mod podged frames

you've asked, so i'm delivering.... once again, here are the instructions for mod podging your very own picture frames.

supplies needed:
an unfinished frame (the dollar specials are always great), wood stain, a piece of card stock scrapbook paper (larger than your frame), a jar of mod podge, a sponge brush applicator, a tiny bit of sand paper, a razor blade or exacto knife, & a tim holtz distress ink stamp pad (my favorite is the tea dye, & you can pick it up at your local craft store in the "stamping" section).

directions:
1. stain your frame. you don't have to stain the entire frame, just the areas that will be visible after you mod podge the paper to the front... that means you will be staining the back of the frame, the outer sides of the frame as well as the inner sides (near where the picture will go) & don't forget to stain the dowel that you will be using as the stand.

2. once your frame is dry, it's time to get your mod podge on... the first step to the art of mod podging is to apply a light layer over the entire surface to be mod podged (the front of the frame) & let it dry for about 30 seconds or so. the timing isn't setting in stone, you just want it to set-up a touch.

3. next, you apply another layer of mod podge & then position your chosen card stock on top of the frame (pay careful attention to any particular areas that you don't want to cut away & steer those parts away from the center or edges of your frame).

4. press the paper firmly to the frame, smoothing away any air bubbles that may form. (it's kinda like wall papering... i found it helpful to use an old credit card to help smooth the paper out.)

5. once the paper is set in place, let it sit for about 5 minutes, then recheck your frame to see if any more bubbles have appeared. if there are, press the bubble down again. if it still doesn't stick, take a straight pin to release the air under the paper & press it smooth.

6. once your frame is dry, put it right-side down on a cutting surface & using your razor blade or exacto knife, trim off the extra paper from around the edges & from the center opening of the frame. & don't worry, it doesn't have to be perfect, you are going to be sanding it later.

7. using your sand paper, sand all of the paper edges (that you just trimmed) to ensure that they are smooth.

now here comes the super-secret, super-easy, but super-fantastic step...

8. THIS little stamp pad rocks! it's the magic, that makes everything look beautiful. using your stamp pad, go over all your newly sanded edges... your going to be "covering up" the bright white of those newly cut paper edges. make sense? you can also use a sponge, or paper towel to pick up ink & get into those "hard-to-reach" places. you can use the stamp pad as much or as little as you like to create a more vintage look. sometimes i just use it on the edges, sometimes i'll use it to completely cover the entire scrapbook paper. you can also use a little water to spread and smudge the ink... experiment with it.

9. once your paper trimming, sanding & ink-applying is done, apply at least 3 more layers of mod podge on top of the scrapbook paper. apply a layer of mod podge & let it dry for about 15 minutes, then apply another, and let it dry, etc. (sometimes, i've even applied more of the vintage-y ink in-between layers of mod podge, i told you, i love the stuff!).

10. when everything is good & dry, at this point you are pretty much done... so pat yourself on the back, find the perfect picture, & ta da! you have a finished product.