I was thrilled to spend a little time this past week with my good friend, Amy Anderson of Mod Podge Rocks! Blog. Amy has been a special friend for many years and I am so happy and proud to have watched her blossom in the world of crafts.
As you may already know from previous blog posts, Amy is the creator of our new Mod Podge Rocks! Peel & Stick Stencils and Podgeable Glitters that are now available at Michaels!
When I visited with Amy this week, I asked her several questions about her new product line and I thought it would be fun to share our conversation with each of you. I hope you enjoy our little Q & A, but most of all; I hope you get a chance to try the new Mod Podge Peel & Stick Stencils and Podgeable Glitters. I promise you will LOVE them and want to add touches of glitter everywhere!
Interview with Amy Anderson of Mod Podge Rocks!
Chris Williams: How did you come up with the idea of using Mod Podge with a stencil?
Amy Anderson: About a year ago, Plaid approached me about doing some new products. It made me pay a lot of attention to what crafters are doing with Mod Podge (even more so than usual!). I noticed that crafters love using glitter and Mod Podge together, and they were even using die cutters and freezer paper to be able to get their own patterns with this combination. I knew Mod Podge was acrylic, just like paint, so I thought “wouldn’t it be awesome if decoupagers could get custom designs too?” Stencils are the best way to do this!
CW: Crafters have been glittering their projects for years, but applying glitter in a pattern? How did you think of that?
AA: I wanted crafters to be able to get detailed designs in glitter and have it be really easy. These peel n’ stick stencils are the perfect way to do just that. You can decorate surfaces in a matter of minutes! Plus who doesn’t love glitter?
CW: How many Mod Podge stencils are there in the line?
AA: They are six patterns: Chevron, Dots, Skeleton Keys, Starlite, Tangier, and Woodgrain. Plaid did a great job executing the stencil designs. They are all detailed and look great on Mod Podge crafts.
CW: What makes the Peel n Stick stencil material so special? Why not use ordinary Mylar stencil material?
AA: Ordinary Mylar stencils are great, but I really love adhesive stencils. You can get a very crisp edge on your designs, and they are great for people who don’t stencil that often or are maybe a little bit sloppy when they craft (raising hand!). Also these stencils can be washed and re-used several times, which is very cool.
CW: What was your inspiration when designing for these six new stencils?
AA: I’m a really big fan of patterns like polka dots and stripes. I like designs that are modern, fun and have a variety of applications. For the patterns, I put together inspiration I found online, patterns in clothing, home décor ideas, and all sorts of designs that Plaid turned into these stencils. I’m happy that we are starting with basic patterns that have a variety of applications. I think everyone will find at least a few designs out of the six that they like.
CW: How have you used these stencils?
AA: They can be used for so many things – jewelry, home décor items, gifts . . . I’m excited to try them on fashion and furniture. I haven’t done it yet, but I have some ideas!
CW: What is your favorite type of surface to decorate using the Mod Podge Peel & Stick stencils and Podgeable Glitters?
AA: What I love about adhesive stencils is that you can use them on a variety of surfaces – fabric, wood, glass, tin and anything porous. So far my favorite surface has been a lampshade. The result was beautiful! You just have to remember the designs aren’t dishwasher safe when complete – so they are for decorative purposes only.
CW: Which Podgeable Glitter is your favorite color?
AA: Well, as my blog readers know, blue is my favorite color! But I love all the colors. It really just depends on my mood.
CW: Can I use other craft glitters?
AA: You can use any glitter or even sand. Anything that is in fine granules will work. The nice thing about using the Podgeable glitters is the poufer tip makes it easy to spread out on the project, right where you want it.
CW: Do I need to seal the glittered part of my project?
AA: You don’t need to since the project is decorative, but you can if you want to – the Mod Podge spray sealers are the best for this. I recommend using the Gloss formula.
CW: How shall I clean my craft project?
AA: I recommend a light dusting if your project needs a cleaning. You don’t want to use water or cleaners because it can remove glitter from your project.
CW: Are you working on new Peel & Stick stencil designs?
AA: I can’t tell you that! Just kidding. I have some ideas for some other designs and have already gotten good feedback for some fun new designs. Let’s hope these designs do well so that we can do round #2!