Marisa’s upcycled jar top holiday belt.

I’m going to be honest – Marisa Pawelko from Modern Surrealist is funky, but I mean that in the nicest way possible. I should say “funky cool.” Here she is. Isn’t she cute?

I’m a rather simple girl in tastes, but if you know me then you know that I like plain BUT with added flair. It might be jeans with a loud shirt. It might be jeans and a plain t-shirt but with a funky purse. Or, in this case, it could be a very cool belt buckle made from a jar lid! I invited Marisa to be a guest poster here and show you how she uses Mod Podge, and I’m so glad she agreed. Now she’s going to show you how to make this belt buckle using a variety of products. Let’s roll:

Materials List

Jar Top
White Faux Fur Fabric
Plaid Holiday Glitz Charms – Ornaments & Ice Skates
Plaid Holiday Glitz Charms – Multi Colored Jingle Bells
Plaid Holiday Glitz Charms – Faceted Teardrop Gems
Plaid Chain, Chain, Chain Small Silver Chain
Plaid Jump Rings
Mod Podge Dimensional Magic
Sparkle Mod Podge
Classic Gloss Mod Podge
Super Glue
Acrylic Stones
Clearsnap Sparkle Fibers in Moonstone and Snowdrift
Ad Tech Hot Glue
Picture Hanging Hook
Pearlescent White Seed Beads
Aluminum Foil

Tools
Westcott Titanium Bonded Non-Stick Scissors
Paintbrush
Westcott Titanium Bonded Multi Purpose Trimmer
Ad Tech Hot Glue Gun
Painter’s Pyramids
Jewelry Pliers
Wire Cutters

1. Cut a thin strip of aluminum foil with Westcott Titanium Bonded Multi Purpose Trimmer. Neatly decoupage rim of jar lid with aluminum foil and Sparkle Mod Podge by wrapping foil around rim and cutting overlapping slits on the back side (as shown) using Westcott Titanium Bonded Non-Stick Scissors. Painter’s Pyramids work great for holding up the lid while drying.

2. Apply a layer of Classic Gloss Mod Podge to the interior of the jar lid.

3. Sprinkle Clearsnap Sparkle Fibers in Moonstone & Snowdrift on to interior of jar lid and let dry.

4. Use Wire Cutters to cut short lengths of Plaid Chain, Chain, Chain Small Silver Chain that span across the top and middle of the lid.

5. Use Jewelry Pliers to connect jump rings to Plaid Holiday Glitz Charms – Ornaments & Ice Skates and Plaid Holiday Glitz Charms – Faceted Teardrop Gems to strands of Plaid Chain, Chain, Chain Small Silver Chain.

6. Apply another layer of Gloss Mod Podge to the interior of the jar lid and carefully press assembled chain with charms, Acrylic Stones and Plaid Holiday Glitz Charms – Faceted Teardrop Gems and PLAID Holiday Glitz Charms – Multi Colored Jungle Bells into the top.

7. While Mod Podge is still wet, pour Pearlescent White Seed Beads all over the inside of jar lid. Pour out excess seed beads. Seed beads will stick to all of the wet areas between the charms. Let dry.

8. Apply a layer of Mod Podge Dimensional Magic all over all of the inside of the jar lid and let dry.

9. Use Super Glue to attach Picture Hanging Hook to back of jar lid. IMPORTANT! Be sure to position the hook in the correct spot on the back so your belt buckle will be “right side up.”

10. Measure around your waist and add 10”. Cut a strip of White Faux Fur Fabric in that length that is about 4” thick. *Depending on the size lid you use, you may choose to make the belt strap thinner or thicker.
11. Using the Ad Tech Hot Glue Gun, run a thin line of Ad Tech Multi-temp Glue on the inside end of the fur strip and fold over 1”.

12. Using the Ad Tech Hot Glue Gun, run a thin line of Ad Tech Multi-temp Glue down the entire inside length of the long edge of the fur strip and fold over 1.5”

13. Using the Ad Tech Hot Glue Gun, run a thin line of Ad Tech Hot Glue down the entire inside length of the remaining long edge of the fur strip and fold to overlap with other side, so there are no unfinished edges, except for the end that you will be gluing to the buckle.

14. Using the Westcott Titanium Bonded Non-Stick Scissors, trim the excess fur off of the front of the strap and adhere buckle in place with Ad Tech Multi-temp Glue.

15. Position the belt around your waist and a cut hole in the strap for the buckle using the Westcott Titanium Bonded Non-Stick Scissors.

Here’s another shot of the finished product, close up:

Marisa, I can’t thank you enough for dazzling us with your fun belt buckle. Mod Podge Rockers, please visit Marisa and tell her what you think! Here’s her full bio below, with links to all of her fun stuff.

Meet celebrity crafter Marisa Pawelko, winner of the CHA Indie Craft Contest and host of America’s Next Top Crafter™. Armed with a formal education in furniture design, Marisa used her talents to design products for the gift, toy, fashion and accessories markets before turning her focus to the craft industry. In 2005, sparked with an idea to create a recycled baby memento-keeper out of one of her son’s baby food jars, she founded Modern Surrealist, which quickly developed an international following. Marisa enjoys inspiring crafters on her “Memoirs of a Modern Surrealist” blog with thrifty project ideas for “upcycling” ordinary objects, into extraordinary custom creations! Her work has been featured by PBS, HGTV, Illinois State Museum and in countless exhibitions and high end boutiques around the world.