| How to Mod Podge a Puzzle Posted: 28 Apr 2021 01:00 AM PDT If you ever put together a jigsaw puzzle and decide it's too pretty to take apart, grab a bottle of puzzle glue! Mod Podge Puzzle Saver is one of the best-known options, and it's very easy to apply with a foam paintbrush. Lay down some wax paper to make cleanup easier, add a few coats of Mod Podge to the front and back of the assembled puzzle, and think about how you want to display your piece of puzzle art! [Edit]Setting up the Puzzle and Work Surface - Assemble the puzzle on wax paper if you plan to preserve it. If you think you'll want to permanently preserve a jigsaw puzzle once it's finished, go ahead and build it right on top of one or more sheets of wax paper. Check the finished dimensions of the puzzle on the box and create a wax paper work surface that's at least bigger on all sides.[1]
- For instance, if the finished puzzle has listed dimensions of , tear off overlapping strips of wax paper to create a work surface that's at least
- Laying wax paper underneath the puzzle keeps sticky Mod Podge from getting all over your table, counter, desk, floor, or other puzzle-assembly surface. Mod Podge isn't too hard to wipe away when it's wet, but really tough to remove once it dries!
- Slide wax paper under the puzzle if you've already assembled it. You may not realize you want to preserve a jigsaw puzzle until after you've assembled it. In this case, rip off one or more strips of wax paper—depending on the size of the puzzle—and carefully shimmy and slide them under the puzzle's edges. Extend the wax paper beyond all the puzzle's edges by at least , and make sure the entire underside of the puzzle is resting on wax paper.[2]
- Mod Podge may soak all the way through puzzle pieces that are made of thin cardboard. If you don't put wax paper underneath, the pieces may get glued to your table!
- Roll over the puzzle with a rolling pin to smooth it out. Jigsaw puzzles tend to be a bit lumpy and/or wavy due to all the irregular joints among the pieces. Give the entire puzzle surface a few rolls back and forth with a kitchen rolling pin to flatten it.[3]
- A wine bottle or can of food will also do the job.
[Edit]Brushing on the First Coat - Use Mod Podge Puzzle Saver for the best results. There are several varieties of Mod Podge brand products, but Puzzle Saver is definitely the best choice for this job. It comes in a large plastic jar, which is enough for at least a dozen puzzles, and a small plastic jar, which will serve at least a couple of puzzles.[4]
- Look for Mod Podge Puzzle Saver at craft stores and "big box" retailers with crafting departments.
- Dip a foam-tipped paintbrush into the Mod Podge. You have 2 options here: either choose a foam-tipped brush that's small enough to fit into the Mod Podge jar, or pour some of the Mod Podge into a bowl and use a larger brush. In either case, only dip the tip of the brush into the Mod Podge, since the first coat on the puzzle should be a thin one.[5]
- Pick up foam-tipped paintbrushes at craft stores or hardware stores. They're inexpensive, so buy at least 2 or 3 for a single puzzle project.
- Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge over the puzzle with smooth, even strokes. Dip the foam brush tip back into the Mod Podge after every few strokes, as needed. While covering the whole puzzle surface in a thin layer of Mod Podge is what's most important here, using long, steady strokes may reduce the number of brush marks you'll have to sand away later on.[6]
- Mod Podge Puzzle Saver is semi-translucent white in the jar and when you first apply it—but don't worry, it becomes transparent when it dries!
- Save the paintbrush in a zip-close bag or discard it after finishing the first coat. Foam-tipped paintbrushes are cheap enough that you may be fine with using a new one for each coat of Mod Podge you apply. Otherwise, seal the used brush in a zip-close bag until it's time to apply the next coat.[7]
- If you try to clean the brush with water it won't dry in time for the second coat.
