Product Review - Mod Podge!

Hey ya people,

Hope you are all well and enjoying the month here at Lulupu with lots of inspiration from the fabulous members of the design team.

Before I begin to talk about the product that is up for review today, I would like to take a moment and talk about a little something else :)

As you know, my term at Lulupu is coming to an end this month and this is my last post as the Design Team member here, I would like to thank everyone who is a part of Team Lulupu - the owner and a good friend Karuna, our sweet blog coordinator Nikita, all the fellow design team members Snehal, Isha and Indira and all the wonderful challenge participants and readers for all the love and appreciation they have blessed me with over the course of last 6 months. Working here has been a wonderful opportunity with so much to learn and something new to look forward to every month. It has been a beautiful ride!

Lulupu is now looking for new team members. If you think you will be a good match for Lulupu team, today is the last day to apply for the Design Team. Find all the details here.

So now, let's begin talking (some more) about the much talked about product called Mod Podge :)

(Image Credit: www.save-on-crafts.com/modpodge11.html)

Mod Podge is a little bottle of magic milky liquid that is a glue, a sealer and a varnish all in one. It is no less than a miracle, I think (and so does a lot of other people :))

Why a miracle you may ask, here's why :


- it can be used on ANY porous surface - paper, wood, cardboard, chipboard, fabric, cork and more!
- it is THE best decoupage medium ever - it dries clear, it dries fast and is water based which means it is super easy to clean the mess after your master piece is complete :)
- it is non-toxic and that means it is safe for kids to use and have fun creating their little art works.
- it protects your surface from moisture and acts as a sealer. So while I wouldn't want to dip my mod podge covered art work in a bucket full of water, it does gives me the option to wipe of the dust from my art work every now and then with a damp cloth.
- it comes in variety of formulas/finishes that allows you to use it for pretty much everything imaginable.


And these are basically the reasons why everyone loves Mod Podge :)

Let's talk a little about the variety of finishes/formulas that the Mod Podge range offers and what's the difference between each.

Classic Mod Podge: This is an year round Mod Podge that works for all types of projects and most surfaces. Comes in gloss and matte finish.

Satin Mod Podge: This is just like classic mod podge only difference being the satin finish. It gives a lustrous, soft appearance somewhere between a matte and gloss. The scratches are less visible on satin surfaces when compared to gloss or matte.

Fabric Mod Podge: This is specifically used to prepare fabric for decoupaging to surfaces and for decoupaging things onto fabric. It eliminates fraying.

Paper Mod Podge: This formula was created for more advanced paper projects, such as scrapbooking. It also comes in a gloss and matte finish. Paper Mod Podge keeps photos and papers from yellowing and it extends the life of scrapbooking projects.

Hard Coat Mod Podge: This is mostly used for furniture. It has an extremely durable finish and it provides extra protection for projects that are used and handled more often. It also has a satin finish so it doesn’t show scratches and marks like the gloss or matte.

Outdoor Mod Podge: This formula protects your projects from moisture and other elements, which makes it great for clay pots and other outdoor creations. For added durability, it is recommended to also use an outdoor sealer.

Brushstroke Mod Podge: This formula gives you the look of a hand painting. It’s very textured and dimensional. It also comes in a clear gloss or matte finish.

Sparkle Mod Podge: It contains hologram glitter pieces that give it a rainbow effect in a gloss base. The more coats you add, the more sparkle and shine that is added to your project. And I have heard it's awesome. :)

Kids Wash Out Mod Podge: It is specially designed for children to use. Parents will love this one because it will wash out of children’s clothing and furniture with ease. This formula also has a glossy finish.

Glow in the Dark Mod Podge: For the best glowing effect, you’ll need to apply several coats. It’s great for children’s projects. You can’t really see the finish, but it glows-in-the-dark! Expose to light to recharge.

Antique Mod Podge: This is perfect for anyone who loves an antique feel. It allows you to get that aged, vintage look with just one coat. It has a slight brown tint and it comes in a matte finish.

Special Formulas to Know There are a few special Mod Podge formulas that don’t do the gluing, but they act as special finishes and are complimentary to all of the Mod Podge products above. Here they are.

Mod Podge Super Gloss: You can’t glue with the Super Gloss; the goal here is to get a smooth, epoxy-like finish over a large area. To use, Mod Podge your pieces down with another formula. Then use the Super Gloss over the top. it’s self-leveling and thicker than regular Mod Podge. So it gives you a very shiny, clear finish that looks like epoxy but isn’t (it’s not as thick as Dimensional Magic for those who are wondering).A super shiny, clear finish that is a little bit more thick than regular Mod Podge.

Mod Podge Dimensional Magic: Traditional resins give you a hard, varnish finish but are toxic and require mixing – not Dimensional Magic! This product adds an epoxy-like finish to jewelry and paper crafts and dries clear. You can layer Dimensional Magic on top of itself (let it dry between layers). This formula comes in Clear, Gold Glitter and Silver Glitter. Get the look of resin or epoxy without the toxicity and mixing. Dries clear and dimensional.

Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium: Use this medium to transfer photocopied images onto fabric. It works with both black and white and color copies as well as both light and dark fabrics. The formula is water-based and the results are permanent and machine washable (cool water; gentle cycle).

Note: I have not used all the above mentioned formulas personally(even though I wish I could own at least one of each type one day :D), but have collected the data over the internet to help you out and get all the information in one place.

Out of all the above mentioned, I have had the opportunity to try two of the formulas(Mod Podge Classic Matte Finish and Mod Podge Dimensional) till now and I am super happy with the results.

Here's are a couple of my recent projects using Mod Podge   

I loved working on this MDF shadow box. All the layers of papers and die cuts were stuck using Mod Podge Classic Matte Finish and then given another coat over the top to seal the surface. The inside is filled with quilled flowers and the center has a space to put a photograph.
I personally feel that Mod Podge rocks the MDF projects and for me it has become a necessity. By the way, Lulupu stocks a great range of MDF items that are ready to be decoupaged and turn into beautiful pieces of art.

Here is another view

The second project that I did was with Mod Podge Dimensional.

These cute little photo magnets were created using chipboard and were a Mother's Day gift for my mum and mum-in-law. I used Mod Pod Dimensional of these to give the magnets a resin like raised finish.

Here are some pointers to keep in mind while working with Mod Podge:

- Smooth out air bubbles right away because the Mod Podge does dry kind of quick. And well, I did have some showing on the magnets above though they are not visible in the picture :)
- Mod Podge has a tendency to show brush marks. For best results use a sponge applicator/brushes.
-For best adhesion, apply a coat of Mod Podge to both the backside of whatever material you are using (paper, fabric, metal, poster, glass, paper mache, wood, etc.) as well as to the front side of the surface.
- Allow the first coat to dry for at least 15 mins before you start with the next coat.
- Surfaces like, paper and chipboard tends to bend a little when Mod Podge is applied. Do not worry, it will straighten out once the Mod Podge has dried.
- It helps to use a brayer to smooth out paper and adhere it firmly to the surface. You can also try using Mod Podge Foam Roller Tops.
- It is an awesome thing to experiment with and try out new fun stuff.

So if you have never used this amazing product, now is the time to try. If you need more ideas on what to do with Mod Podge, you the visit Mod Podge rocks :)

Have fun creating and stay blessed!

P.S. You can still come see me on my personal blog if you miss me here :)