Author Archives: Amy A

About Amy A

Amy Anderson is a 32-year-old transplant from Seattle living in Atlanta, Georgia. She was born from creative genes, and is carrying on the tradition. She has been knitting for 17 years, sewing for longer and decoupaging for just a few. She does all of these things on a daily basis, or at least as much as she can. In addition to Mod Podge, Amy loves the color blue, dogs, reading, cold weather, funny movies, road rallies, yogurt, garden gnomes, sock monkeys, running, tattoos, being outdoors, buttons, snuggling and apparently blogging. Amy says “who knew I could enjoy crafting and then blogging about it this much?” You can find more of Amy’s work at “Mod Podge Rocks!”

Vintage Notebook

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By General Crafts Contributor Amy, from the Blog “Mod Podge Rocks!”

I like to keep little notebooks around to capture inspiration when it strikes me.  I like to use notebooks like the one above for magazine clippings, color chips, photos or any other ideas.  This one fits neatly in my purse, and I can pop it out to record what I see for future art projects.  If you don’t have an inspiration journal, make one!  You’ll find they come very much in handy when you have an inspiration block.

To make, you’ll need to gather these supplies:

Paper Mache Book

Making Memories Vintage Findings Embellishments

Paper Accents Cardstock – 1 sheet Splash

ColorMates Cardstock – 1 sheet Smooth Ice Dust

Coredinations Cardstock – 1 sheet Vintage Sun Coral

Mod Podge Gloss

Paper Flowers – 2 coordinating

Buttons – 7 coordinating

Die cut machine, punch or scissors – whatever you have to make shapes

Clear “Bird Sing” stamp

Colorbox Brown Ink

Craft Glue

Flat Paint Brush

Scissors or Craft Knife

Ruler

Pencil

Take a sheet of cardstock and cut it to the size that will fit the front of your notebook.

Coat the front cover of your notebook with a medium layer of Mod Podge – don’t forget to cover the corners well since they are the first to dry.

Smooth your cardstock down thoroughly onto the front cover of your notebook.  You can see that I use a brayer – your hands work too, but just make sure to smooth *really* well.  Allow to dry for 15 – 20 minutes.

After the cover has dried, you are now ready to coat the top.  Give it a medium layer of Mod Podge and completely cover the front (don’t Mod Podge the inside or your pages will stick).  Allow to dry for 15 – 20 minutes.

Start adding embellishments with Mod Podge to the front of your notebook.  I always do the Mod Podge items first.  Allow to dry for 15 – 20 minutes between layers.

Lately I’ve really been enjoying clear stamps, so I used one to make an embellishment for the front of my notebook.  You’ll see that I have a small bird stamp and used brown ink on the Ice Dust cardstock.  Cut out and Mod Podge to the front of the notebook.  I also cut out my name from the Sun Coral cardstock with letter punches and then Mod Podged those to the front (please return to me!).

Use your craft glue to adhere coordinating buttons, paper flowers and whatever other embellishments float your boat.  Allow your notebook to dry for 24 hours before using.  Also consider sealing with a clear acrylic sealer if your notebook is going to touch other items in your bag or purse.  Mod Podge can get sticky, especially when hot and you want to make sure it doesn’t get damaged.

Mother’s Day Frame

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By General Crafts Contributor Amy, from the Blog “Mod Podge Rocks!”

Does this frame look bright?  That’s because it is!  Bright colors are a big trend right now, so I wanted to embrace them for the upcoming Mother’s Day.  I distressed the frame (which is very easy, and I wish showed up better in photography) and then added some felt flowers – so simple!  I know my mom, and she is going to love it.  She is going to love it even more with the picture of me in it!

To make it, you’ll need to gather these supplies:

Square wood frame

FolkArt Acrylic colors – I used Lime Green, Bright Pink and Deep Ocean Blue

Felts in different colors to coordinate with your frame color choices

Foam stamps to spell the saying of your choice – I used “MOM”

Mod Podge Gloss

Buttons – 12 coordinating

Die cut machine, punch or scissors – whatever you have to make shapes

Sandpaper

Craft Glue

Flat Paint Brush

Start by base coating your frame with Pink.  Completely cover, but just on the front of the frame.  Give about two coats and allow to dry.

