i {heart} mod podge

Update to add: This idea was featured on One Pretty Thing - Daily DIY on April 30th. Click button to the left to see some other projects for that day or click HERE to go to the main page for One Pretty Thing.

Xazmin at This is the Year hosts a monthly get together that showcases projects using Mod Podge, the miracle glue! (Which, by the way is something I am LOVING these days, and therefore I also joined up with Things I Love Thursday at The Diaper Diaries.) Just within the last few months I've really been on a Mod Podge kick, so I knew exactly the project I was going to do for this month. Actually, I wanted to have this project completed weeks ago, but have been lacking in motivation after a few hiccups in my plan, but I was able to get inspired and got it done just in time for Mod Podge Mania!

A little over 2 weeks ago, I shared this fun find from my local Goodwill that I snagged for only $1.99! I had visions of what I might do with it, but those visions quickly got smashed once I had a little run in with a can of spray paint. Don't laugh...I'm just not good with things like that.


Here's my spray paint job. Not the best. For some reason some of the places cracked and bubbled a little, so I decided that I would sand it down and just brush over it with paint later on...seriously, just put down the paint can! I already did enough damage.


Next step was to find some fun paper. I headed to my local scrapbook store with my tray in hand. I found some beautiful coordinating paper that I couldn't wait to bring home!


After cutting the paper to size, I glued down the main patterned paper in the bottom of the tray and then added a few coats of Mod Podge over that. (Don't you love my spray paint job? I think I actually forgot this side...good thing I was just going to cover it with paper anyway!)


Then it was time to cut the pieces for the inside walls. Thankfully the length of paper was a perfect fit, leaving just a little of the wood tray exposed on each side but not enough to notice. After measuring, I just cut the paper into strips. After gluing each of the strips on the inside I added a couple of layers of Mod Podge over those as well.


The finished product!
I'm so happy with the colors and patterns of the paper!
I'm glad I didn't just scrounge up something in my paper stash and instead decided to spend the $2.29 to buy the paper just for this project! And I just LOVE how the Mod Podge gives it that finished, glossy look.


So, are you wondering what I plan on using this for? Mostly just for my daughter to play with in her "kitchen". Although as she watched me work on this project, she asked what I was doing and I said I was making her a tray so she could bring me breakfast in bed! We'll see if she passes that idea onto her daddy.

And, now if you've suddenly gotten in the mood to get creative and be inspired, join me NEXT THURSDAY with a craft project that uses anything with ribbons for my Monthly Craft Challenge. Check out all the fun things that were made by many who joined in for February's Challenge & March's Challenge. I'll be sharing some inspiring ideas, so come on back in the next couple of days to take a peek!