Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Art Gallery Manicure DIY

Not sure how this happened, but my assistant Julie convinced to make another nail salon video for our channels.  Ok, I admit it, we had a blast coming up with our special manicures......but for some reason I always feel like I'm letting my little sister try out her average makeup skills on me!  I gave Julie a "Masters Manicure" and she gave me "Galaxy Nails".  So much fun!  See the videos below when you get a minute.  BTW, you could use photos of your friends or pets for this project.  It's up to you.  Just remember to make messes, have fun and Make Your Mark!  xoxo
A little Van Gogh, Mary Cassatt and Andy Warhol!
Debbie Harry is my fave!

My awesome Galaxy Nails courtesy of Julie
See how I did it here!
Watch Julie rock my nails here!
1.  Paint your nails (or false nails) in metallic gold
2.  Print out small images (here)
*I used famous paintings but you could use photos of your friends
3.  Cut them the size of the nail and then clip around the edges
4.  Spray with water
5. & 6.  Decoupage (with Americana Decoupage) the images onto each nail making sure to really coat the image.
*This will keep the images from looking stained and wet
7. & 8.  Add clear polish to the top and bottom of the image and dip in small glass beads or glitter
9.  Apply to the finger and give several top coats of clear polish

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Mixed Media Affirmation Stones

Not sure about you, but I often need a little reminder on my desk to be more positive.  The work day can be a grind and as the day progresses, I can get a bit grumpy!  These affirmation stones not only look happy, but they're a colorful reminder to be a better human being.  Make one for someone you love and see if it makes a difference.  Remember, make messes, have fun and don't forget to 
Make Your Mark!  xoxox
My new favorite paper weights!

Courage is my favorite!
(Check out this LIST of words)
See how to make them here!
Stuff You'll Need
Brushes
Printed affirmations
Smooth stones
Book pages
1. & 2.  Cut large circles in book pages, clip the edges and apply to your stones with E-6000 Spray Adhesive
3.  Pick out some fun Americana Acrylic Colors
4.  Paint the face of the stone a light color and edge it in a contrasting color
5. & 6. Trace and fill in a heart in the center
*add shading with either black or white
7. & 8.  Add flames and dots around the heart with short paint strokes and Allure
9.  Add another layer of flames with another color of Allure
10.  Dot around the edges in black
11.  Decoupage your affirmations on the heart
12.  Try different color combinations 
They look amazing if you seal the entire stone with Americana Decoupage in Gloss
Love the Americana Neons!

Nothing like Allure to add some Dimension to your painted projects!

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

No Sew Heart Coin Purse

Who doesn't need a little heart coin purse to stash some spare change?  This one is super easy to make because you don't need a sewing machine......only my favorite, awesome, magic glue!  The best part about this little purse is that you can make it any size and shape and the chain is optional.  Make a star, a cat, even a big floppy square.  It's all about how it comes together.  Make sure to check out the video if you get a chance.  Have fun, make messes and don't forget to Make Your Mark! 
xoxo, Mark
The perfect little Valentine's Day gift!
Too cute for words!
See how to make it here
Stuff You'll Need
Red vinyl
Zipper
Pinking shears
Chain, charms and jump rings
1. & 2.  Create, trace and cut your heart pattern from vinyl in the size you want
3.  Draw and cut out a 1/4" strip from the center of the heart as shown
4.  Glue both straight edges of the heart to opposite sides of the zipper
*place something heavy on top, like a book, while it dries
5.  Trace the zipper heart on another piece of vinyl
6.  Cut out leaving an extra 1/4" all the way around
7.  Snip off the end of the zipper and unzip the 1/2 way through the heart
8.  Add a solid line of E-6000 glue around the larger, solid heart
9. Place the zipper heart on top and add weight while it dries
10.  When dry, cut out the heart with pinking shears
11. & 12.  Optional: Add a grommet, chain and charms to finish it off
Happy Valentine's Day!

