A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if I wanted her to bring me back anything. Would you believe me if I told you I asked for salt? I love picking up different varieties, whether we’re traveling or I’m just visiting a new shop. Maddie grabbed me a super cute one from her trip to Paris last year, and the Magic Unicorn Salt I get locally is another favorite. What’s yours?
One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛
When a stressful week with deadlines ends with Nat When a stressful week with deadlines ends with National Cheese Lovers Day, how could I not partake? Tbh, I wasn’t especially hungry, and the appetizers are always the best section of any menu, so the queso blanco from El Mejicano in town wasn’t too hard a choice. It’s smoky and cheesy and I could have licked the bowl clean, but a girl’s gotta have some boundaries. Happy weekend, friends! ✨
A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her of me and dropped it off in our mailbox, which really touched me. 💛 Life is too freaking short not to make conscious decisions to do more of what makes you happy, and to cut out the things that don’t. Rainbow Rowell said it best, “So, what if, instead of thinking about solving you whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”
The face and the daily hiccups… 😍 The face and the daily hiccups… 😍
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Press
  • Writing
  • Contact

Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Craft Time: Exploring with Mod Podge

June 26, 2012 · Narrative

mod podge project
Mod Podge and I go way back. Like waaaay back. I vividly remember many projects while in grade school where Mod Podge was a go-to. Any time you’re doing decoupage, it’s your glue, your sealer, and your super shiny finisher all in one handy little bottle. You can’t go wrong.

What I didn’t know, however, is that these days Mod Podge is more than that one tiny bottle.

Mod Podge stash

Collage papers.

Scrapers, rollers, and all sorts of other tools.

Podgeable Acrylic shapes. Yes, I said podgeable.

The folks at Plaid (the makers of Mod Podge) recently sent over a stuffed box of goodies, and as soon as I saw the contents, I knew exactly what to do with it.

Soon after I finished doing the kids’ Reading Room, I bought wooden letters from Michaels to spell the word R-E-A-D. I thought it would be perfect above the bookcase, and hello, it IS a reading room after all. I was originally planning on wrapping the letters with yarn (to match the pom poms I made for the window), but when I saw all the new Mod Podge items, that idea went out the window.

First, the outline of the letters was painted in primary colors. Once that dried, we set about doing a different treatment to each letter.

On the letter R, we cut out the pictures from the collage sheets, and then applied a clear Mod Podge to affix them securely.

mod podge close-up

On the letter E, we applied transfer words using one of the line’s rubbing tools, and then used the Antique Matte Mod Podge to give the letter a slightly darker tint to it, which I kind of loved. Until this project, I never even knew that Mod Podge existed in different finishes and colors. It makes me excited about Nick’s future school projects.

Well, that last part isn’t completely true, because his projects tend to be super involved, and I like to be hands off. You can always tell which kids had extra help from their parents, and which didn’t. And that kind of drives me crazy. I do, however, promise to share my Mod Podge stash with him for future projects to work with on his own though.

3d mod podge

Now for the letter A. This was one seriously my favorite. We painted the entire letter in blue, and then applied this Dimensional Magic to it, which gave it a 3D effect. Slightly puffy, but heaps cooler. It takes awhile to dry, and we may or may not have stuck our finger in it once or twice before it was set. We just couldn’t resist.

For the letter D, we again used the collage papers, but then put clear jewels over it. More Mod Podge to set everything.

The biggest thing I learned from this project? This is not the Mod Podge we all grew up with. It’s so much more now (hard to believe they’ve been around for 45 years!). All of the tools and products I mentioned are available at your local Michaels stores.

It was a fun way to spend a chill afternoon at home, and another perfect element to add to the kids’ Reading Room. One area rug, and a comfy chair and I think it’s done.

June 25 and 26, 2012 – Bonus Photos
breakfast
The kids eating breakfast at my office yesterday before The Ex picked them up for the week.

sparkly pens
Sparkly pens at Bed, Bath & Beyond. Five bucks a pop.

more sparkly pens

love these bowl sets
The pens were easy to pass up. These pink ombre bowl sets (at $3.99 a set) were a little harder to pass up (they have match cup and plate sets as well). I do love them, but they stayed in the store. Willpower and adverse to clutter, and all that.

laced up and ready to go
The weather today? Amazing. Nothing short of it. I texted a friend and we quickly formed a plan to go for a run after work. The weather was too gorgeous not to. And yes, I said run. Right before I sprained my ankle last year, I felt I was closerthanthis to starting to run. I’ve been slowly inching my way back there, and today was the first day. We did 3.3 miles total, and ran about a third of it. Which I’m pretty happy about.

