Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

Purchase comic book heels and they’re going to cost you $50 and up, but when you make them yourself, it’ll cost you a fraction of the price. I’m a fan of Batman, so I picked up a few vintage Batman comics and used them to create a pair of comic heels. They take awhile to make, but they’re worth it to have a custom piece of fashion that no one else has.

What you need:

• High Heels
• Mod Podge
• Varnish
• Comics
• Newspaper
• Sandpaper
• Scissors

Step 1. Ball up the newspaper and stuff it in your shoes so you don’t get the insides messy from the glue.

Step 2. Cut up the comics to the pieces you want. Large pieces won’t work well as they’ll crease easier than smaller pieces.

Step 3. Choose a pair of heels you want to use. I opted for a pair that were scuffed beyond repair in the front, so this project is a great way to revamp shoes that would otherwise go in the trash.

Step 4. Put Mod Podge on a small section of shoe at a time, then start attaching your comic book pieces. As you’re applying the glue, make the paper slightly soggy so it can bend easier, just be careful not to rip it as you’re smoothing it down.

Step 5. When you have the entire shoe covered in comics, put a coat of Mod Podge over it and let it sit to dry over night.

Step 6. Trim off the excess paper, then attach more Mod Podge especially around the edges.

Step 7. Sand down the shoes to create a more even surface. Don’t press too hard or you’ll wear down the paper.

Step 7. Put a coat of varnish over the shoes and let them sit to dry overnight before wearing them. I recommend putting a second or even third coat on as well.

Even though they are protected by the varnish, I don’t recommend wearing these anywhere near water. It’s also a good idea just to wipe them down with a damp cloth after walking in them outside just to remove dirt before it builds up too much.

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

I’m not a fan of putting a wet glass on the floor or table so I always have it sitting on top of a coaster. Unfortunately, a lot of coasters aren’t very attractive so I prefer to make my own. I have a love of maps, so I thought these are a fantastic way to add a little color and style to the table. With a little time and a few supplies, you can make map coasters that are perfect to use in your home or give as gifts.

What you’ll need:

• Tile
• Cork sheet
• Mod Podge
• Varnish
• Map
• Scissors
• Pen

Step 1. Choose a map that you want to use for your coaster, then flip it over so the map is facing down.

Step 2. Trace the tile onto the back of the map.

Step 3. Carefully cut the paper out so it’s exactly along the lines you traced.

Step 4. Coat the top of the tile with Mod Podge, then place the paper square on top and smooth out the air bubbles. Put another coat of Mod Podge over it.

Step 5. Trace the tile onto a thin cork sheet, then carefully cut it out.

Step 6. Use Mod Podge to adhere the cork onto the bottom of the tile. Let the coaster dry thoroughly before moving onto the next step.

Step 7. Coat the top of the coaster with varnish, let it dry, then repeat the process twice more. This helps prevent water from the glass from ruining the map. Let it dry completely before using.

By General Crafts Contributor Sara, from the blog Clever Pink Pirate.

My guest bathroom is so bare and could definitely use some color. Our budget is tight right now and I always try to upcycle something I already have to fit into my decor. I created this magazine box for our guest bathroom out of an empty cereal box and wrapping paper using Mod Podge. It took less than an hour to create and the cost was minimal.

Supplies:

• Large Cereal Box (empty)
• Mod Podge
• Wrapping Paper or Scrapbook Paper
• Scissors
• Gorilla Glue or strong craft glue

Directions:

Take the cereal box and open it up where it is glued. Adhere the tops of the box to the inside of the box like shown above with scotch or packing tape.

Measure the wrapping paper to go on the front and inside of the box, to the bottom, leaving the bottom unwrapped. Cut the paper according to the measurement.

Take the mod podge and adhere the backside of the paper to the box on the outside and inside, smoothing as you go.

Once the paper is securely glued, start folding the box back together, sealing with a strong craft glue. I personally like using Gorilla Glue (wood), it works great on most of my projects and you can’t see it.

Place heavy objects inside the box to make sure the pressure makes the glue and paper stick. Allow an hour to dry.

This cute box can be put in bathrooms, bedrooms, guest rooms and living rooms! The great thing about this is that it is fairly cheap meaning you can easily change them out with the seasons!

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

I love having custom pieces of jewelry that no one else owns and one of the easiest ways for me to accomplish this is to make them myself. It’s a great way to liven up your wardrobe for a fraction of what you would pay in the store. All it takes is a few supplies to make unique and stylish bracelets that you know no one else is going to be sporting.

