Photo Transfer Ornaments

If you’re looking for a last minute, meaningful gift for someone in your life, make them a photo transfer ornament. These are fairly simple to make and can definitely leave a lasting impression!

I made this ornament for my aunt using a picture of Munich I found online because she took me there just before I got married. On the back I transferred the words Merry Christmas…We love you!

To make your own ornaments, just follow the directions for Mod Podge photo transfer in my Light Switch Cover post, or my Popsicle Stick Puzzle post using a small wooden disc you can find for super cheap at Hobby Lobby or other such stores.

I’ll be linking up to Fun Stuff Fridays, Christmas Craft Link Party, Frugal Friday, Frugalicious Friday, and Friday Fun Finds.

Father’s Day: Photo Transfer Popsicle Puzzle

If you’re in need of a last minute Father’s Day gift from your kids, you can always make Dad a photo transfer popsicle stick puzzle. Of course, you could make them a normal popsicle stick puzzle which will also look darling, but add the concept of photo transfer and you’ve got a cute, fun variation!

Not all printers will work for this, but we have a laser jet and it works just fine. If you don’t have a laser jet, a photo copier will work too. Print out a picture in the size you want it based on the popsicle sticks. I used 12 sticks and my picture was 4x6 inches.

Mod Podge Stickers

If you’re anything like me, it drives you bonkers when your kids half peel the stickers off toys! K’s poor trike looks horrendous because what’s left of the stickers are filthy and peeling.

Last weekend we went to the Lowe’s Build & Grow clinic and built a race car. K has adored this car and was actually upset when the stickers started coming off. Stickers and wood just don’t make the best match.

Tupperware Organizer to Lazy Susan

Did anyone else receive one of these for their wedding?:

If your cupboards are big enough, and if you don’t break/lose half of the lids/smallest storage containers, these can be fantastic. Sadly, we’ve lost and broken so many that the organizer became fairly useless, never mind we couldn’t stack the tallest containers in it because it wouldn’t fit in our cupboards. When I suggested giving it away, my thoughtful hubby looked at our spice cabinet and inspiration struck! A lazy susan :)

Magazine Christmas Tree

Handmade decorations for the holiday are so fun because they are unique every year and you don’t have to store them!

A magazine tree, or two or three, will be the perfect center piece for your holiday table!
All you really need is a magazine. It has to be thick like a Martha Stewart magazine. You can also add paint or a marker and glitter with Mod Podge. I found this on Make the Best Of What’s Around, who saw this on the Martha Stewart Show.

Creative Gift Wrapping

My older brother is a little hard to shop for, but I know he loves book stores so I used some of my MyPoints points and got him a Borders gift card. He also collects Snoopy items, so I paired a cute little Snoopy with the gift card. Wrapping something like this is a pain, which is why I thought I would get a little creative:

That’s right…Snoopy in a can! All you need is a hot cocoa canister (empty and gently wiped out with a wet cloth), the item to be wrapped, festive wrapping paper and Mod Podge.

Yarn Tree

Yarn trees made of cones seem to be really popular this year, and I know why…because they’re cute and cheap. As I started thinking of how I could make my own cheap version my eyes wandered to the lemon juice bottle on my counter and before I knew it, I had my own little yarn tree; from a bottle!

All you need is:

• Yarn
• A fun shapely bottle
• Mod Podge
• Bead or other ornaments
• Glue for your ornaments

Popsicle Stick Puzzles

Do you have a little one that just loves puzzles? Thanks to Play Create Explore, I have the perfect homemade gift for you! These are so stinkin’ cute and so easy to make that older kids can make them for younger siblings. You can use family picture, coloring book pages, magazine pages, whatever!

All you need are:

• Popsicle sticks
• Pictures cut to the size of your popsicle stick puzzle
• Mod Podge
• An Exacto Knife or similar sharp pointy thing

Silhouette Ornaments

Want to find out how I made these?:
Head over to Crazy About My Baybah, Family and Life in Las Vegas, or The Life of a Sippy Cup Mom where I am guest posting today!




