Continuing the Advent
Sofía helped me put together the advent calendar today. Together we wielded paintbrushes full of ModPodge. She slopped it on to the containers – mostly – and I evened it out and applied the paper strips.
I expected her to get bored long before we were finished, but she stuck it through (barely!) to the end. I was well-impressed with her attention span.
I was not so well-impressed with her aim. I’m embarrassed to admit how many times I got distracted and looked up to find her busily painting the wall. And table. And her own arms. But ModPodge dries clear, so it’s all good.
(Turns out ModPodge looks – and smells – almost exactly like regular white glue… just way more expensive. Does anyone know why it’s supposed to be better, and if I could just substitute?)
After Sofía went to bed I spent another two hours with goop and stickers. (Oh, my aching back! I really have to get one of those giant core exercise balls to sit on so I don’t hunch for hours.) The results, I think, are well worth it.
Tomorrow I’ll try to loop ribbons through the lids to finish them, and hot-glue a couple of less-well-secured decorations. Then if it’s still raining, we might start making holiday pomanders, or if we can go outside to forage for greens we might make Christmas wreaths and mantlepieces.
I love December!
December 1st, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Delightful!!!
By the way, I recognized some of those non-tea tins. It always thrills my heart when I see you give new life to some little thing I’ve given you. Three cheers for you, Diana!!! Hip hip, Hooray! Hip hip Hooray! Hip Hip HOORAY!!!
December 1st, 2010 at 3:32 pm
I wondered if you would recognize those! I gotta say, there are so many times that something you’ve given me has saved the day – so many times I’ve been utterly grateful that you’ve bothered to save me all those little containers and whatnots.
December 1st, 2010 at 3:43 pm
ModPodge is a PVA glue (white glue) with hardeners. You can substitute, technically, but you’ll get different results (and a softer, more easily gouged surface).
December 1st, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Ooh, ok! That makes sense. Thanks for chiming in!
December 4th, 2010 at 4:27 am
These are wonderful. It is giving me idea’s to cover some ugly containers in my craft room.
December 7th, 2010 at 3:59 am
*jaw drops* ARE YOU KIDDING ME! Woman! Quit it!!!! I saw the picture of the little tins all pretty and covered in paper and thought, “oh, those look really good.” But no. I scroll down and see those same tins decorated up the whazoo with trees and presents and all these little paper happy things that would have taken me WEEKS to do.
You have amazing powers. *looks envious* Want.
December 7th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Well I totally cheated! I used those paper scrapbooking stickers you can buy at Michael’s and that made it soooo easy.