Friday, February 5, 2016

Wonderland Blazer Makeover

Why not add a little Alice In Wonderland meets harajuku girl to your Valentine's Day wardrobe?  I took an inexpensive black thrift store blazer and added a few embellishments to give it a whimsical flair, perfect for your fun night out!  You could do even do this in all black if the stripes are too much for you.  The techniques would work for all kinds of blazer makeover projects.  Remember, have fun, make messes and don't forget to Make Your Mark!  xoxo
Julie channeling Alice 
Right before Julie fell down the rabbit hole....
Tea anyone?
See how I put it together here
Stuff You'll Need
Black and white striped fabric
Sewing machine
Thrift store blazer
Americana Multi-Surface Satin Paints (Flamingo Pink and Cotton ball)
2 yards pink ribbon
Sequin trim
Paintbrush
1. & 2. Trace a large heart on the center of the jacket back and paint it white
3.  When dry, edge with Fabri-Fuse and glue on sequin trim
4. Fill in with DecoArt Glamour Dust to add some sparkle
5. Draw two small hearts on the front hem and paint white and then pink
6. Paint with Glamour Dust and then glue sequin trim around the edges
7.  Cut two pieces of striped fabric that are 31" x 8"
8. & 9.   Stitch the 8" sides to create two tubes
10.  Hem one side of each tube by turning 1/4" twice
11.  Gather the raw edge of each tube by pushing the fabric under the presser foot
12.  Pin the gathered edge to the end of the cuff as shown and stitch around using 1/2" seam allowance
13.  Cut 4 pieces of 30" x 3" fabric strips  
14.  & 15.  Hem each side by turning the edges 1/4" twice
16.  Gather the hemmed strips under the presser foot while stitching down the center to create ruffles
17. & 18.  Glue around the collar with Fabri-Fuse and then pin in place while the ruffles dry
What! A talking rabbit?!

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Valentine's Day Pillows!

Most of my friends are CRAZY for Halloween, but me,  I love Valentine's Day.  Even when I wasn't madly in love and married, I enjoyed it.  This holiday is all about every kind of LOVE and letting everyone know how much YOU love them.......From your dear old dad to your awesome next door neighbors.  It's also about the champagne and the big heart shaped box of chocolates, which let's face it, is much more fun to eat alone then to have to share with your other half!  I mixed up prints and techniques for these pillows and hopefully they'll inspire you to make some of your own.
Big love, xoxoxo, Mark!
Love the mix of polka dots and stripes!
Nothing says LOVE like a pillow with the word LOVE on it!
See them come together here!
For the double heart pillow
YOU'LL NEED
Gold glitter
Black and white striped fabric
Paintbrush
Sewing machine
Pillow stuffing
1.  Cut two pillow squares 20" x 20"
2. Trace a large heart and a small heart in the center
3.  Paint over the black strips inside the hearts
4.  Paint the large heart red and the small heart gold
5.  Paint over the gold with the Decoupage and sprinkle glitter on top
6.  Paint over the gold glitter when it's dry with more Decoupage to seal it
*Stick with Americana Decoupage because it's not sticky when it dries
7.  Stitch the pillow squares together face to face leaving a 5" hole
8.  Stuff and hand stitch closed
For the 5 Hearts Pillow
YOU'LL NEED
Black and white striped fabric
Red polka dot fabric
Sewing machine
Iron
Pillow stuffing
1.  Cut out 5 hearts the same size
*Layer the fabric to make it easier
2.  Arrange your hearts
3.  Add a thin line of E-6000 Stitchless around the edges of each heart
*Stitchless is an iron on glue that turns anything into a patch or applique
4.  Carefully iron in place until the moisture of the glue vanishes
5.  When all hearts are ironed in place, edge with the Allure Gold Glitter and let dry
6.  Stitch the pillow squares together face to face leaving a 5" hole
7.  Stuff and hand stitch closed
For the Sequin LOVE Pillow
YOU'LL NEED
Gold Sequins
E-6000 Glue
Paintbrush
White fabric
Pillow stuffing
Sewing machine
1.  Cut two 20" x 20" white cotton squares
2.  Trace a large heart in the center of one square
3.  Fill in with the Dazzling Metallics Splendid Gold
4.  When dry pencil in the word LOVE in the center
5.  Trace around the word and edge of the heart with E-6000 Glue and sprinkle sequins on top
6.  When dry, stitch the pillow squares together face to face leaving a 5" hole
7.  Stuff and hand stitch closed

Happy Valentine's Day!