Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Vintage Floral Glassware DIY

You can always be sure to find tons of glassware at dollar stores and thrift stores.  Thrift stores are the best because you can get it for almost nothing and there's always a terrific selection of interesting pieces.  Recently I saw some very simple floral glassware and decided I wanted to make my own set but I wasn't quite sure how to do it.  Finally I remembered I had some Americana Dishwasher Safe Decoupage and guess what?  It worked like a charm.  Remember to shop at thrift stores, make messes and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

Ready for breakfast!
Watch the video here!
 STUFF YOU'LL NEED
Floral images to print (you can use your home computer for this)
Glassware
Paintbrushes
Scissors
HERE'S HOW
1.  Carefully cut out your images
2.  Mist both sides with water to relax the paper
(this insures that it doesn't bubble when you apply it)
3. & 4.  For the plates, coat the FACE of the cut out with Americana Decoupage
5.  Carefully place face down on the UNDERSIDE of the plate
6. & 7.  With a small brush apply a generous amount of decoupage around the image and then fill in with more decoupage
8.  For the drinking glasses you want to apply the first coat of decoupage to the back of the cutout image (instead on the face of the image like we did for the plates) and then edge and fill
9.  Let cure and then set the table!
These make for a very happy morning


Friday, July 22, 2016

Mark and Julie's Shoe Makeover Challenge!

Julie and I challenged each other to a shoe makeover and this is what happened!  I gave her boots a couture mixed media makeover and she rocked my Vans with some of my favorite images.  Have to say, she did an amazing job AND I like them so much I don't even want to wear them.
Remember, recycle, make messes and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
Julie rocking her new couture boots
 Love these!

See how I gave Julie's boots a makeover!
Watch how Julie rocked my Vans!  
STUFF YOU'LL NEED
Heavy cotton fabric (like denim)
Lace
Andy Skinner Stencils (or stencils you like)
Metallic spray paint 
Sandpaper


Tuesday, July 19, 2016

No Sew Rag Rug Pillows

I'm all about NO SEW projects since so many of my friends out there don't have sewing machines.  I love figuring out ways to make pillows (and everything else) with as much ease as possible and these rag rug pillows were such a breeze to put together.  Just use my favorite glue, E-6000 Fabri-Fuse and you're good!  This stuff is washable and dry cleanable AND also has stretch.  Think of the possibilities.  Remember, have fun, use color and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
Another colorful addition to my outdoor space
I love that they will match ANYTHING!
The perfect floor pillows......They are rugs after all!
Watch how easy it is to do here!
STUFF YOU'LL NEED
Rag rugs
Heavy cotton fabric
HERE'S HOW
1. & 2.   Measure your rug and cut a piece of fabric the same size
3.  Optional:  Fray the edges of the fabric by pulling the end threads
4. & 5. Place the fabric on the rug and squeeze a generous line of E-6000 Fabri-Fuse around all of the edges leaving a 5" gap on one side
6.  Place some books on the fabric (so that the glue is sure to get in every crevice of the rug) and let dry overnight
7.  Stuff the pillow starting with the corners and edges first, then the center
8.  Add more Fabri-Fuse to the opening and clip closed with metal office clips while it dries
DONE!

Friday, July 15, 2016

No Sew Sequin Boyfriend Jeans

Yup, that's right....NO SEW!  Grab your boyfriend's old jeans and give them a makeover with a little bit of sequin fabric and you'll have an amazing summer wardrobe piece.....perfect for day to night.  They're comfortable, too!  BTW,  I'm starting to get addicted to E-6000 Fabri-Fuse.  Perfect for 
No-Sew projects.  Remember, have fun, UP-style and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
Julie makes everything look good!

See how easy they are to make here!
STUFF YOU'LL NEED
Butcher paper & Scissors
Old jeans
Sequin fabric
HERE'S HOW
1. Place paper over one leg of the jean and pin in place
2. Using a crayon or tailor's chalk, rub around the shape of leg along the seams
3.  Perfect the lines with a marker
4.  Pin the cut out pattern to folded sequin fabric and then cut
5.  Place on the jeans and cut around the belt loop if you need to
6.  Glue all around the edges with E-6000 Fabri-Fuse
Time to rock your new jeans!

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Bottle Cap Boho Mirror

A few months ago I made a bottle cap coffee table and coated it with resin.  This is a project that's been done 1000 times but I still wanted to try it, so I did.  I posted the video below just in case you don't know what I'm talking about.  When this project was done, I had about 1000 leftover bottle caps and I've been gluing them on everything ever since!  That's how this Boho Bottle Cap Mirror happened.  I have another version made with cardboard you should check out, just in case you don't have 500 bottle caps hanging around!  Remember, have fun, make messes and don't forget to 
Make Your Mark!
Decking out the living room!


See how I made it here!
 
