Artsy and Crafty with Decopage

You well know that I'm a list maker. You should also know that I'm a sorter and a filer. Shocking, I know.



I've longed for some pretty pattern folders to sort all of my household stuff in as well as my ideas out of magazines, etc. However I'm thrifty and just haven't been able to shell out the $5-$10 when I already have plenty of folders. Besides I've not found a pattern that really floats my boat.



Then a lightbulb went off. I have folders. I have loads of scrapbook paper, and I have decopage.



Ta-Da!

I made my own pretty coordinating file folders at home. I traced the front of the folder onto the back of a 12x12 peice of scrapbook paper and cut it out. I placed a layer of Mod Podge (found at any craft store and Wal-Hell as well) onto the folder, placed the cut to fit paper on top, and then another layer of the Mod Podge to seal it. Lie flat to dry overnight. I didn't do the backs and I've not yet decided if I'm going to do the inside part that shows with the tab.

These were a thrifty option for me because I already had all the materials and also like to do thinks on my own and have a custom look rather than the store bought. However it was super easy and took minimal time.

My decopage fun and games didn't stop there.

I found this darling silver tray at a garage sale for fifty cents. You can tell but it's all scratched up and looks as if something hot was set on it to cause burn spots in the middle. However I had a vision when I spotted it for a cute memo board for my studio. My studio also doubles as a guest bedroom. I've been staying busier and busier with monogramming and sewing projects as well as sales of items to I thought a little board to post projects, deadlines, etc would be great. But I'd like to keep it pretty with the asthetics of the room.

So I came up with this:

Is that not adorable? It was the same decopage procedure as above but I used fabric that matches the duvet that I made in that room. (Full confession: I have loads of that fabric left. Even after I finished the duvet, shams, etc. the fabric went on a great sale and I loved it so much that I bought the rest of it!). I placed the fabric in the tray with the bottom side up. I traced the rounded sqaure of the tray on the fabric and cut. When I flipped it over it was a perfect fit.

As for the magnets I think I'm going to monogram hair dots and put a magnet on the back rather than a rubberband. I have a great blue polka dot fabric (as seen on the cushion in the link above) that will coordinate quite cute.