Bejeweled Boho Cardboard Mirror

A few weeks ago I bought a huge bag of gems for absolutely no reason other than IT WAS A HUGE BAG OF GEMS!  Who can resist something like that, I ask?  I purposely left the bag on my craft table so I would have to make something with them.....in order to justify the purchase.  This boho mirror is what happened and I'm super happy with it!  Cut to me sitting in bed watching a 6 hour mini-series and rolling cardboard rings.  It was the perfect day made even more enjoyable with the original BBC Pride and Prejudice.  Talk about a guiltless day in bed.  Remember, have fun, make messes and always MAKE YOUR MARK!

Looks great on my boho inspired patio!

I took it for a test drive in my living room for a spell

Watch how easy it is to make here!

STUFF YOU'LL NEED

Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass

Clothespins

White glue

Cardboard strips

E-6000 Glue

Flat back gems (I used only the round gems for this project)

Tubes in different sizes

99c store mirror

Cardboard or thin plywood circular base

  1. & 2.  Cut and roll thin cardboard strips around different sized tubes and then glue the end down to make cardboard disks and rings

*Make sure the tubes are a bit larger than the diameter of your gems

3.  Clip the end of each ring and disk in place and let dry

4. 5. & 6. Paint your cardboard or wood circular base in Americana Decor Metallics in Antique Brass

7. Center the mirror on the base and pencil around it

8. & 9.  Figure out your design and then glue the disks and rings around the penciled mirror line using E-6000 Glue

10.  Paint the disks and rings with more Antique Brass

11. & 12. Glue the mirror in the center and the gems inside and on top of each ring and disk

Ready to hang!

Outdoor Table Makeover

Part 2 of my patio makeover......THE TABLE!  Wow did this need some work. It was warped and weighed about 150 lbs!  I didn't want to get a new one because I really like the legs.....They're amazing legs (just like mine).  I flipped it over, took off the original table top and worked some makeover magic.  At first I thought the stripes might be a little much, but after a week I was in LOVE.  Plus, I can always toss a tablecloth over it if I get bored!  Think twice before you toss things out my friends.  Remember.....Make messes, have fun and never forget to MAKE YOUR MARK!

Working on the chandelier next!

Got these Suzani pillows on Amazon and they match everything I own

See how to makeover your own table here!

STUFF YOU'LL NEED

Disfigured patio furniture

Hammer and nails

Sander, Drill, Screwdrivers

1" x 6" pine planks the length of the table

1/2" thick plywood the size of the table top

Paintbrushes

Americana Decor Outdoor Living in Adirondack, Iron Gate and Picket Fence

Americana Decor Light Satin Varnish and Golden Brown Crème Wax

 HERE'S HOW

1. 2. & 3. Remover the original table top and replace with a piece of 1/2" thick plywood in the size you want

4.  Arrange the planks across the table

5. & 6. Paint half of the planks black and half white

7.  Sand along the edges to expose the wood and give a distressed look

8.  Paint the base of the table in Adirondack (or any color you love)

9.  Nail or screw the planks in place on top of the plywood

10.  Protect the entire table with a coat of Light Satin Varnish

11. & 12.  Paint on and wipe off the Golden Brown Creme Wax to give depth to the white planks

Have a seat!

Outdoor Chair Makeover

It was seriously time to overhaul my patio chairs!  They had been out in the sun and rain for 3 years and even though I love the distressed look, this was way too much.  I'm sure in 2 years they'll look totally different, but for now,  I'm seriously happy that I didn't have fork over the dough to buy another set.  A little paint and plywood and I get to enjoy these for a few more years.  BTW, you can use this technique on almost any thrift store chair.  Toss on a cushion and you're good to go.

Remember, make messes, have fun and Make Your Mark!

I wasn't completely sold on the pink, but I promised myself some color this year!

Watch the tutorial here!