Red Faced Runner
If you read other food blogs, or follow food bloggers on Twitter (you can follow me here), you may have caught wind of a Red Faced Runner 5K movement that started yesterday. Everyone is kind of virtually cheering everyone else on in their quest to get (or stay) fit, and is committing to doing a 5K on September 8th. Although everyone is all over the country and won’t be doing the *same* 5K, everyone will be with each other in spirit. I’m already signed up for a 5K in NYC in August, and one in Richmond in September. What’s one more? And my plan is to run one of them. We all have a little over two months to get there. This is a great starting post and very inspirational. You know, if you need that extra swift kick. Come on and join me, we’ll do it together.

*This post was sponsored as part of a paid campaign with Plaid Crafts and Blueprint Social. All the opinions are my own. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Pin It

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPRINT

Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Craft Ideas, Michael's, Mod Podge, Red Faced Runners 5K, Twitter

Comments

  1. Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch says

    June 26, 2012 at 10:30 pm

    Love that Mod Podge, too. Your READ is too cute! Mostly, I’m so excited about you getting your red face on! Doesn’t it feel good the rest of the day?

    You Go, girl!!!

    Reply
    • Cate says

      June 27, 2012 at 7:56 am

      Robyn – working out always has that wonderful domino effect. You want to eat better, make better choices, and are all-’round happier because of it. Works for me!

      Reply
  2. Joanne says

    June 27, 2012 at 6:20 am

    I love that puffy “A” also. I’m thinking maybe I should mod podge my new room when I move in a few weeks…

    Yay for your 5Ks and starting to run! I absolutely know you can do it. I assume the 5K in NYC is The Color Run…which day did you sign up for??

    Reply
    • Cate says

      June 27, 2012 at 7:56 am

      Yes, the Color Run. Saturday. Did you sign up?

      Reply
  3. patsy says

    June 27, 2012 at 8:49 am

    I’m starting back to running again… this time I want to run a whole 5k at some point! Just have to pick my 5k for that weekend! So glad to hear you are jumping into it as well!

    Reply
  4. Ramona says

    June 28, 2012 at 10:04 am

    Cute project.

    Reply
  5. Cookin' Canuck says

    June 30, 2012 at 7:16 pm

    That Mod Podge is so fun! I’m artistically-challenged, but would love to try this.

    I’m so glad you’re joining us in the Red Faced Challenge. You wear a red face well!
    Cookin’ Canuck recently posted..Amazing Chocolate Chip Cookies by Savory Sweet Life {Giveaway}

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Storytelling…
Through photos.
Words. And recipes.

Archives

Categories

Instagram

A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if I wanted her to bring me back anything. Would you believe me if I told you I asked for salt? I love picking up different varieties, whether we’re traveling or I’m just visiting a new shop. Maddie grabbed me a super cute one from her trip to Paris last year, and the Magic Unicorn Salt I get locally is another favorite. What’s yours?
One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻

Pinterest

A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if I wanted her to bring me back anything. Would you believe me if I told you I asked for salt? I love picking up different varieties, whether we’re traveling or I’m just visiting a new shop. Maddie grabbed me a super cute one from her trip to Paris last year, and the Magic Unicorn Salt I get locally is another favorite. What’s yours?
One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛
When a stressful week with deadlines ends with Nat When a stressful week with deadlines ends with National Cheese Lovers Day, how could I not partake? Tbh, I wasn’t especially hungry, and the appetizers are always the best section of any menu, so the queso blanco from El Mejicano in town wasn’t too hard a choice. It’s smoky and cheesy and I could have licked the bowl clean, but a girl’s gotta have some boundaries. Happy weekend, friends! ✨
A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her of me and dropped it off in our mailbox, which really touched me. 💛 Life is too freaking short not to make conscious decisions to do more of what makes you happy, and to cut out the things that don’t. Rainbow Rowell said it best, “So, what if, instead of thinking about solving you whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”
The face and the daily hiccups… 😍 The face and the daily hiccups… 😍

Copyright © 2023 Sweetnicks · Theme by Vicki Harrison Design