- Allow the first layer to dry for 15-20 minutes. Mod Podge is mostly dry once it goes from translucent white to transparent. Press your fingertip to several spots around the puzzle surface—if the Mod Podge is slightly tacky but not sticky, it's ready for the second coat.[8]
- Mod Podge may take slightly longer to dry in humid conditions.
[Edit]Applying Additional Coats - Apply a second, thicker coat in the same fashion as the first. Dip the foam brush deeper into the Mod Podge this time and brush on more of the material with each stroke. However, don't just "glop" it onto the puzzle surface—still use steady, even, long brushstrokes.[9]
- Use either a fresh foam paintbrush or the brush from the first coat that you stored in a zip-close bag.
- Allow the second coat to dry for at least 30 minutes. Test the puzzle surface with your fingertip to see if the Mod Podge is still tacky. If it is, try again in 5 minutes and repeat as needed. Do not move on to flipping the puzzle until the Mod Podge is no longer tacky.[10]
- The drying time will take longer in humid conditions.
- Flip the puzzle over on the wax paper. Carefully lift the puzzle by one edge to start peeling it away from the wax paper. Peel, lift, and flip slowly and steadily to turn the puzzle over on the wax paper. The 2 coats of Mod Podge should be more than enough to keep the puzzle pieces in place as you do this.[11]
- If you want to be extra cautious when flipping the puzzle, grab 2 flat sheets of cardboard that are larger than the puzzle. Slide the wax paper and puzzle onto one sheet of cardboard, lay the other sheet on top, and flip the entire "sandwich" over. Remove the cardboard sheets, peel away the wax paper, and slide new sheets of wax paper underneath the now upside-down puzzle.
- Brush a thick layer of Mod Podge onto the back of the puzzle. Style points don't count this time around! Just be sure to give the entire back of the puzzle a good coating of Mod Podge. This coating is simply extra protection to further ensure that the puzzle remains permanently stuck together.[12]
- Some crafters skip this step altogether without any problems. Think of it as "Mod Podge insurance" that's recommended but not essential.
- Turn the puzzle back over after 15-20 minutes. Test with your fingertip to make sure the Mod Podge is only slightly tacky. As you lift the puzzle, peel away the wax paper if it's stuck to the edge at all, then flip the puzzle right-side up. Place it on the wax paper once again.[13]
[Edit]Cleaning and Displaying the Puzzle - Scrape off any excess glue along the edges with a crafting knife. You'll likely have some dried Mod Podge that extends over the edges of the jigsaw puzzle. To remove it, lift one edge of the puzzle at a time and gently press a razor knife or other sharp crafting knife to the side of the edge (that is, not the top or bottom surface of the puzzle). Slide the blade along the edge, using gentle, even pressure, to scrape away the excess glue.[14]
- Work carefully so you don't cut into the puzzle—or cut yourself!
- If you intend to frame the puzzle, feel free to skip this step and instead simply peel off any larger bits of overhanging glue with your fingers.
- Sand away any brush marks with #0000 steel wool. Even if you have an exceptional Mod Podge brushing technique, there will still be some dried brush marks visible on the glossy puzzle surface. Grab a piece of #0000 steel wool (which is the ultra superfine type) and gently and evenly work it over the surface with small circular motions.[15]
- Brush away any resulting dust on the surface with a clean cloth, or just take a deep breath and blow it off of the surface.
- Ultra superfine (#0000) steel wool is available at craft stores and online.
- Display the jigsaw puzzle as-is or frame it. With 2 coats of Mod Podge on the front and 1 on the back, your puzzle will be plenty sturdy to display simply by tacking or taping it to a wall. However, to add a bit more elegance to your display, buy a picture frame that's large enough to hold your completed puzzle.[16]
- As another display option, consider laying the puzzle on a wooden tabletop and then installing a glass tabletop over it.