STUFF YOU'LL NEED

Jigsaw

1/4" plywood

Sander

2" wide masking tape

Hammer & nails

Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Carbon, Everlasting, Reminisce & Victorian

Americana Decor Light Satin Varnish and Golden Brown Crème Wax

HERE'S HOW

1. & 2.  Press butcher paper around the seat to make a pattern and then cut on the creases

3. & 4. Trace the pattern on 1/4" thick plywood, cut out and sand

5.  Paint the plywood in Everlasting (white)

6.  Starting in the exact center, create stripes with masking tape

7.  Paint over the edges of the masking tape with more Everlasting

*this technique insures that your stripes are PERFECT

8.  Slowly remover the masking tape when the paint is almost dry

9. Paint the chairs (I chose Reminisce and Victorian)

10.  Nail the seat to the chairs 

11.  Seal everything with Americana Decor Light Satin Varnish

12.  Paint on and wipe off the Golden Brown Crème was to give an aged and distressed look and then seal with a bit more varnish to help protect from the elements

Now I'm ready to tackle the table!

Resin Nature Tiles

Create beautiful resin tiles to use for a custom backsplash or to use as coasters. This project is a terrific way to remember all of your beautiful plants and flowers you grow in your garden.  Why stop at plants and flowers?  You could use almost anything to create these tiles!  Just remember to make messes, have fun and Make Your Mark! 

Stuff You'll Need

E-6000 Glaze Coat

Resin Dye

Air Dry Clay

Bottle

Amazing Mold Rubber

Leaves and Flowers

Plastic Container

1.  Roll out a ball of clay to create a 1/4" thick slab with the bottle

2. Carefully lay your leaves or flowers in the clay and roll the impression onto the clay with the bottle

3. Carefully remove the leaves and flowers making sure not to touch the clay. 

4. & 5. Cut the clay into a square or rectangular tile and let it thoroughly dry

6.  Mix the Amazing Mold Rubber, place the tile face up in a plastic container and cover the tile with the rubber.

*a to-go salad container works well for this

7.  Remove the mold from the plastic container and the tile from the mold making sure it's free of clay

8. & 9. Follow the directions for mixing the Glaze Coat and then stir in a small amount of resin dye to color the resin

10. & 11. Fill the mold with the Glaze Coat and pop the bubbles with a small torch or a long-arm lighter.

12.  Cure overnight and remove the tile when complete.

*If the tile is sticky when you remove it from the rubber mold, you can torch the surface until the surface is completely smooth.

Alice Through The Looking Glass Mixed Media Bottles

You may not know this, but I'm a HUGE Alice In Wonderland fan!  To celebrate the new Disney movie, Alice Through the Looking Glass,  I created a set of mixed media bottles using images of the main characters.  I had wine bottles on hand, but you could use any type of bottle for this project.  Even a set of pencil holders made out of recycled cans would look amazing.  The rule is that there are no rules!  Every bottle you make will turn out differently.  The key to my success was the DecoArt Metallic Lustres.  They add a beautiful metallic shimmer to any surface....I even painted them on lace!  Water them down or rub them on full strength, it's up to you.  Just remember to have fun, make messes and Make Your Mark!  Big hugs and write if you have a question.....

I'm always around.

My magic garden is the perfect setting!

Metallis Lustres come in a TON of colors!

Watch how I made these here!

Stuff You'll Need

Wine bottles

Book pages

Americana Decoupage in Matte

DecoArt Metallic Lustres (in the colors you like)

Lace

Fabric flowers

Chandelier crystals and marker caps

Rhinestones, chain, charms

Ribbon and fabric strips

Playing cards

Spray bottle

Glue gun

Images of Alice Through the Looking Glass Characters

Here's how:

1. Using Americana Decoupage in matte, cover a wine bottle in ripped book pages

*Always mist both sides of the paper with water to relax it first so it doesn't bubble when you decoupage

2. Print your image on book page paper and on plain paper

(Images are HERE)

3. Cut the book page image about the size of a large wine label and decoupage to the bottle

4. Cut around the image on the plain paper and apply it over the book page "label"

5. Decoupage other images on the back of the bottle

*I used clocks for the White Rabbit bottle

6. & 7.  Hot glue lace and fabric flowers around the image to create a frame

8. 9. & 10. Using the Metallic Luster, paint the bottle and lace and when dry add strips of stick on rhinestones

I started with Fab Fuchsia, added Brilliant Turquoise over it and then highlighted with Gold Rush

11. & 12. Print the Queen of Hearts image and glue it to a real playing card

13. 14. & 15.  Glue a chandelier crystal to an old marker cap and then wrap it in fabric and metallic gold thread to create a decorative stopper

16.  Attach the charms to the chain

17. & 18.  Wrap the ribbon, chain and strips of fabric around the neck of the bottle and then tie the card to the end of one of the hanging strands

Erin Fitzhugh Gregory has Flower Power!

