There are a lot of recipes on the internet for how to make homemade Mod Podge – here are all of the good reasons NOT to do it yourself.
I get a lot of questions about how to make Mod Podge, and I’ve seen a lot of it on Pinterest recently, so I wanted to address with a blog post. Interestingly enough, I have been asked these questions for years.
Homemade Mod Podge
I should start by saying this is not a paid endorsement – no person or company asked me to post this, or even knows I’m doing it.
I don’t make money off the sale of Mod Podge. And while my blog might be all about Mod Podge, I get visitors using all types of decoupage mediums (Mod Podge isn’t available in every country).
I just don’t want you to be disappointed. Because in my experience, you should NOT make your own Mod Podge.
The truth is, I’ve gotten MANY e-mails from people (with pictures) who tried to make Mod Podge. These emails ask me why their photo/furniture/gift project is yellowing/flaking/peeling and what they can do.
With further prompting, I find out that they made a glue concoction on their own by adding water to flour, or something along those lines.
Mod Podge is a step above craft glue in terms of the sealing properties. Mod Podge is glue, but it’s also a sealer – and there are varnishes, etc. in the formula that don’t exist in craft glues.
The bonding properties of Mod Podge are way stronger than that of (most) craft or school glues.
Can you use Elmer’s glue instead of Mod Podge?
I get asked this question a lot too. Long story short, the ingredients in Mod Podge are not the same as craft glue, and in 99% of cases are superior. That is why Mod Podge costs more than craft glue.
And that is why it lasts longer and is more durable on projects.
A lot of the homemade recipes take craft glue and dilute it with water, which is just about the worst thing you can do to make a decoupage medium of any sort.
You’re taking a glue that is inferior to decoupage medium and made it even thinner by adding water.
This is why I receive pictures all the time of ruined furniture or home decor items that didn’t last more than a few years before the paper started peeling off or yellowing BADLY.
In the short term, the projects might seem okay, but over the years, the projects go down the toilet. And then I get very sad emails.
Decoupage medium is more expensive than glue, but you’ll notice on the glue aisle of any craft store that there is a wide range of pricing depending on what the specific glue does. The more specialty the application, the more it’s going to cost.
Mod Podge might be more expensive than glue and water, but the 8 oz. bottle lasts a long time, and you can always use a 40% coupon (do an online search to find them).
Of course I think it’s worth it – but I also have the proof: jewelry, home decor items and furniture that have been around for years and still look as great as the day they were made.
What can be used instead of Mod Podge?
If you aren’t sure where to get Mod Podge, I have a list here. For international distributors, go here.
If you just can’t find Mod Podge where you live, look for PVA glue. It’s about the closest you can get. Frequently craft and art stores have PVA glue, but you may have to call around.
I hope my information here helps. And I hope that if you want the project to last, you won’t take the risk and make Mod Podge – that you’ll use the real thing!
If you’re a newbie or can’t figure out how to get rid of wrinkles, check out my learn-how article and videos. You can also learn about ALL the decoupage formulas in my formula guide.
Most glues are acidic that’s why they can yellow and eventually “eat” away the paper. I use decoupage glue for most of my craft & art projects. I even used it to glue plastic bottle caps in my latest project!
Remember In School When You Used White Glue To Coat Your Paper Mache Ideas And As Soon As It Got Wet It Got All Mushy And Sticky………….That’s Why Mod Podge Is The Way To Go.
Thanks for sharing! I’ve seen this on pinterest and wondered if it could be true. Thanks for shedding light on the subject. But I don’t think anything could ever replace my ooey gooey trusty mod podge!
PS. Can you talk to someone about making the big jars come with the same kind of pop top as the little ones? So much neater! 🙂
Preach Amy! hehe, it’s Mod Podge for me too!
Thank you for this info. I was looking for something because I had posted a Mod Podge project on my blog and my UK friends all want to know about Mod Podge, I guess they can’t get it over there. I don’t know what to tell them, I don’t know if there is a product that is the same for sale where they are (and apparently shipping to them must be very expensive). But after I ran across your article I decided against suggesting the home made versions. 🙁
@Susie, I live in the UK and Modge Podge is avalable in a lot of craft stores , although I have yet to find the photo-transfer version. It is definitely in a class of its own. I wouldn’t compromise all my hard work on a craft project by using an inferior glue.
I wish I had read this post before I decided to make my own. I now a large batch of watery-glue that hasn’t managed to actually make anything stick. I can’t stand the thought of just throwing it away (since I actually have some $$$ invested into it), so for now it has been condemned to a dark corner under the kitchen sink. The Mod Podge has taken back it’s rightfully spot in the craft box.
@Miss Tori’s Treasures, perhaps if you added more glue and maybe some flower or something you could make a homemade clay? Try finding a recipe for that I agree it would be an awful waste. Good luck honey🤞
Thanks for posting this! I was skeptical about those homemade ones anyway!
This is totally true. I tried to water down glue because I read it was the same thing. NOT EVEN CLOSE! Luckily any time I used it, I could fix it by either peeling it off and redoing it, or painting over it.
Amy, I am really glad you posted them. I saw the recipe and went for it. Something just did not feel right and I went back to my mod podge. It would kill me to think that something I put time in and sold did not pass the test of time!
I kinda thought it had something to do with the sealer, but wasn’t sure. After experimenting with white glue, fabric stiffener & Mod Podge, it’s just better to use each product for what it’s made for, imho.
And you’re right, Mod Podge lasts a long time, so the value is incredible.