Jewelry Storage

Since I have started making alot of my own jewelry I have no where to put it all. I have a jewelry stand that I use for my bracelets, stud earrings, rings, and pins. However I have been making several bracelets lately and they all don't fit any more. I thought a wood oval container that I thought would work for the bigger bracelets. At least this way the thin bracelets can still stay in my jewelry stand. And because I hate plain things I decided to dress it up with a little paper and of course some Mod Podge.

Much like how I made my newest magazine holder you will need to pick out a paper design you like. Take the top and flip it over to trace it out on the back of the paper. Once you have it cut out make sure it doesn't over lap in any spot. Coat the top with Mod Podge (I used the paper version) and place the paper down, making sure to smooth out the air bubbles. Let it dry for about 15 minutes before coating the top of the paper. I coated mine about three times.

While I was waiting for that to dry I started measuring the sides of the oval container. I measured it so that I could make sure I cut out the perfect strip.

Coat the sides with Mod Podge and apply the paper slowly to make sure it lays flat and doesn't apply crocked. (That was the hardest part... making sure it was on straight.) Use the roller to remove any air bubbles and press it down. I used two strips of paper to cover the sides. I had them over lap at the point on the container that it was nailed together.

I coated the sides about 3 times as well. While that was drying I went back to the cover and painted the rim the same pale blue in the paper's design.

After the paint had dried and all my coats had been applied to every thing else I applied a strip of Mod Podge to the rim and pressed down my ribbon. The ribbon wasn't exactly the same width, but that's why I painted it the same color as the ribbon and the paper. This way it would blend together. After I had pressed down the ribbon I did another coat over the ribbon to make sure it stayed in place. I coated that only twice.

Once every thing was done I sprayed it with Mod Podge acrylic gloss sealer. That helps protect it from needing to be re-coated and peeling off.

Now I have a bracelet jewelry box. I also put a few cedar balls inside to keep it fresh and keep out bugs just encase.

Pumpkin Cat

Fall brings us Halloween and Halloween brings us pumpkins. We like having pumpkins around, but I'm not always a fan of carving them. Mostly because the weather up here (Colorado) is cold and snowy at this time of year. Hell it almost always snows ON Halloween.

This year I decided to just draw a design on it. I went online and found a angry cat design and printed it out. I cut it out and traced the design onto my pumpkin.

Looks good outside too. I drew over it a few times to make sure you could see it pretty well.

Nice way to have your Halloween feel with out the mess. Works for me!

Organize with Style

I have already made a collage paper magazine holder.

 I also have 4 other tan holders. I need yet another one, so I thought I would make another paper one to even it out.
This time I wanted to do a solid design instead of a collage effect. I found scrapbook paper at Hobby Lobby that was the perfect theme for my bedroom and the color fit. I bought 3 pieces of the paper and that was more than enough. One sheet per side and another for the back and front sections. I picked up a bottle of Mod Podge paper so that it be more specific.

I also used my roller that I used in my coaster project to keep bubbles from forming. (You can also spray water on the paper before applying it to keep that from happening, just don't soak it with water or its very easy to tear.) Take the magazine holder and lay it down on the back of the paper so you can trace out the side.

Cut along the trace lines. Once its cut out put it back against the side to be sure it doesn't over lap any were. If you are happy with the cut out put a coat of Mod Podge on the side of the magazine holder and carefully place the paper as to not realign it again.  Use the roller (or whatever tool you have) to flat the paper out and remove any air bubbles you might have. Wait for the first applique to dry (15 minutes) before applying another coat over the paper. You will want to coat it at least 3 times, always letting it dry completely  before doing another coat.

Trace the back the same way you did the side whenever you are ready to move on. Apply the paper the same way, waiting for the Mod Podge to dry before applying another coat over the paper.

Repeat the same steps for the other side of the magazine holder. Once you are ready to do the front you the paper left over from doing the back. You will have to cut put two long strips for the right and left side of the description plate. Be sure to follow the pattern of the paper and how you have it placed on the other sides. Then cut out two sections for the top and bottom section around the description plate. Make sure to measure the spaces so that you don't have gaps around the description plate.

Once you have it coated to your satisfaction you can use the Mod Podge acrylic sealer to put that finished touch to your project. It protects your paper better than just leaving it alone.

Hidden in plain sight.

In the last post I showed you how to make your own water proof coasters. Since I made those sets (12 in all) for my living room I wanted to have a container for them. In the process of figuring out how I wanted to contain them I made a set of 6 for my bedroom, so I wouldn't ruin my bedroom furniture.

I found a wood box that fit the coasters perfectly and has a magnetic closure. I didn't want it to be plain so I sanded it down and picked out a color that fit each rooms's themes. (yes I have themes for my rooms)

Since my living room has a country irish theme I went with green. I painted the box, but it look boring just painted. So I found a wood flower detail accent and painted that as well. I also painted a coat of glaze on the box and the detail accent to seal the paint color.

Once the glaze dried I worked on my other box that would hold my bedroom coasters. My bedroom has a vintage french royal theme, so I went a little more classic. I painted the wood accent in a metallic sky blue. Those also got a coat of glaze to seal the colors.

Once they were both dried I sprayed them with my Mod Podge acrlyic sealer to protect it even more.

I didn't paint the inside, but it still looks great to me. The coasters fit great, event the 12 I made for the living room. (No I do NOT need that many, but I was testing out this project, so I did a basic pattern and then did a group of coasters in the theme I wanted. Why waste them?)

Coaster's that Fit You.

I was never able to find a set of coasters for the theme of the living room I once had. I couldn't find anything really fitting for the Irish country theme. So I thought I might try and make a set of my own. I did a trail set of 4 to see if it would come out, or even work well.

They turned out pretty well. I think I might keep them and use them for the kitchen or something.

The only hardship I had was trying to find Mod Podge Outdoors. It wasn't at Hobby Lobby or Michaels, or even Jo-Anne. I finally just ordered it to be shipped to the Walmart in our town. You don't have to use the outdoor version if you don't want, but then you need to make sure you use a waterproofing sealer.

You can use stone coasters or the cork ones that I chose.

Pick out the paper you would like to use and if there is a specific section you would like then make sure to center the coaster on that image. Take a sheet and flip it over and trace the outline of the coaster. Then cut it out. I cut inward a little to make sure I wouldn't have to worry about folding it over if it was too long.

Take the coaster and coak it with the mod podge. Then lay the paper cut out on top of the coaster. Take a roller and spread out the paper to get rid of the air bubbles.

Once you are sure you have gotten all the air bubbles out, coat over the paper. (I rolled over it again to make sure the new coat didn't make more air bubbles, but that is entirely up to you.) Let it dry for about 20 to 25 minutes. I did several coats and then let it dry for a full 24 hours.

I then took it out to the garage (to let it be aired out) and sprayed it along all the edges and then on the top. I let that dry about about 30 minutes and then coated it again. I left them out in the garage to air out, as the sealer can be rather smelly. Once I felt the smell was gone I put them back inside. That was my first set. I have since finished the real set of 6.

Might want to give it a try yourself. They work very well.