Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Outdoor Mod Podge Porch Pot Ghosts Tutorial



Do you decorate outside for Halloween?  I hate to admit it, but I usually get so busy working on costumes & indoor stuff most years that my front porch gets a bit neglected. So when the folks at Plaid Crafts, (the makers of Mod Podge), sent me a few supplies for making an outdoor Halloween project, it was just the push I needed to remedy that problem. So I came up with a project that adds some festive fun, but is also easy for those of us with limited time this season: Outdoor Mod Podge Porch Pot Ghosts.


Materials Needed:
- Gauze/Cheesecloth 
- Google Eyes
- Terra Cotta Pots
- Acrylic Craft Paint
- Stiffy Fabric Stiffener
- Outdoor Mod Podge (this waterbased formula seals & glues for the outdoors)
- Wood Shapes
- Cardstock
- Aluminum Foil
- Foam Brushes
- Optional: Hot Glue Gun, Mod Podge Applicator Brush, Die cutting machine

These can be made as big or small as you want, but since this was my first try, I went for a smaller size.  I started by making a ghost base to mold my cheesecloth on.  I put a piece of foil over a glass bottle and shaped it so looked like a ghost with its arms up, but curved in a bit so they'll be able to hold their own signs.


I poured some Stiffy Fabric Stiffener into a bowl to apply it.  It looks a bit like runny white glue, but dries clear and without the super crunchy feel of glue.  This makes its easy to create a molded, permanent project from fabric - ideal for freestanding shapes like my ghosts.


Then I folded my cheesecloth in half and draped it over my foil and began "painting" the Stiffy on with a foam brush, just enough to get it well saturated.  I left the bottom half without stiffener so it could be draped or folded later.  I let it sit for a couple of hours to dry.


When dry, I carefully pulled the foil out from under the stiffened ghost.  Even though I was pulling and peeling that foil like a crazy woman, that stiffened fabric kept its shape:


Next I used a free spooky-looking font, SCAL software & my Cricut machine to cut out some Halloween messages for my ghosts out of card stock (hand cut letters work too):


Using a foam brush I painted my plain wood plaques with the orange FolkArt acrylic paint Plaid sent. I did several coats so it was nice & bright:



Once my last coat of paint was dry I did a layer of Outdoor Mod Podge.  I used the brush applicator Plaid provided and it did help give a good even coating.  


I added my lettering on top and then several more coats of Mod Podge to seal it up.  At first it seemed a bit tacky after it dried, but the outdoor formula recommends waiting 72hrs before putting it outside and by the time it was ready to put out it felt much smoother. 



Using a dab of hot glue, I stuck on the googly eyes, added my gauzy ghosts into my pots and hooked their signs into their arms.



Now they're looking friendly and ready to greet any visitors.


And the best part is since everything pulls apart easily, the signs can be changed and the ghosts pulled from the pots so they can be used in different ways every year.  Maybe next year the ghosts will hang and float or the signs will be staked instead.  And it's simple enough that the kiddies can help make more too.  Now my outdoor Halloween decor can be fun year after year!


Get more ideas from fellow crafters on Plaid’s Facebook Page and follow Plaid for Inspiration on Pinterest. Or enter submit a photo of your most creative pumpkin from Sept. 25- Oct. 24, and you could win a $250 gift card to Michaels along with a Mod Podge and FolkArt Prize Pack, and bragging rights of winning their 4th Annual Trick Your Pumpkin Contest (ends Oct. 24)!

And checkout these other fun Outdoor #HalloweenMP Crafts:



I'm also sharing this with my FAVE LINK PARTIES.
Click HERE to check them out!

I was financially compensated for this post.  I received select craft supplies from Plaid Crafts for their Mod Podge Halloween campaign.  The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.  For my complete disclosure policy, click here. 

8 comments:

  1. I like the little Halloween ghosts and would like to try making some of these. Thanks for the directions!

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    Replies
    1. Very easy to make, so it would be fun to do with the kids.

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  2. Super cute! Can you believe I have not tried Mod Podge:) Picking up some items at Joann's tomorrow, gonna snag some! I posted Boo-ti-ful IKEA and witch pin cushion, this week.

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    1. Thanks Michele. I've only used Mod Podge a few times myself & this was my first try with the Outdoor formula. Would love for you to link up your projects to my Craftastic party:)

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  3. These little guys are adorable! I am intrigued by this Stiffy Fabric stuff, must get some to play with! I'm also very curious about the SCAL software you mentioned - I didn't think they worked with Cricut!! Please tell me the secrets, I use my Cricut constantly, and I love new tricks! :)

    Megan @ C'mon Get Crafty

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Megan. This was my first experience with Stiffy and I definitely plan to do some more projects with it because it seems really versatile. I did a post a while back about SCAL (Sure Cuts A Lot). You can find it here: http://www.sewcando.com/2010/07/craftshare-week-9-die-cutting-gift-bags.html and here's their site too: http://surecutsalot.com/. I bought mine a while back and know since then Cricut did a lawsuit (they don't want anything getting in the way of them selling their limited, overpriced cartridges) and made it so SCAL's latest version won't work with their machines, BUT you can still find the older versions for sale and then download the free upgrades to have the ability to use it with your Cricut and still enjoy all the current features. I found the Windows version for sale on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Craft-Edge-Sure-Cuts-Lot/dp/B001HWZ582. I may do a post about it soon, because I've found it to be really handy and makes a Cricut more like a Silhouette.

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  4. Hi! Your little Halloween ghost are so cute!It's really a new idea never seen before! This week end I will try, with my nephew, making ghost with kleenex and put them in a festoon!
    I’m linking from Friday favorites tank for sharing!

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  5. Hi Cheryl, I love the Halloween ghost which is so adorable. I would really add this in my fall decoration. Thanks for sharing these wonderful ideas in your post!!

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Getting your comments brightens my day. I'd love if you left one:)

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