Thought you might like to know a little about one of my favorite artists.  I love everything about her work.  The freedom, the fearless use of color and, most importantly, the happiness.  Erin Fitzhugh Gregory is originally from Alabama and has lived with her husband and two daughters in Columbus, Georgia since 2002.  Erin paints in acrylic (and occasionally in oil) almost daily in her home studio.  She knew from an early age that she would be an artist when she grew up.  Her best advice for aspiring artists is to simply "Paint often and to not fear mistakes! Mistakes in painting, especially in oils & acrylics, can often be cultivated into something beautiful in the end. 

Discipline and perseverance are key!"  I couldn't agree more.

I would love to be surrounded by 100 of these paintings!

Glitter Striped Table DIY

I wanted to jazz up my outdoor space this summer with some bright pieces so I've been experimenting with different techniques on thrift store tables and chairs.  It's amazing what you can pick up for $5 or $10 dollars at a thrift store.  This glitter striped table adds some serious fun to my backyard and surprisingly, it wasn't as hard to make as I thought it would be.  The most important thing to remember is to seal the glitter before you add the resin top coat.  This way you won't have any stray pieces like I did.  I spend almost 45 minutes pushing flecks of glitter back into the stripes.  All in all, it was worth it!  Are you ready to make a mess?  Let's GO!

The perfect amount of excitement for breakfast on the patio

Paint the base any color you want

Mix in a patterned rug and pillows

Watch exactly how it's done here!

Stuff You'll Need

Thrift Store Dining Table

E-6000 Glaze Coat Resin

Maxx Gloss in Rain Slicker

Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass

Gold Glitter

Americana Decoupage in Gloss

Masking Tape

Paintbrush and Sponge Brush

1. Paint the base of the table with Maxx Gloss in Rain Slicker

2. Paint the table top with Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass

3. When dry, draw lines 3" apart across the table

4. Tape on the outside of every other line with masking tape

5. & 6. Fill in one line at a time with Americana Decoupage in Gloss

7. While the decoupage is wet, sprinkle with a generous amount of glitter and sweep off when dry

*do this to every other stripe

8. Remove the tape and sweep the excess glitter into a paper bag and then back in the jar

9. Coat each stripe with Americana Decoupage in Gloss and let dry

10.  Follow the instructions for the E-6000 Glaze Coat, mix and pour it on the table top

11. Evenly distribute the Glaze Coat with a sponge brush

*push the stray glitter pieces back to the stripe with toothpick or chopstick

12.  Pop the bubbles in the Glaze Coat with a small torch and then let cure overnight in room that isn't occupied and is free of moving dust and dirt

Sparkly and shiny!

No-Sew Upholstered Chair

Yup, you heard me!  Miriam Webster defines Upholster as "to put a covering of cloth, leather, etc., on (a piece of furniture, such as a couch or chair).  Well friends, that's exactly what I did with this boxy dining room chair that almost everyone I know has a version of.  OK, maybe Americana Fabric Decoupage didn't exist when they wrote the definition, but I'm going to compose a persuasive letter to old Miriam and see if we can add a little side note!  This process works on vinyl, leather and smooth fabric covered chairs.  Just make sure you use a generous amount of the decoupage so it becomes "part" of the existing fabric.  Choose cotton with big, bold patterns that you can cut out and arrange to fit the shape of your furniture.  Remember, have fun and make messes!

Alone in the forest

Make a whole set!

Watch how easy it is to do here!

Stuff You'll Need

Cotton fabric with big patterns

Americana Decoupage for Fabric

Americana Satin Enamels in a color that matches the fabric

Masking tape

Paintbrush

Dining chairs

1. Tape around the legs to protect the chair

2. & 3. Pick a matching Americana Decor Satin Enamel and paint the legs

4. Cut out the patterns on your fabric

*I chose a large floral because it was easy to overlap and I could use the leaves to fill small spaces

5. Figure out your design

6. & 7. Using a generous amount of Americana Decor Fabric Decoupage, apply the pattern to the chair

8. Clip corners on the fabric pieces to make it easier to decoupage around corners and curves

9. Finish with a thick coat of Americana Decoupage for Fabric

*Sometimes exposed vinyl can remain tacky so either cover all of the vinyl with fabric OR coat the chair with Americana Decoupage in Matte and let dry

Grab a plate and come sit down!