Decoupage Everything

As suggested in my book review in my last post, I am currently obsessed with decoupage.  I can't remember the last time I did this, but after I read through Mod Podge Rocks! I really did run right out to Michaels to buy some Mod Podge and assorted other supplies that I didn't already have on hand.  (I often threaten to do things like that, but I usually don't actually do it.)  I already wrote about my first project; I did a couple of other little things after that, plus I helped with a BIG project that I'll write about someday after I get some pictures.  Then I decided that I really needed some fun autumn decor.  My inspiration was a project in Mod Podge Rocks!, but it had a Halloween theme and I decided to just go for something generically autumnal.

Here are my materials: an ugly, cheapo foam pumpkin from the dollar spot at Target; Mod Podge (satin formula and glitter formula -- not pictured here); glitter paint (which I ended up not using, in the end -- see below); a foam brush; scissors and an x-acto knife; the Mod Podge squeegie thingie; and a discarded library book (the Federalist Papers, if you must know (and if you're like me, you must)).

I started out by removing some pages from the book and cutting them into roughly 2-by-2-inch squares 

Then came the decoupaging.  I used the Mod Podge a bit too liberally -- next time I'll wipe off more of the excess.  Live and learn.  I did this in two phases -- I did the top half, let it dry, and then did the bottom half.

And this is where I stopped taking progress pictures.  Oops.  :-)  After everything was dry, I went to add glitter to the stem.  I had bought glitter paint for this, expecting that it would be like regular acrylic paint with some glitter in it.  Instead, though, it was more like a tinted glaze with glitter, rather than being opaque, so it didn't cover the ugly green of the stem.  So instead, I coated the stem with mod podge and then gave it a good layer of regular old glitter.  (In retrospect, I should have gone with brown glitter rather than rust, but, well, too late now.)  Last, I gave the whole pumpkin a coat of glitter Mod Podge, and for good measure I gave the top half a little hit with the glitter paint.  (You can kind of see in the picture below how the top part has a bit of an orange sheen to it; it's pretty subtle in real life too.) 

The pumpkin, along with some glittered votive holders (another decoupage project!), became our Thanksgiving centerpiece.  It's nearly impossible to get a good picture of it, but with candlelight it had just the right amound of subtle shimmer.

(The votive holders were super-easy: coat clear glass votive holder with Mod Podge, coat with glitter and shake off excess, let dry. I plan to do some in red for Christmas.)

I had some other decoupage-y ideas for Thanksgiving (involving handprints and turkeys and baby food jars) but I ran out of time to make them happen.  So, we move onto Christmas: a holiday that was made for glitter.  I can't wait!

Comments

[Patty McCusker]

The picture doesn't do it justice...it was simply elegant and added just enough sparkle to the table! Loved it.

[Momma Hunt]

My heart broke to know you were destroying the federalist papers...I tear in fact, but then again they do look better and more interesting on a pumpkin!