- While Mod Podge is a favorite brand for many crafters, there are other brands of jigsaw puzzle glue available as well. The application process is essentially the same, but always check the package instructions.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Mod Podge Puzzle Saver
- Foam-tipped paintbrushes
- Wax paper
- Crafting knife
- Utra superfine (#0000) steel wool
- Picture frame (optional)
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Teach Your Child the Days of the Week Posted: 27 Apr 2021 05:00 PM PDT Teaching your child the days of the week is a great way to help them understand time. You can easily help them to learn about the days of the week by incorporating calendar time into your daily routine. Your child may also enjoy singing the days of the week song and learning about the days of the week using games, worksheets, and conversations. Be consistent and reinforce what your child has learned often to help them retain the information. [Edit]Using Calendar Time - Buy or make a large calendar and place it at your child's eye level. You can purchase a large calendar at a teacher supply store or make one to use with your child. Draw a grid with 31 spaces on it and number the spaces according to the days for the month you are in. Then, label each column on the calendar with the day of the week. Write the name of the month at the top of the calendar as well.[1]
- If your child is older, you could even allow them to make the calendar. Help them label the spaces correctly using another calendar as a model.
- Try placing the calendar somewhere that your child will see it many times during the day, such as on the refrigerator or in your family room.
- Create a pointing stick or wand to help make the activity more fun. Purchase a wooden dowel and wrap it in decorative paper or paint it to make it pretty. Use the pointing stick to point to specific dates on the calendar when you have calendar time.[2]
- For example, you can point to the date and then use the pointing stick to trace upwards to where the day of the week is written.
- Once your child has seen you use the pointing stick a few times, you can let them use it to point out the days of the week.
- Devote 5 to 10 minutes to calendar time every day. Try doing calendar time right after breakfast or while your child is having their morning snack. Whenever you decide to do it, make calendar time part of your daily routine to help your child learn the concepts of the days of the week and time.[3]
- Repetition is important for teaching your child new concepts. Having a routine will also be comforting to your child and help them know what to expect each day.
- Point out today, yesterday, and tomorrow in each calendar session. Use your finger or the pointing stick to identify what day today is on the calendar. Then, trace upwards to the top of the column to identify the day of the week. Say what day of the week it is out loud. Then, point to the days that will be tomorrow and yesterday.[4]
- Once your child gets used to the routine and starts to learn how to identify the days themselves, you could hand your child the pointer and ask them to show you what day it is. Ask them questions to prompt them to identify other days, such as by saying, "What day will tomorrow be?" or "What day of the week is the 10th?"
- Ask your child questions about important dates on the calendar. Direct your child's attention to holidays and other special days on the calendar, such as by using pictures and stickers. Then, point out what day of the week these special days fall on.[5]
- For example, you could say, "Look! Your birthday is on a Wednesday, which is the middle of the week!" or "Halloween is on a Saturday, so we can celebrate all day long!"
- Explain the difference between weekdays and weekends. Color code the weekdays and weekend days on your calendar to help your child see the difference. Tell your child that Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are the days when kids go to school and many people work on these days as well. However, also explain that some people work the weekends depending on the type of job they have.[6]
- Explaining the difference between the weekdays and weekend days and may help your child to identify the days of the week.
[Edit]Singing Songs about the Days of the Week - Play songs about the days of the week for your child. A days of the week song can help your child to learn and remember the days in a fun way. There are lots of different versions of the days of the week song, so listen to a few and choose one that you think will hold your child's interest. Then, show them a video of the song to introduce them to it.[7]
- Sing the song with your child daily to help them learn it. If you incorporate calendar time into your daily routine, try singing the days of the week song after you finish calendar time. Teach your child a simple version of the song and pair it with a well-known tune.[8]
- For example, you could teach your child to sing, "Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Today is Monday, tomorrow's Tuesday, and yesterday was Sunday."
- You can pair the lyrics with any simple tune that your child knows well, such as "Clementine," "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," or "Old MacDonald."
