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Make a Project With This Blast-From-the-Past Classic Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza, cohosts of Creative Juice, show how to create fun decoupage crafts.

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Whether you are gluing, sealing or pouring, get creative and have fun putting your signature style on a creation with a little help from Mod Podge.

By Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza

Feb. 18, 2008 — It's a blast from the past with '70s-style rock art that combines color, shape and texture along with a craft classic, Mod Podge.

When most folks think of Mod Podge, they think of the brightly colored jar of decoupage medium that has been a staple for crafters since it was invented 40 yeas ago. If you ask women and men of all ages, most are familiar with this classic product although most will pronounce it "modge podge."

Mod Podge has been used to glue and seal bits of paper to everything from recycled soups cans and tissue boxes to large-scale furniture and scrapbooks.

Over the years, we have created many traditional decoupaged paper projects using this medium and we have created a few outside the box ideas. We have created wood jewelry decorated with tiny cuttings of wrapping paper. We have wrapped, glued and sealed paper to glass cylinders creating glowing luminaries and even poured Mod Podge over a tray filled with aquarium rocks to design one of a kind "mod" rock art.

At just a few dollars a bottle this craft classic is sure to become a staple in your craft supplies. Whether you are gluing, sealing or pouring, get creative and have fun putting your signature style on a creation with a little help from Mod Podge. Mod Podge is available at most craft, hobby and fabric stores.

Materials:

1/4" thick plywood (cut to desired size)
3/4" inch-thick molding (enough to go around the plywood)
saw miter
box wood putty
putty knife
wood embroidery hoops (different sizes to fit the design)
small aquarium pebbles (different colors)
small natural pebbles (garden supply)
E6000 glue
large amount of Mod Podge
craft paint
paintbrushes
finishing nails
hammer
picture hanger

Steps:

1. Using a saw and miter box, cut mitered edges into the molding to create a frame for the plywood. Attach the molding to the outside edges of the plywood with finishing nails.

2. Fill any gaps between the plywood and the frame with wood putty. Next, apply a small amount of putty around the perimeter of the plywood where it meets the molding frame and let dry.

3. Paint the frame and plywood interior a color that will match the rocks.

4. Based on the design pattern, paint each of the inside hoops with craft paint and let dry.

5. Place the hoops on the plywood according to the pattern and glue in place. If desired, cut the hoops apart, remove a section and place the hoops in an interlocking pattern with another hoop.

6. Fill the hoops with colored aquarium rocks. Fill the remainder of the plywood base with natural pebbles.

7. Pour mod podge medium over the surface of the artwork. Brush the medium evenly over the frame to create a uniform sheen.

8. Let the mod podge medium dry flat for two weeks. Attach a picture hanger to the back to hang or use flat as table decor. If hanging on the wall, use an anchor to support the weight.

(Emmy nominated Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza cohost Creative Juice. For more information log on to www.cathiefilian.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)

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