Guest Day Thursday: Mod Podge Amy!

We are excited to have our very first ever GUEST BLOGGER!!!

Amy from Mod Podge Rocks!!!

She has been ever so helpful with advice and guidance during this adventure in blogging, and now she is honoring us by being our first guest blogger (and she was btw our very first follower as well). We love Mod Podge and all it's many uses, and we love Amy!

If you are visiting from Mod Podge Rocks, feel free to stay awhile, we'd love your input.

Thanks Amy! Take it away!

Hi! This is Amy with Mod Podge Rocks. My blog features projects that use - you guessed it - Mod Podge. It's the world's greatest decoupage medium, and one of the easiest craft products to use. EVER. Today I'm going to show you how to make the cake/cookie stand above. My inspiration was the many holiday parties that are coming up as well as the desire to create something inexpensive to hostess with. I'm so excited to tell you that it only cost me 3 BUCKS to make. I had a lot of these items in my stash. If you don't have everything I list, you are welcome to change around the "ingredients." My project is just a suggestion, and I encourage you to get creative! Let's jump in. Here are the supplies that I used:



-Mod Podge Matte, 8 oz. (stash)

-FolkArt Enamel paint, Silver ($2)

-11" blue plate ($1 from the Dollar Store)

-Candleholder (old one I had laying around the house)
-One sheet of scrapbook paper wtih coordinating embellishments (stash)

-E-6000 adhesive (stash - but you can use anything that will glue ceramic/glass to adhere the plate to the stand)

-Clear rhinestones (stash, you can find these in the Michaels $1 bins!)

-Scissors

-Flat paint brush

-Circle cutter (you don't need this, I just happen to have one)

-Scalloped scissors (again, you don't need these - they are a nice to have)

I started with this plain candleholder. It wasn't really doing anything except sitting around, so I decided it needed a new life.

I took my flat paint brush and painted it silver with the Enamel paint. Make sure that you use a soft brush, or the strokes will show in the paint. I painted several coats. Instructions will tell you to bake or dry for many days - you can obviously complete the project and let dry while you are using it since the base won't be exposed to anything that will damage it. Just be careful in the meantime! While your base is drying, move on to cutting the paper.

Next I grabbed my sheet of scrapbook paper and circle cutter. If you don't have a circle cutter, never fear! Simply turn the plate over and trace onto the paper - then cut a round shape inside the circle. My complete circle was about 8" wide, so I had approximately 2" of plate showing around the entire edge.

After I cut the circle I trimmed it with scalloped scissors. Again, you don't have to do this. Alternatives are to freehand a pattern or to use punches on the edge. You can also print something off of the internet to use as a template. How you fashion your circle is up to you!

Voila - my initial layout! I grabbed the plate and placed out my paper in the center - then added some embellishments from my stash. These were little paper cutouts that came with the larger pieces of paper. Notice that I didn't end up using that center paper cutout in my final project. It's amazing how many times I change my mind during one project. Feel free to change your mind at this point too - you aren't locked in until the items are glued down!

The next step is to adhere the goodies to the plate with your Podge! Turn the center paper over and coat with a medium layer of Mod Podge. Make sure to get the edges well.

Place the paper in the center of your plate and smooth down thoroughly. If Mod Podge comes out the sides, that is okay - wipe away with your brush. Allow to dry for 15 - 20 minutes.

While you are waiting for the center circle to dry, you can go ahead and place your embellishments around the edge of your plate. Put some Mod Podge down with your brush, place the piece and wipe the extra Podge away. Allow those pieces to dry for 15 - 20 minutes.

When everything has dried for 15 - 20 minutes, coat the ENTIRE top of the plate with Mod Podge. Allow to dry for 15 - 20 minutes and then apply another coat. Allow to dry.

To adhere the stand to the plate, apply E-6000 (or a similar adhesive) around the edge of your stand. Press down onto the plate and allow to dry for as long as your adhesive instructions tell you to.

You'll notice that on the finished version, I also applied some rhinestones around the base of the stand. Mine were self-adhesive so no glue was required! Yay - my project is finished, and I'm so happy with it. I can't wait to entertain!

Thanks for coming to visit and viewing my tutorial. I hope if you have any decoupage questions, you'll come see me at Mod Podge Rocks. There is more Mod Podge inspiration than you could shake a stick at! Thanks to both Teri & Micki for having me - you girls are great - and I hope you to see you soon!