I'm linking to Show Me Your Bush.

Mod Podge Colored Jack-O-Lantern Jars

As if I haven't made enough Halloween decorations yet...especially Jack-O-Lanterns...last year I didn't even decorate at all...

Mod Podge Rocks is seriously going to get me in trouble if I keep slacking on my chores because of all the fun ideas she shares! Months ago I saw the idea to use Mod Podge to color jars, and Halloween seemed like the perfect time to try this!

All you need is jars, tea candles, food coloring, dark fabric or paper and a few teaspoons of Mod Podge (a little more if your jars are big, but it seriously doesn't take much).

Cut out a Jack-O-Lantern face from your dark fabric or paper. Use a bit of Mod Podge to adhere it to your jars. Let dry. Add desired amount of food coloring to some Mod Podge in a separate container such as a baby food container. If you're using small jars, a few teaspoons will be plenty.  Spread your colored Mod Podge all of the jar and let dry. Add another coat or two and let dry.

Light your candles and bask in the gentle glow of your adorable Jack-O-Lanterns.

I'm linking up to Made By You Monday @ Skip to My Lou, Making the World Cuter Monday @ Making the World Cuter, The DIY Showoff, Metamophosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch, and Market Yourself Monday @ Sumos Sweet Stuff.

Jack-o-lanterns From a Jar

I have a confession. Ever since I saw these adorable jars on a friend's blog, I have wanted to make these. So much so, that I begged for Mod Podge for Christmas last year (what! ya, I didn't have any Mod Podge to my name before Christmas...I'm sorry!). Anyhow, I've wanted to make these so much that I have been saving, hoarding and collecting various jars for the last year...to the point that my husband has threatened to throw them away several times.

Halloween is coming up...in a month and a half. If you're making decorations this year (you probably want to start soon anyhow right?), consider these: All you need is however many jars you want to deal with, orange and black fabric or tissue paper (I used fabric, and lots of parentheses apparently), scissors, Mod Podge, ribbon and tea candles. Make sure your jar's mouths are wide enough to put tea candles in.

Ok, cut your fabric or tissue paper to the size of your jar, so it will wrap all the way around. Spread some Mod Podge on your jar and press the fabric onto it, working your way around. Make sure none of the fabric is on the inside of the jar and is cut even with or lower than the top of the jar so you can minimize those fire hazards. 











Cut out jack-o-lantern faces from black fabric, or paper, or tissue paper and use your lovely Mod Podge to adhere them to the fabric already adhered to your jar. Let that dry and spread some Mod Podge over the face to seal it on, and if you wish, spread Mod Podge over all the fabric to give it a glossy look. Lighting your tea candle in your jar throughout the process just so you can see how cute it's turning out to be is totally normal...at least by my standards :)
Once your jar is dry, tie on or Mod Podge green ribbon to the top of the jar. You can even add a bow for some femininity, as if Mod Podged jars aren't feminine enough...
Insert the candles. If you want, use something sticky to keep the candles in place.

Use a long candle or one of those fancy long lighters to light your candles and bask in the cuteness of your little Jack-o-lanterns!
There you have it...super cute, cheap decorations for Halloween!
I'm linking up toShow and Tell @ Blue Cricket Design, It's Party Time @ Pony Tales and Fish Scales, Kids Craft @ Red Ted Art's Blog,  Penny Pinching Party @ Thrifty Home, Works for me Wednesday @ We Are That Family, and Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts, Fall Link Party @ Curly Q Crafts, and Crazy Cute Thursdays @ Between U & Me.