Paint over the pink with Lime Green.  Wow, it looks like an 80’s party threw up on my project!  Paint enough coats to completely cover the pink.

This is the toughest part of the project – you need to sand the frame in select areas to allow the pink to show through the green.  Sand as much or as little as you want; the amount of distressing is up to you.  Wipe any extra dust away after you are done.  And yes, that is my robed arm.  I get out of bed and craft.

Cut your shapes from your felt pieces.  You can do this with a die cutter, but you can also do it with regular punches or with your scissors.  If you would like a nice flower template, I recommend searching Google for clip art.  There are so many free patterns to be had!  Set your shapes aside.

Mod Podge your frame.  Completely coat the front and back, allowing to dry between coats.

Time to add your saying!  I used foam stamps, and it was easier for me to paint the backs rather than dipping in the paint.  You can control the amount of paint that goes onto the stamp if you use a brush.

Press the stamps with paint firmly onto your frame.  Allow to dry and then touch up with your brush.  Once the paint is completely dry, Mod Podge over the words to seal.

The final step is to glue down your flowers into a nice pattern and then add buttons in the centers.  Now add a picture of yourself and give to that special mom in your life.  She’s going to love it!

Painted Towels

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By General Crafts Contributor Amy, from the Blog “Mod Podge Rocks!”

I’m so excited for spring!  I was sprucing up my apartment the other day and realized that I needed some additional spring-like decorations.  Something pretty and fun just to liven up the place.  I decided to jazz up some white towels using paper stencils and fabric paint.  The great thing?  You can also give these as gifts – and you won’t believe how easy they are to make.

First you’ll need to gather these supplies:

White cotton towels

FolkArt Fabric Paint

Plaid Paper Stencils

  • Flower Towel – 6.75″ x 8″ Houndstooth
  • Bird Towel – 6.75″ x 8″ Vase Silhouette

Stencil Brush(es)

Wax paper

 

Wash and iron your towels.  Fold them so that the side is showing that you want to paint on.  Tear a sheet of wax paper off and place between the layers of towel – then your paint won’t seep through as your are completing your project.

Think about your design and even sketch it out on another piece of paper.  Punch out the paper from your first stencil and lay it down on the surface.

You have two options – you can hold the stencil down with your hand or secure it with tape.  My preference was to just hold the stencil down since the paper didn’t slip on my surface.  If you have a more slippery surface, you should definitely use tape.

Start painting.  Stenciling works a lot differently from regular painting.  With stenciling, you will “dry brush.”  This means to dip your stencil brush in paint and then remove most of it by tapping it onto your plate or paper towel.  Once you are ready, dry brush a light layer onto your fabric surface.  Keep repeating until your shape is filled in.  DO NOT put too much paint onto the brush or it will seep under your stencil design and ruin your project.

 

Move to the other side of the project.  Paper stencils are nice because you can cut the elements apart (or if you are a slob like me, tear).  Repeat the dry brush process.

 

If you are completing different parts of the same design element like I did above, you’ll want to wait until the first part you paint dries.  That means paint the top of the flower (petals and center) first, and wait 15 – 20 for it to dry.  Then go back and lay the stencil back over and paint the stem and leaves.

Keep going until your towels are completely painted with your stencil design, then allow to dry.  Follow the finishing instructions listed on the bottle.  Save your paper stencils by wiping them off and putting them back into the bag for later.  They are completely reusable!

Fabric Ornaments

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By General Crafts Contributor Amy, from the Blog “Mod Podge Rocks!”

Christmas is not the only time for ornaments, in my humble opinion.  Spring is so fun and the weather is so nice that I created this ornament to celebrate.  I think it would make a lovely home decoration, and you can even get the kids involved in this one.  It was really fun and took hardly any time at all. 

First you’ll need to gather these supplies:

Craft Pedlars Paper Mache Ornament

FolkArt Acrylic Paint – Calypso Sky

Mod Podge Fabric

Mod Podge Gloss

Fabric pieces – 2 small coordinating

Buttons – 6

Die cut machine, punch or scissors – whatever you have to make shapes

Craft Glue

Flat Paint Brush

Wax paper

 

Paint your ornament with your base color – I used Calypso Sky.  Keep rotating and painting more coats until the ornament is completely covered.  Set aside to dry.

