Monday, June 5, 2023

Extra Summer Seating - Thrift Store Steal

Painted or stenciled, you can have some extra summer seating for a song with a few thrift store finds. I grabbed these for $5 each and I love how they gave life to my back patio. Love it!  I used my Cricut and permanent vinyl to make the designs BUT you could just paint and stencil, it's up to you.  Just have fun, use lots of color and MAKE YOUR MARK! 

Watch how to make them here! 
This Ryobi sander saves my life EVERY day! Make sure to give your seats a good sanding before you begin. Trust me on this!

I mixed two colors together for the seat, but one is fine, too! 
Love you all!  x, Mark

 

Saturday, June 3, 2023

Kid Friendly Art Prompt Cards

I have nieces who look perpetually bored. Come on! I have a craft room filled with literally everything you can imagine and they still want to stare at their phones. Drives me nuts! I made these art prompt cards and for an hour or two, they actually come to life for a little while.  Art prompts inspire you to jump into a blank page without hesitation. No more "what do I draw?" or "I don't know what to do!"  I even love using them when I de-stress in my art journals.  Check out the video below and the links to my digital downloads, too!  Have fun and Make Your Mark!

Watch how I use my art prompt cards here!
Link to my digital download set:  https://etsy.me/3OTbsxI
A few of the pages I created using the cards! I promise, they are really 
fun to use!

Have fun and MAKE YOUR MARK!

 

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

When I was a kid I got wallet kits for Christmas almost every year.  When you come from a very large family in southeastern Colorado, leather tooling is a thing and apparently I was supposed to learn it.  I never did. Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I got another wallet kit and was stumped again. Fortunately there is leather paint and stencils and colorful synthetic sinew to make your leather projects amazing! This wallet has the perfect mix of boho, cowboy and me!  Check out the colorful waxed sinew from John Bead...I mean this stuff comes in NEON colors! Now get out there, my amazing friends, and MAKE YOUR MARK!

I love that I didn't have to learn how to tool to get this effect!  I call it my dollar hauler!

Watch how to make this gorgeous, boho/western wallet here without tooling and only leather paints and colorful sinew!
You can also watch it on YouTube here (and see some of my other videos)
Links to everything I used for this project:
John Bead Synthetic Sinew: Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/41fyPob Amazon.ca - https://amzn.to/3KMbSC6 Wallet Kit: https://amzn.to/3Nsb4Fs Leather Paints: https://bit.ly/2N9O7W2 MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano
Have an awesome day!  xo, Mark!


Thursday, May 11, 2023

I save everything...envelopes, newspaper, cardboard tubes, plastic & glass containers and burned out light bulbs. I boarder on hoarder BUT I do try to use everything I save in my craft projects.  These pears were my desperate attempt to use up a few of the bulbs I have been saving over the years and I'm so happy with they way they turned out.  When I was finished I thought of 100 other ways to decorate them, but that's for another day.  Upcycle, recycle and reuse as much as you can my awesome friends!  Now get out there and Make Your Mark!  xo
I used decorative paper but book pages would look beautiful, too!
Some of my decorative papers
The foil helps smooth out the screw thread area but it's not 100% necessary!

Watch how I make them here!  I used a Xyron Creative Station which turns everything into a sticker, but regular white glue would work, too.  I find my Xyron makes it easier and less messy!
Aren't we a pear!  Love you all!
Mark

 

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Art Prompt Cards

 When I stare at a blank canvas or blank page in my art journal, sometimes I have no idea where to start. NONE!  About a year ago I decided to start writing down my favorite techniques for mixed media, painting and collage, and before I knew it I had a set of 189 prompts to help me get started.  For fun I added dice to make it a real game of chance.  All you have to do is print them out on cardstock (or stick them to a deck of cards) and you'll never run out of ideas and combinations to create art.  Have fun and MAKE YOUR MARK!

The Frida page I created using a few art prompts!

Watch how to make them and use them here!

LINK TO MY ART PROMPT PRINTOUTS HERE: https://etsy.me/3kuXwgv


HAVE FUN AND MAKE ART!

