I've refinished the same Christmas gift about 3 times. I made a set of photo blocks for my mother-in-law. Super cute project. But I warn you, it is a pain in the _______ to make. In fact, I might even put that on the tag... "Merry Christmas, your present was a pain in the ______ to make! And peace on earth."
The instructions are to first, paint your wooden blocks - so that the edges or sides you don't use have a finished look. And I didn't do that. I applied my photos first and then painted the sides I chose not to use. Some black paints leave residual behind. And it gets on your fingers. And then it gets on your photos. And if you try to wipe it off the photos you'll take some of the finish off your photos. Even if you've applied a waterproof sealant like mod podge. So, buy good paint that does not rub off. Moving on...
Next you mod podge photos to a 4x4 set of wooden blocks (you dissect the photos to fit over 4 blocks on each side, and they fit together like a puzzle, in the shape of a cube... make sense?) You have the choice of just covering the outside of the cube with photos, or adding them to the inside as well, so that every side of each individual block has part of a picture on it, and every which way you turn the blocks they can form a picture.
Did you know how much mod podge likes to stick to itself? So, mistake #2, do not mod podge photos on the inside of the blocks, outside only. Okay. Moving on!
Before applying the photos it's important to make sure they face the way you want them too. So that your kids aren't upside down on one side, for example. Not as easy as it sounds, I am afraid. I felt like I needed my high school calculus teacher assisting me with this one. UGH!
Maybe it's just stress coming to a head. But I feel the insatiable urge to grab a few of those cute little "I took the handmade pledge" bloggy buttons and mame them. And forget baking anymore goodies, I'm regifting the zucchini-banana-pumpkin-whateverelseisinit bread, too! Hmph!
19 December 2008
In which I denounce crafting...
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14 comments:
He he! I was "Mod Podging" a gift last night too! You are so talented and creative. It's no surprise that your gifts are as well!
I hope you have a wonderful holiday!
don't throw in the towel quite yet. merry christmas!
I get you! I do, lol!
Why oh why do we do this to ourselves when we know all they really want is a gift card.
If it helps, you made me smile!
What no pictures???? My MIL tried to make something like that and they looked AWFUL. I am sure yours turned out much better.
Oh, I feel your pain! Mod podge is wonderful stuff (couldn't live without it), but it can turn on you! I want to see the pics too!
Sorry girls - I was too exacerbated by the whole thing to stop and take a picture! It's out of my hands now and on it's way to Utah. I plan on blaming the whole thing on the mailman when she opens it. :S
Lei, homemade is overrated, and leaves me ticked off most of the time. Your post made me giggle.
Sounds like another project that looks easy, but when it come down to it...well I think you said it all. :-)
Now I see what you mean :) Hope the weekend is more relaxing!
I want a picture of it.
You are so creative--I don't know how you do it all.
That first paragraph had me laughing. Thanks for completely explaining the total headache the rest of the post. You are darling... sorry it was so frustrating.
I am laughing out loud right now because I decided to do the exact same thing but the 2x2 version. 4 sets. I had to have one ready today and stayed up half the night finishing them and wasn't in love. I wrapped them up and gave them today and just hope they don't realize how they "should" look. Hmph is right. I am kicking myself right now for trying to be too crafty. I should have forced myself to just buy a cheesy gift set from the store. lol Instead I was left peeling modge podge off my fingers in the wee hours of the morning. I'm glad I'm not the only one.
Hello, Lei! I just wanted to come by and wish you a very Merry Christmas!
LOL!! I'm sure they are fabulous!! :) I made a few photo cubes this year too... tip- spray paint the wood. :)
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