are awesome!
I think I might have to make a trip to Michael's this week!
I am so glad you had a good time. I think everybody did. You have no idea how worried I was the night before that everyone would think it was too boring. I'm glad it took off and I was super excited for everyone that showed up. I miss seeing all of you and when I do it's always in quick spurts. We should have a Mod Podge party before Christmas. Now off to plan the next venture! (:
April
Wow…very cute! And it looks pretty easy. I'm sorry I missed it!
Those are too cute! I have mod podged lots of stuff but never frames. I will be picking some up soon!
Gorgeous frames for a gorgeous little girl. :)
I haven't allowed myself to buy another jar of mod podge after the tea light holder incident of '08. I covered every empty baby food jar I had collected over two years with torn tissue paper. It was fun. I still have some in my closet.
Okay, those are great. What a great idea. Do you know I have never used Mod-Podge? Never. That will have to be remedied.
What a cute idea! I especially love the last two. I think I may have to visit the craft store this weekend!
OH MY! I am going to have to try this!!!! Thank you for not keeping it a secret!!! Those were sooooo cute!
So cute! Those are such fun and easy to make.
These are awesome Rachel! Believe me, I know where you are coming from with the addicting crafts! At age 25, I bought my first sewing machine (2 days ago). I'll totally have to give this a try! Thanks for the tutorial!
I LOVE doing stuff like that! I will definitely try it!
LOVE IT. I love to scrapbook and deco everything. The mod Podge can be used on just about anything. A few years ago I made domino necklaces and mod podged prints on the slick side. Love your frames. I will have to make me some with trains on them.
So cute! I've never used Modge Podge in all my crafting years. Shocking I know. I would be the same way if I ever tried this. Keep me away from Michael's and Hobby Lobby! lol
I love the coordinating ones you did and the antiquing ink. So pretty.
I love those! A couple of questions though, How are they standing up? Did you put a plastic or glass covering for the picture in? That look soo addicting, but I might be going to Hobby Lobby tonight!!
Beautiful! I wish I were that crafty. I'm afraid that Mod Podge would become completely taken over by my daughter…
I can't stop thinking about it either and I'm about the least crafty person on the planet. I'm seriously thinking about mod podging the cabinets in our hall bathroom…
Love it!!
I'm going to wish I'd never read this post, as I need only the flimsiest of excuses to take up a new craft. I have avoided scrapbooking because I already have too much yarn, but I love the paper and cutting implements associated with it. We made Valentine's using scrapbook paper this year and I still have some left. I think Mod Podge is the way to go.
Also, when Ali is ready for Arts and Crafts, Mod Podge some torn tissue paper on Mason jars to make fun, colorful lanterns!
I am loving this craft idea! Cheap and adorable! I just may link to your post in the near future! Love it!Thanks for sharing!
I am loving this craft idea! Cheap and adorable! I just may link to your post in the near future! Love it!Thanks for sharing!
Well, these will be the gifts i give from now on! So easy and cute!!!
What did you guys use to stand them up and to keep the pictures in/cover the pictures?
I had so much fun that night!! I may have gone to Michael's twice today to make a frame for a friend's new baby. I may have purchased the extra large bottle of Mod Podge. This might be because I am now obsessed with these frames. Letters and tissue box covers might soon follow!!
I see how that could be addictive!!! I gotta go get some of that stuff.
omg–SO CUTE! I have to make some soon!
I am going to have to do this. One of my old neighbors would buy shoes from Goodwill and Decoupage them. I thought I would mention this 'cause I'm worried about your sliding glass doors ;).
Here are some of her results.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bd0BLF4u6lI/Sh_0g-Vo6TI/AAAAAAAABB4/meIDYzxIQ4w/s1600-h/shoes+123.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bd0BLF4u6lI/Sh_0gYlaY1I/AAAAAAAABBo/zmOuGH0-jBk/s1600-h/shoes+088.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bd0BLF4u6lI/Sh_0gqUUW4I/AAAAAAAABBw/4N_kGv9h6KQ/s1600-h/shoes+075.jpg
Every year we go to the beach and do a craft night. WE WILL be doing this!
Such cute, cute frames! Looks like a fun night.
great job ladies!! looks like fun! I might just have to try this…i've been wanting to re-do my wall gallery in the living room….
I have been doing these for years for gifts too….and you are right, it is addictive…but it is so fun, affordable and unique. You can make it your own – how you want it – I love doing it. I see you posted this a long time ago, but for some reason it was on my Pintrest when I logged in. So glad to see someone else having the same fun I have had. I love Mod Podge… and it is great! Paper and gule RULE!
I love your creations! They are so cute and fun. I’m going to use this idea for my daughters birthday party craft :)
I want to do this but how would I add words to it? I found a quote I want to put on a frame…
Only just found this now, brilliant idea. print out the quote and cut it out and put it onto the frame and cover with modge podge to act as a clear sealant.
Thanks for sharing this! I’ve never done one before, but you convinced me that it doesn’t take too long, so I think I’ll try it!
I’ve actually cut out cute quotes on scrapbook paper and made a collage I guess you would say on my boring bland wood steak knife set and matched it with my boring wood paper towel holder and it looks so cute!
Adorable tutorial, straightforward, down to earth and fun to read. The pics were much appreciated too. Now I feel I MUST do this too! Thank you!