While your ornament is drying, prepare your fabric.  Wash and dry it, then iron it (which I neglected to do as you can see, but it’s okay for small cutouts).  Place the fabric down on a sheet of wax paper and “prepare” it using the Fabric Mod Podge.  Preparing fabric with Mod Podge means to paint Mod Podge over it in a medium layer and allow to dry.  Make sure to coat the entire area you are planning to use.  The advantage of preparing fabric is that when you cut it, the ends won’t fray.  Mod Podge both pieces and set aside to dry.

 

When the fabric is dry, use either a die cut machine, punch or plain ol’ scissors to cut out your flower shapes.  I did the flower tops with the blue fabric and my Sizzix Big Shot, and cut the stems and leaves out of the green fabric freehand with my scissors.  Do whatever inspires you!

 

Adhere the fabric pieces to do the ornament using Mod Podge Gloss.  I used six flower shapes – three of large and three of small.  I glued them down evenly spaced around the ornament.  Allow to dry.

 

Attach the stems.  You’ll see from the photo how I connected them at the bottom.  Flowers across from each other shared stems, so I only had to cut out three.

I cut out leaves for the large flowers only.  I adhered them to the ornament the same way I did the flower tops – by gluing them down and then putting Mod Podge over the top.  Once you are done, coat the entire ornament with Mod Podge.  Allow to dry for 15 – 20 minutes and then give it a second coat.  Allow to dry.

Use your craft glue to adhere coordinating buttons to the center of each flower.  Wait 24 hours until completely dry to display.

Mini Birdhouse

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By General Crafts Contributor Amy, from the Blog “Mod Podge Rocks!”

Do you love birdhouses?  I do.  I love anything to do with birds, including the homes in which they live.  I thought it might be fun to decorate a little birdhouse, and it turns out it is very fun!  A set of these would look great on a mantle, or make perfect little party favors.  To start, gather these supplies:

Mod Podge Gloss

Small wood birdhouse

FolkArt Paint – Fresh Foliage, Glazed Carrots, Wicker White

Making Memories Scrapbook Paper, 3 sheets of various

Paper flowers, 6

Buttons, 4

EK Success Paper Shapers Punch, Medium Scallop Circle

Flat paint brushes in various sizes

Beacon 3 in 1 glue

X-Acto knife

Paint the center piece of your birdhouse with Wicker White.  Let dry.

  

Paint the base and perch of your birdhouse with Fresh Foliage, and the top with Glazed Carrots.  Don’t worry about overlapping a little onto the white, because you are going to cover it up.  Allow to dry.

At this time, use your punch to create some scalloped circles out of the paper.  Punch out several so you have many to choose from.

Begin covering the center part of the birdhouse by gluing down the scalloped circles with the Mod Podge  Overlap them as you work around the birdhouse.  When you get to the edges, cut some of the circles with your X-Acto and place the straight line portion flush with the edge  Completely cover the birdhouse center with circles.  Allow to dry for 15 – 20 minutes.

 At this time, coat the entire birdhouse with Mod Podge.  Apply at least two coats, allowing to dry in between coats.  Allow to dry after finishing.

You are so close to being done!  Cut out the pieces that overlapped the center hole with your X-Acto.  It’s not too hard.

To finish, use your Beacon glue to add some paper flower embellishments with buttons.  I actually layered a few flowers as well.  So fun, so cute and so easy!

I Love You Canvas

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By General Crafts Contributor Amy, from the Blog “Mod Podge Rocks!”

I don’t know about you, but I’ve got some paper and supplies left over from Valentine’s Day.  I thought about what I could do with the goods and then it hit me – it’s a great idea to tell someone I love them any time of the year!  I went through my stash and picked out some items that I liked to make a cupcake canvas.  Cupcakes are huge right now and great for gift giving.  To make it, gather these supplies:

 Mod Podge Gloss

Artist Canvas – 11″ x 14″

Wood letters spelling the phrase of your choice

Wood heart embellishment

FolkArt Paint – Bright Baby Pink, Graffiti Pink, Soft Apple, Sky Blue, Wicker White

K&Company Paper Pad 12×12 Lovely

Cupcake punch

Coordinating ribbon – ¼” width

Beacon 3 in 1 Glue

Flat paint brushes of various sizes

Piece of paper to cover the top of the canvas (8.5″ x 14″ legal size)

Scissors

Stencil Tape

Ruler

Paint your entire canvas Sky Blue, or the background color of your choice to coordinate with your papers.  Coat the entire canvas a few times, and don’t forget to paint the sides.  Allow to dry.