- Show your child hand gestures to go along with the song. Try starting the days of the week song with your hands straight up in the air, then bring them out to the 11:00 and 1:00 positions when you say Monday, then 10:00 and 2:00 for Tuesday, and so on until they are down at your sides. Hand gestures are optional, but they may help to reinforce the different days of the week and help your child remember them.[9]
- Another simple way to incorporate hand gestures is to clap or snap your fingers each time you say a day of the week.
- Include a song about the weather for extra reinforcement. If you want to pair the days with another concept, you could also try singing a song about the weather. This will help your child to learn the days of the week while also helping them to learn about different types of weather.[10]
- For example, if the weather is nice, you could sing, "Where is the sun? It's shining so bright. It's a sunny Friday, so let's all go outside."
- Or, on a rainy day, you could sing, "Rain rain, go away. Come again another day. It's a very rainy Saturday."
[Edit]Trying Other Strategies - Read books that explain the days of the week. Try to find picture books that deal with the topic of the days of the week and read them to your child. If your child is able, have her read the book to you, or even try to explain the pictures and events. This may help to reinforce the concepts of the days of the week or serve as a good way to introduce them. Some good examples of days of the week books include:[11]
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
- Today is Monday by Eric Carle
- Cookie's Week by Cindy Ward
- Monday is One Day by Arthur A. Levine
- Post signs for the days of the week around a room. Write the days of the week on signs and tape them up around a large room in your house or in a few different rooms. Then, shout out the days of the week one at a time and have your child run to the corresponding sign as you shout out the days. Do this once per day to help reinforce the days and give your child some exercise.[12]
- This is a great rainy day game for children who can read.
- Write the days on cards and ask your child to put them in order. Turn the days of the week into a memory or pattern organization activity by writing the days of the week on individual cards and shuffling them. Then, ask your child to put them in order by laying them out on a table or desk.[13]
- This is a good way to help a child who is learning to read recognize the days of the week.
- Give your child a days of the week worksheet for more practice. If your child is writing or is allowed to use scissors and glue, you could provide them with an age appropriate worksheet. Explain to your child how to complete the worksheet. Some involve writing the days of the week in provided spaces while others require cutting out the days of the week and pasting them into spaces.[14]
- There are lots of free worksheets available online. Choose one or more that your child might enjoy and print them out.
- Mention days of the week in conversations with your child. Repetition will also help to reinforce the days of the week. Try to work what day it is into your conversations and talk about other days of the week in conversations with your child.[15]
- For example, you could say something like, "Today is Thursday, so we will go to the grocery store and get our groceries for the week."
- Or you could say, "Tomorrow is Friday, so we will have pizza for dinner! We have pizza for dinner every Friday."
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Create Conversation With an Untalkative Boyfriend Posted: 27 Apr 2021 09:00 AM PDT Tired of those long pauses between you and your boyfriend, yet not sure what to do about it? You might feel frustrated dating a quiet guy and not know how to get him out of his shell. Start by improving your listening and communication skills. Practice being attentive and engaged by asking questions and being open about your own life. Above all, be patient if it takes longer than you'd like and maintain a positive outlook. [Edit]Conversation Help [Edit]Being a Great Listener - Practice active listening. Make sure you're being a good listener when he speaks. If he feels like you're ignoring him or that you're distracted, he may not want to open up. Give your full attention when he's talking and don't get distracted by the television, your phone, or other things.[1]
- Nod occasionally and appear engaged by leaning in and keeping an open posture. Maintain eye contact to show that you're engaged.
- Encourage him to go on by saying, "Uh huh" or, "I see" to show that you're listening.
- Remember key points. When your boyfriend speaks, remember the important things he brings up. If he brings up the same topic a couple times, this likely means it's something that's important to him or that he cares about. If you're looking for something to discuss, ask him for an update on something he brought up before.[2]
- For example, say, "You were working on a project in your garage, did you finish it?"