What you need:

• Wood bracelet
• Mod Podge
• Varnish
• Sandpaper
• Decorative paper
• Scissors

Step 1. Choose the paper you want for your bracelet, then cut it into thin horizontal strips. I used antique pages from a broken Shakespeare book, so I just cut the paper every four lines.

Step 2. Put a strip of Mod Podge on the bracelet, then press the paper down and fold along the sides. Don’t fold the ends over just yet. As you’re applying the strips of paper, line them up flush to each other and make sure the pattern or wording all faces the same direction.

Step 3. Continue attaching the paper strips until you completely cover the outside of the bracelet.

Step 4. Once the outside is covered, fold the ends over to the inside and glue them down with Mod Podge. Be careful not to press too hard or it’ll rip the ends off.

Step 5. Put a coat of Mod Podge over the inside and outside of the bracelet, then let it sit to dry overnight.

Step 6. Put a coat of varnish on the inside and outside of the bracelet, then let it dry for several hours before wearing it.

By General Crafts Contributor Sara, from the blog Clever Pink Pirate.

Washi tape, it’s all the rave right now! I went on a slight shopping spree when I saw so many projects with it. I then thought, how could I incorporate this into my office decor. One easy idea is this washi tape jar, which is extremely easy to create! It holds my pens, pencils and markers at my desk and adds a little flair.

Craft Supplies:

Mason Jar

Washi Tape (the more different types of patterns, the more artistic it will look)

Mod Podge (this will help seal it and prevent the top layers from coming off)

Directions

Tape each style Washi Tape and layer the Washi Tape in different directions on the jar. Continue until it’s fully covered. Seal with a Mod Podge if desired.

By Crafts-a lot Contributor, Mable who is an avid reader of craft blogs & magazines and has aspirations to improve her crafting skills. Join Mable on Facebook to socialize and share with other crafters!

Last week I shared some of my favorite summer weekend projects. While perusing my favorite craft blogs, I found more to add to my list of craft projects! I love having craft projects around my home, why not outdoors too?

When I saw this Outdoor Table Makeover tutorial, I thought I needed to make this, NOW! The succulent plant in the middle is genius and it looks stylish. Succulents are “air plants” and do not need to be planted in soil, and survive by their ability to retain water. Succulents are the perfect plant for this project. The new coat of varnish makes the table really shine.

Outdoor Table Makeover

I’ve made stepping stones for my garden before but never thought of this, adding leaf imprints! There are so many large leaves with great shape. I think these Leaf Imprint Stepping Stones would look great on your front porch, by your front door, in the garden, or as a gift…

Leaf Imprint Stepping Stone

I don’t think I could write about outdoor crafting without mentioning Outdoor Mod Podge. Outdoor Mod Podge will seal and protect decoupage and painted surfaces from outdoor elements. It will even seal wood, terra cotta, slate, tin and even more surfaces.

Check out this DIY Mini Plant Stand tutorial. You could decoupage anything onto this, think of the possibilities!

DIY Mini Plant Stand

The Queen of Mod Podge says you can decoupage a bike. Need I say more?!

Mod Podge Bike

For over 40 years crafters have entrusted their most treasured creations to Mod Podge—the number one, all-in-one glue, sealer, and finish product that’s water-based for easy cleanup and totally non-toxic. Mod Podge Rocks!: Decoupage Your World features over 40 simple, inexpensive decoupage projects from author Amy Anderson—founder of the popular Mod Podge Rocks! blog—and some of the hottest names in crafting such as Cathie Filian, Heather Mann, and Candie Cooper.

The book includes contemporary and fun projects including:

• Home accessories like a Moroccon End Table (page 48) and Antique Key Wall Art (page 96).
• Holiday décor including a Halloween Countdown Calendar (page 100) and Patchwork Christmas Ornaments (page 116).
• Wearables such as Mod Boots (page 16) and a Bike Helmet (page 30).
• Jewelry like a Bottlecap Necklace (page 28) and a Children’s Art Charm Bracelet (page 25)
• A basic section outlines the simple techniques, and each project features beauty shots, easy-to-follow instructions, and how-to photos.

About the Author:

Amy Anderson lives in Atlanta, GA. Her website, Mod Podge Rocks! is hugely popular, and her blog is ranked #8 on Babble.com’s Top 50 Mom Craft Blogs for 2011.

Amy also blogged for Think Crafts! She was our General Crafts Contributor and you can see her work HERE!