 

Use the stencil tape to create a stripe at the bottom of your canvas.  I chose a width approximately a few inches wide – just big enough to hold my wood letters.  I just eyeballed it, no measuring.  Affix the stencil tape firmly and paint within the tape.  I used Bright Baby Pink.  Pull the tape off immediately after painting and allow to dry.

While your canvas is drying, paint your letters Soft Apple and your wood heart piece Graffiti Pink.  Allow to dry.  Use the end of your paint brush to make Wicker White dots on the letters and a little tick mark on the top right corner of your heart.  Allow to dry.

 

At this point I glued the letters, wood heart and some ribbon to the canvas with my Beacon glue.  I knew that the assembly of the cupcakes was going to be complicated so I just wanted to get that part done.  Allow the letters to dry and pay careful attention to what I did next.

Creating a grid from scratch and by hand is hard, so I decided to let my computer do the work.  I went into my PowerPoint program and made a slide that was 8.5″ x 14″ – the size of a legal sheet of paper.  I decided that I wanted ten cupcakes across and six cupcakes down after a quick measurement of the punch and the canvas.  If your punch is smaller or larger than about 1″, you will be able to fit a different number of cupcakes than I was.  Take that into account!

You are going to laugh at what I did next – I inserted a table into the PowerPoint slide, eleven columns wide by seven rows.  I then stretched it until it fit my slide exactly.  This was the perfect size and grid for my canvas!!!  I printed it out and laid it down on the canvas above the ribbon.  As you can see, I now have a grid for where to apply my cupcakes.  I had to figure out how to mark it.

 

I had a revelation – a pin!  I took a push pin and pressed through the canvas at each intersection so that I could see where I would need to apply the cupcake shape.  The pin creates a small hole that is covered by your paper cupcakes, so don’t worry.  Punch the entire grid.

 

Punch out your cupcakes!  I used a few different sheets of paper, mixing up the tops of the cupcakes with different bottoms.  I punched out 60 total cupcakes and had them on the sidelines.  I began by grabbing a cupcake top and Mod Podging it to the canvas right above the little dot I punched.  I had the cupcake top barely covering the dot, and it worked great.  Work along the entire row, from left to right, putting down your cupcake tops.  Allow to dry for 15 – 20 minutes.

Tip: Use your ruler as a guide, laying it down so you know where the top piece of your cupcake needs to go.  It helps! 

  

Go back and put down your cupcake bottoms right under the cupcake tops.  You’ve already laid the groundwork, so this is the easy part!  Allow to dry for 15 – 20 minutes.

You’re almost done!  Mod Podge everything to seal it – the entire canvas, letters, even the ribbon.  Give it all at least two coats and then let it dry.  Present this canvas to your sweetheart or other loved one for a gift or anniversary.  You know what would be fun?  Making actual cupcakes to give as a gift along with your canvas.  Yum!

Pomp-a-Doodle Scarf

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By General Crafts Contributor Amy, from the Blog “Mod Podge Rocks!”

I’m well aware of the fact that winter weather is almost over, but it’s actually a great time to start making presents for this coming fall.  I’ve been knitting since I was 15, and knitting goods for others takes some careful planning and preparation.  There nothing like the look on someone’s face when you deliver a hand-knitted gift!

A recent discovery of mine is Red Heart Pomp-A-Doodle yarn. If you haven’t felt this stuff, it’s amazing!  I got some this January and finally put together a scarf.  It’s so easy, so I share my pattern with you here.

Supplies:

Red Heart Pomp-A-Doodle, African Violet, 2 skeins

Knitting Needles, Straight, Size US 9

To Knit:

Cast on 14 stitches.

Knit all stitches.  Keep knitting until you’ve used up the 2 balls of yarn.

Cast off knitwise and bind in all ends.

Your fuzzy wuzzy scarf is complete!  These are so easy and soft . . . you should make several for gifts during the year.  Don’t forget to watch the following video for some really important tips on how to knit Pomp-A-Doodle.  It’s so fun!

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