The reason I have so many bottle caps in my craft arsenal!
STUFF YOU'LL NEED
Round or oval wood base
Mirror
 HERE'S HOW
1. & 2. Paint the wood oval with the Americana Decor Metallics and let dry
3.  Center the mirror and figure out your bottle cap design
4.  Glue them on the wood base with E-6000 and let dry
5.  Paint the bottle caps with more Americana Decor Metallics
6. & 7.  Glue the glass chips inside of the bottle caps
8.  Once the bottle caps are filled with glass chips, glue the mirror in the center
*Hot glue ribbon to the back for an easy way to hang your masterpiece

I'll make the next one with colored glass marbles!




Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Papier Mâché Anatomical Hearts

BIG fan of papier mâché here!  You can do ANYTHING with it.......Make furniture, jewelry, home decor objects.....on and on and on.  Since I was filling my curiosity cabinet with, well, curiosities, I thought these might just be perfect.  They're odd, colorful and, of course, a bit curios.  I may make a batch of them to give away on Valentine's day next year.....Who knows?!  The best part is that they're made from recycled materials.  I'm talking old plastic bags and newspapers. Remember......make messes, recycle and always Make Your Mark!
Hearts-a-plenty
The heart sees all...
See how to make the entire Curiosity Cabinet here!
Watch how to make the hearts here!
STUFF YOU'LL NEED
Wood Blocks and Kebab Skewers
Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint
Plastic Bags and Newspaper
Americana Decor Metallics in Antique Brass
HERE'S HOW
1. Create a fist sized ball with a plastic bag
2. Mix Americana Decoupage with a splash of water and use it to decoupage strips of newspaper around the plastic fist
3.  Wrap a large straw or create paper tubes with more newspaper and decoupage medium
4.  When the tubes are dry, cut them in 2" lengths with one end of each cut at an angle
5.  Glue them to the top of the fist with hot glue and add more paper over the hot glue
6.  Paint the hearts with Americana Acrylic in red
*If the newspaper is too dark, paint the hearts white first before the red
7. & 8. Cut out the vintage images, clip around the edges and decoupage them to the painted hearts
9. & 10.  Add shimmer to the hearts with the Metallic Lustre and then dot around the image with the Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint in Gold Leaf
11.  12. & 13.  Glue the skewers into the wood blocks with E-6000, paint the tops and skewers black and the sides in gold
14.  Optional:  Edge the blocks with a metallic gold pen
15.  Pierce and glue the hearts on the skewers  

Friday, July 1, 2016

Curiosity Cabinet DIY

I've been obsessed with making a curiosity cabinet for a while, but had no idea where to start.  Should I start with an Ikea shelf? Maybe a simple bookshelf?  I was stumped!  Finally, a few weeks ago on my morning run I saw an estate sale and dragged my sweaty self in there to poke around.  There it was.... a rickety cabinet they could barely give away!  This cabinet had broken glass, loose doors and 20 layers of paint....It was PERFECT!  Now even though this makeover took several days to complete, I truly enjoyed every minute of it.  My favorite part is the plastic dollar store mirrors turned into decorative corners!  Who knew?!  Remember, make messes, hit yard sales and always Make Your Mark! 
Almost ready to drag into the house!
Not quite filled with everything, but getting there!
Check out my BUTTERFLIES & BIRDS UNDER GLASS video!
Found the drawer handles on a discarded dresser!  (I keep a screwdriver on my keychain)
See how I went from this............to this!
Watch the entire process here
STUFF YOU'LL NEED
Old cabinet or shelf
Ornate plastic mirrors (got mine at the 99c store)
Sander, Jigsaw & Dremel
12" x 24" 1/4" thick plywood and 1" screws
Book pages
Americana Glazing Medium and Americana Acrylic color you like
 1. 2. & 3. With your jigsaw, cut out the front panels and carefully remove old handles and glass
4.  Sand the entire piece to remove cracked paint and warping
5. 6. & 7.  Create a pediment pattern for the top, cut in 1/4" plywood, sand and attach to the top with 1" long wood screws
8. & 9.  Remove the mirror from the plastic frames, cut into 4 equal pieces and clean rough edges with a craft knife
10.  Glue them in the corners with E-6000 Glue and tape them in place while they dry
11. & 12.  Stir the Maxx Gloss and paint the entire face and sides of the cabinet (not the inside)
 13. 14. 15. & 16.  Coat the inside with Americana Decoupage, mist the book pages with water and apply to the cabinet walls and sides.
17. 18. & 19. Using a soft cloth, add the Metallic Luster to the ornate corners and new drawer handles
20. & 21.  Edge the cabinet, drawers and details with a metallic gold paint marker
22.  Add the new drawer handles
23. & 24.  Mix the Americana Glazing Medium with equal amounts of water and about 15% acrylic paint and then glaze over the decoupaged book pages.
Fill with curiosities!