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Decorative Books For Your Guest Room

I finally have 2 guest rooms to decorate and I'm going nuts with fun projects so that my friends are comfortable and happy while they visit!  For my friends who love to read before bed, I grabbed a stack of thrillers from the thrift store and turned them into something beautiful.  I will use decor transfers on almost anything and WOW did I love figuring out how to put them on these book spines.  I'll leave links to everything I used for this project right under the video below.  Happy decorating and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
Put the covers on the inside so they know what they're reading and they can use it as a bookmark!
A scented candle is always nice, too!  Don't forget to have a piece of paper with the wifi password, too!
Watch how to make these beautiful books here OR watch this and other videos on my
Everything I used for this project:
Re-Design with Prima Royal Burgundy Decor Transfer: https://bit.ly/3Kl6UdO Re-Design with Prima Imperial Garden Decor Transfer: https://bit.ly/3CmZOT9 Harlequin Stencils: https://amzn.to/3ZoaUTe Re-Design with Prima Script Stencil: https://bit.ly/3GrIHlQ MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano
Either upright or side by side, this stack of books looks beautiful and serves a purpose!
Happy creating everyone! 
Love, Mark



 

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Beaded Wire Christmas Ornaments

I know it's a little late for this but still had to post it because Valentine's day is around the corner and these would make beautiful hearts!  Happy New Year everyone!  I swear I'm going to try to blog a bit more this year. It's been hectic moving into this new house but I'm almost ready to show it.
A little wire and some leftover beads (from John Bead of course) and you can make the most amazing ornaments, or hearts!  Love you all!  
MAKE YOUR MARK!
Aluminum wire is one of my favorite things to work with!
        Watch how to make them here OR watch how to make them on you YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj9NgQKJwyc
Here's everything I used to make them with links:
Czech Glass Beads: https://bit.ly/3n1axNG
John Bead Aluminum Wire: https://amzn.to/36kZXuF
Large Czech Bead Mixes: https://bit.ly/2WRRH09
MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

So easy! Just create your shape with large wire and then add beads to thinner wire and wrap!
Love the way they catch the lights on the tree, too!
Sending you all the love today!

Thursday, December 8, 2022

Funky Chunky Postcards

Happy mail is one of THE BEST THINGS...I love it so much! I love sending it, getting it, making it and collecting it.  Mostly I love making it.  Now, like many of you I have a box filled with extra stuff from projects. It's my catch all box and I use it for everything from art journals & jewelry making to these FUNKY CHUNKY POSTCARDS.  The rule about making these postcards is that there are no rules. You just keep going until your content with the final result. Transfer, spray, decoupage, glue, glitterize, spray some more, embellish and then keep going. Check out the video below for my particular process.  Have fun and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

I can't wait to send these out!
This one even has fish tank rocks glued to the edges!
Watch how I make these here AND if you want more videos,
check out my Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/MarkMontanoDesigner/featured
EVERYTHING I USED FOR THIS PROJECT:
Marabu Art Sprays: https://bit.ly/3q2zj0A Surebonder Glue Guns & Products: https://amzn.to/3bOpfiZ Re-Design with Prima Royal Burgundy Decor Transfer: https://bit.ly/3Kl6UdO Re-Design with Prima Imperial Garden Decor Transfer: https://bit.ly/3CmZOT9 Re-Design with Prima Fragrant Roses Mould: https://bit.ly/3HzClQL Re-Design with Prima Wing and Locket Mould: https://bit.ly/3sn7aS3 Re-Design with Prima Everleigh Flourish Mould: https://bit.ly/3Ltw3Vd Re-Design with Prima Clearly Aligned Decor Stamps: https://bit.ly/3u2irZ8 Surebonder Glue Guns & Products: https://amzn.to/3bOpfiZ
I think it's time for another postcard swap!

These Decor Stamps from Re-Design with Prima are amazing!
Hot glue in silicone molds make wonderful embellishments. 
Just paint them in your favorite colors!
Embossing in gold is always a winner on my cards!
Send some happy mail!

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Dollar Store Frame Upstyle

Printing out vintage botanicals on watercolor paper is a wonderful way to create beautiful art for your home.  I LOVE how much beauty they can add to a room.  In fact, my entire dining room is filled with botanical drawings and big plants and it makes me VERY happy!  These works of art started out as dollar store frames and with a little decoupage and hot glue, you can have something AMAZING to show off. Check out the video below to see how it's done and then get out there and
MAKE YOUR MARK!  xo
Dollar store frames and hot glue...Yup! 
Crumpled tissue paper glued to almost anything always looks amazing!
Everything I used for this project:
Surebonder Glue Guns & Products: https://amzn.to/3bOpfiZ Clearly Aligned Decor Stamps in Linear Floral: https://bit.ly/3A3Epfv Decor Mould in Regal Trimming: https://bit.ly/3xjXeJE Decor Ink Pad in white: https://bit.ly/3yoC8LE Watercolor Confections in Terrain: https://bit.ly/3A2eFA3 Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Carbon Black: https://amzn.to/3yk1w4V
Watch how I made this here OR
watch tons of other videos on my YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/MarkMontanoDesigner/featured

It is wonderfully relaxing adding watercolor to black and white botanicals!
Creativity is the key, my wonderful friends!
See you soon! x