Photo Transfer Light Switch Cover

My family spent Christmas in Europe this last year...without me. It's ok, I survived. Ever since they got back, my little sister has been obsessed with England in particular. She also happens to have no cover for her light switch for whatever reason. Guess what she's getting for her birthday?
After making my mom swear she wouldn't buy a new one, I found a light switch cover at Walmart for less than a buck!
I used the same process as I used in my photo tiles. All I needed was paint, Mod Podge, the desired photo and a brush. Oh, and plenty of patience!

The process is fairly simple, you just have to be gentle and cannot rush it! First, paint the cover whatever color you want. I did silver since my sister's room is painted blue, and I like how those two colors look together. Let that dry and cover with a coat of Mod Podge. Let dry.
Print off your picture to scale. I've heard this works with ink printers. Ours is laser jet and it worked perfectly fine. If it doesn't, you can print a Xerox copy. I used Big Ben  because it fitted nicely along the bottom and stretched up the side of the cover. Cover your picture with Mod Podge and using your fingers, press it firmly to the cover. Smooth your fingers over the picture to get rid of any air bubbles.  









Let this dry. The longer you wait, the better odds you have of this turning out right. I waited over night.

Spray water on the paper and using your fingers rub back and forth until the paper fibers start rubbing off. If you rub too vigorously the picture will come off. This is one of the most time consuming. If you don't rub all of the paper off, it will dry leaving your image very ghost-like. Just spray again, and keep rubbing!

I also printed the word London backwards in a fun font. Using the same technique, I applied it to the top of the cover and after letting it dry, rubbed the paper off.
Once all the fibers are gone, retouch anything you need to with paint, and cover with a coat or two of Mod Podge. Let dry and have the coolest light switch cover ever! I can't wait to give this to my sister for her birthday! 













For more photo transfers with Mod Podge, check out Mod Podge Rocks, Still Alive, Sabby In Suburbia, and The Feminist Housewife. These wonderful ladies were my inspiration!

I'm linking up to Making the World Cuter Mondays @ Making the World Cuter, Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative, Made By You Mondays @ Skip to My Lou, and Craftastic Mondays @ Sew Can Do. As well as Creative Chick Parade @ Trendy Treehouse.

Mod Podge Photo Tile Transfers

After reading several blogs about photo transfers with Mod Podge, I was committed. The only problem was I didn’t have any random wood or canvas, and I try my hardest to not buy anything unless I absolutely have to have it.
I did have some tile magnets on my fridge that could be much cuter, and there I had it! Want to make your own? Here’s how:
Supplies:

• Mod Podge
• Paint brush or sponge
• Picture printed off a laser jet printer, or a photo copy of a picture, cut to size
• Tile, or wood or canvas
• Spray bottle or squirt gun, or something that can spray small amounts of water
• Patience!!!!

In all honesty, I had to redo some of my tiles around 4 times each because it’s a learning process, but I love how they turned out, and I love having pictures of my family on my fridge! This is much easier on wood or canvas because they’re porous, but it can be done on tile!
1. Print out or get a photo copy of your picture. Cut to just larger than your tile or wood. 2. Coat the picture with Mod Podge and lay face down on the tile. Using your fingers or the back of a spoon, make sure you get all of the air bubbles out. 3. Let dry; thoroughly. Learn from me, it’s worth it to wait even though you’re so excited to see how it will turn out. If it’s hot outside, set your tile in the sun and you’ll only have to wait an hour or two. Or, let it dry over night.
4. Spray the paper with little amounts of water and GENTLY start rubbing the paper off. This is a slow process, but you can’t rush it and you shouldn’t use your nails. Using the pads of your fingers rub the layers of paper away.
If the picture starts tearing, stop and let it dry. Mine was most likely to tear on the corners, so I worked from the center out. Even then, none of the corners stayed perfect. It gives it an aging look right? :)
Once dry, moisten your finger and start rubbing any remaining paper off. If you don’t get all the paper fibers off, your image will look ghostly. 5. If desired, once the paper is off and the image is dry, sand the edges a little.
6. Finally, seal your image with Mod Podge and let dry. My tile of C has white fabric Mod Podged on first, then the image was Mod Podged on, and dried. If you choose this route, the image will be less fragile, and it still looks great if the fabric matches your tile. Follow steps 2-5 after the fabric has dried onto the tile.

