Learn how to ship a craft project that has been Mod Podged! Avoid a ruined mess on the recipient’s side with these handy tips.
Poor Jaime. She made a Mod Podge project – this very cute idea below – and sent it to a friend:
When it arrived, this had happened:
I call it “ModPodgus Stickitus.” Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to fix this condition once the damage has been done.
Keep in mind that Mod Podge takes awhile to cure . . . and that means, reduce tackiness even after drying. Typically when you make something, you’re shipping it soon after. So you need to follow these steps!
How to Ship a Mod Podge Project
Step One: Make sure your project is DRY. That doesn’t necessarily mean fully cured, but it means “not wet.” Don’t finish your project and then pack it up 15 minutes later.
Let it dry at least for 24 hours . . . and the longer, the better. If you are in a humid climate – even longer.
Step Two: When you send, pack, transport, or in any other way move something with Mod Podge, you should use an acrylic sealer to protect it.
You never know what the conditions will be (could be really HOT on the truck shipping your project) – the Mod Podge could get tacky very easily.
Use any acrylic sealer, but I recommend Mod Podge brand acrylic sealers because they are affordable and won’t yellow. You can get them online (click the link) and from craft stores.
Step Three: I learned this from professionals Mod Podgers! Put some Glad Press’n Seal around the project before packing. For whatever reason, it won’t stick, which is awesome.
Wax paper also works, but I really like the Press’n Seal because it folds around the edges more easily (and it also sticks to itself).
Keep in mind that the rules above apply when stacking Mod Podge projects in your closet or in any way putting them in close contact with each other. The Gloss formulas especially *will* stick if it’s not sealed.
Good luck and happy shipping!
Now that’s some helpful tips!! Thanks for the heads up!!
Okay, first, I will be late to dinner. In fact, I’m not sure I’ll be there at all. 🙂
Question oh great Mod Podge-inista: Do you think the clear sealer would also work on an object that would be exposed to moisture? I mod podged (hard coat) fabric onto a galvanized bucket to use as an ice bucket. Looked great until the condensation softened the mod podge- it did take an hour or two. And it did harden back up. It was just really gross in the meantime. Do you have that much faith in the sealer?
That flower paper is the same one I used on the still-not-finished-&-still-haven’t-tried-again book case that inspired my original visit here.
Thanks for the comments everyone! Caroline, I wrote you a separate e-mail. And Sarah . . that’s a pretty paper. Please try again so we can see what you do!! 😀
Good to remind users that sealing is very important. I have a lovely piece that got dripped on under a leaky awning – the mod podge started turning opaque white. The surface returned to it’s clear self once it dried – but as soon as I got it home I sprayed it well with several coats of acrylic sealer.
that is really good information to know! i will keep my eye out for the sealer you mention.
I totally needed this post about a month ago, but that’s okay. I made some father’s day projects that got a little messed up. I am glad I have the information for future projects:) Thanks!
Thanks everyone!
Great tip. This is a question I get asked all the time when I teach a class Now thanks to you I have an answer for them.
Gail
http://missnanceandbeyond.blogspot.com/
I am so glad I read this before I finished my mod podge project! I would have just cried if I would have ruined it. Thanks so much for an awesome site and great tips!
I linked my tutorial to your site!
Thank you so much for this tip! I am just getting ready to ship one of my first projects to my sister, and would’ve cried if it had gotten messed up in the process. Thanks for an awesome blog!
Thanks! I’m glad I saw this. I am making some decorated clothespins and other stuff for Christmas and must mail them to family.
Thank you so much for the info! I shipped a photo star I had made a friend for her newborn and when it arrived the popcorns it was packaged with were all stuck to the pictures! Now I have a way to safely ship without ruining the star.
Thank you SO much for this! I am getting ready to send out some coasters I made. I had put mod podge on them and then about 5 thin coats of a finish spray/sealer, but I wasn’t sure how to ship them without them sticking to what they were wrapped in! I knew that I needed something b/c I had a project ruined last time I used mod podge. So I googled what to do before shipping and found this! I truly appreciate it! Best thing is that we already had Glad press n seal. 🙂
@Leanne, How did shipping the coasters turn out? Were the coasters still ok when they were received?
I’m so happy I found you. I made decorated Mod Podge wooden Christmas ornaments which are presently being bid on. I was so worried about shipping them out. I have the sealer you recommended and the confidence that the winners will love my new found obsession!!
Thank you for reading!
Thank you so much for this post! I live in Florida and had made something I wanted to ship back to my niece in New Jersey, but was worried that it would get damaged along the way because of both the heat here and whatever temperature it’s going to be in on the trip back, this may have saved my life!
Glad it helped!
Is there any kind of clear display bag with the peg hole that will not stick to a fully cured item? I decoupage napkins with gloss mod podge to a plastic sand dollar. I’m trying to figure out how to: store, transport and display.