- Do an activity he enjoys. Give him opportunities to open up that might appeal to him. Offer to do something that both of you like. This will put him in a relaxed and familiar state of mind, which may make him feel more open and willing to talk. This also allows you to have more things to talk about regarding the activity.
- Maybe you both enjoy playing video games, ice skating, or watching movies.
- Give positive reinforcement. When your boyfriend opens up or talks, give him some positive feedback. Show your gratitude for his openness. This will show him that you appreciate when he opens up and want him to do more of it.[3]
- For example, say, "I always enjoy learning more about you" or, "I didn't know that about you, thanks for sharing."
[Edit]Improving Your Communication - Initiate the conversation. Don't expect your shy boyfriend to start every conversation. He may not know what to talk about or how to begin. If he tends to be a quiet guy, take the lead in talking. Open conversations and don't be afraid to be the first to talk.[4]
- Start with a simple, "How was your day?" or, "How are you doing?"
- Start with something simple. Don't go straight for the difficult topics or personal questions. Start by asking him simple things or topics you know he's interested in. For example, if he likes working on cars, ask him about his most memorable experience. If he enjoys sports, ask him to tell you about what he plays and why he likes it.
- Show an interest in what he enjoys and approach things you don't know with curiosity.
- Ask engaging questions. Asking questions shows that you're listening and interested in what your boyfriend is talking about. If he brings something up, make a point to ask at least one question about it before changing topics. Engage your natural curiosity and find ways to connect.[5]
- Ask open-ended questions. For example, instead of saying, "Was work good?" say, "How was work?"
- For example, if your boyfriend is telling you about his family, ask, "How many siblings do you have?"
- However, don't bombard your boyfriend with lots of questions. This can feel overwhelming and make him shut down. Space out these questions over the conversation, and give him time to think over his answers.
- Open up to him. If your boyfriend doesn't like to talk much and/or is shy, perhaps he likes to listen. Talk about what's happening in your life and ask for his advice on any issues you might be having. Make sure to try to include him while you're talking by asking for his opinion or feedback on things.[6]
- Avoid whining or complaining. This isn't the way to connect with your boyfriend.
- Avoid asking what's wrong. If you think something's up because your guy isn't talking, don't assume something is wrong. Jumping to thinking something is wrong might annoy him, especially if he feels just fine. Instead of thinking something is wrong, accept his silence as okay.
- If you want to know why your boyfriend is silent, say, "What's going on?" instead of jumping to conclusions.
- Your boyfriend may not like being accused of feeling low or sad or mad just because he is quiet.
[Edit]Adjusting Your Attitude - Don't make it personal. Especially if you know that your boyfriend tends to be quiet or untalkative in general, don't think he's ignoring you or withholding. He's not mad, upset, sad, or annoyed. He's probably just quiet and needs some time to warm up or feel engaged.[7]
- However, if he's talkative with other people but just not you, there might be a problem.
- If you think he is mad and there's reason to be, say something.
- Build his trust. Your boyfriend should feel comfortable and accepted by you. Use small moments to increase trust. Find some moments to connect and show that you're attentive.[8] Turn toward your boyfriend, not away from him.[9]
- For example, if he looks sad, say, "You look sad. What's going on?"
- Be patient. Give him time to open up. He may be nervous or may not have much experience with relationships. If you notice yourself getting irritated with him or feeling like he's not talking enough, take a few steps back. If you're committed, then you need to find some peace with where he's at, whether you like it or not. Notice when you're feeling frustrated with him and put the focus on dealing with your own feelings, not taking them out on your boyfriend.[10]
- For example, if you're feeling annoyed at failed attempts to connect, take a few deep breaths. Leave the room for a few minutes so you can return feeling better.
- Reflect on your own needs. If you need to talk as a way to feel connected yet your boyfriend doesn't feel the same way, you may need to evaluate whether you want to be with him.
- If you keep forcing him/her to talk, you will probably push them away. Give them time to talk (they matter too).
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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