I also tried Mod Podging a picture straight onto the tile, picture side up. Though it looks cute, I like the transfers much better. This method is infinitely easier though!

This magnet had paper already Mod Podged on it, and I just layered this picture on top for sake of time and sanity, which is why it has a terraced look. Yes, that’s one of our engagement pictures…isn’t my husband so handsome?!
I would love to hear what else photos can be transferred to with Mod Podge! Sometimes it takes someone else’s eyes to see the potential of ordinary things.
For more photo transfers with Mod Podge, check out Mod Podge Rocks, Still Alive, Sabby In Suburbia, and The Feminist Housewife. These wonderful ladies were my inspiration!

Photo Cube Puzzle

I saw these photo cube puzzles on Not So Idle Hands and knew I had to make some. They are so stinkin' cute!

I ended up making one for my mom for her birthday and had so much fun doing it I'm planning to make more for Christmas or other birthdays. Yes, I plan Christmas as soon as the previous Christmas is over!

Supplies:
Mod Podge
Wooden blocks (mine were 1 1/4 inch blocks from Hobby Lobby-it was 8 blocks for under $3)
Sandpaper
Paint color of your choice
6 pictures, cropped and sized according to your block size
Once you have your blocks, sand the edges so they're smooth and paint them whatever color you desire. I chose black. I only painted the edges because the pictures will cover most of the blocks.Since my blocks were 1 1/4 inch, and my puzzles had 6 blocks, my pictures had to measure 2 1/2 x 3 3/4 inches. You could use larger blocks or more (Emily at Not So Idle Hands used 9 blocks).

Once your photos are cut down to the size of your puzzle, cut all 6 photos into squares the size of your blocks. I traced one block onto a piece of paper and used that as a stencil. Make sure the pictures fit; some might need to be trimmed down a tiny bit.
Now, Mod Podge your pictures onto the blocks. Make sure you have some method for making sure parts of the same picture don't end up on the same block :) I ended up gluing on one picture at a time, letting it dry, and moving onto the next. Once that is dry, cover with a few coats of Mod Podge to seal and you have a darling photo cube puzzle!

K is getting into puzzles so I'm trying to figure out what kind of kiddy puzzle I could do...maybe construction vehicles or something?

I'm linking up to Creative Chick Parade @ Trendy Treehouse, Making Monday Marvelous @ CRAFT,  Try and Tell at Mom Tried It as well as:

Breaking in the Mod Podge

After discovering so many incredible blogs and seeing the amazing things Mod Podge can do, I asked my husband for some for Christmas and just barely broke it in last night. It was so much fun! My brain is already constantly thinking of what else I can Mod Podge!

I decided to keep it simple for my first time so I made some number magnets for K. He's always saying it's 6:54 PM for whatever reason, so now we can use these to teach him numbers and read digital clocks properly.

I took some magnets like the ones that come on the front of phone books...the floppy ones that usually get thrown away and cut them into 1 3/4" blocks.

I printed out the numbers 0-9 backwards so that when I cut them out, any ink that I didn't cut off would be on the back and not seen on the finished product. I used the rest of the paper to cut to the size of the magnets and Mod Podged those on. Once dry, I Mod Podged the numbers on, and when that was dry I covered the whole front with a layer of Mod Podge.

I rounded the corners so that they'll hopefully last longer and stuck em on the fridge before I went to bed. I then had the joy of peeling all the dry Mod Podge off my hands and feeling like I was in elementary school again, peeling Elmer's glue off my fingers after art projects.

K noticed the new addition to our fridge first thing this morning and was so excited that all of my grumpiness at being woken up by 2 screaming boys at 6:14 AM evaporated and my day started going so much better. Thank you Mod Podge!