Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Blingy Headphones DIY

Julie and I decided to make some blingy headphones for each other just to mix things up a bit and work on a project together.  I made rhinestone covered headphones for her and she made a pair of (SUPER CUTE) decoden headphones for me, which she ultimately kept.....because she was really making them for her.  Can you believe it!  Still, we had fun and got to work with some really fun Blumenthal Lansing buttons.  Make sure to check out their site for the sweetest buttons you'll ever find.  As always, have fun, make messes and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
xoxoxo, Mark
Julie rocking her new blinged-out rhinestone headphones
Julie rocking the decoden headphones!
Probably not my best look
See the headphones I made for Julie here!
Check out the headphones Julie made for me here!
Stuff You'll Need
Headphones
Buttons from Blumenthal Lansing
Rhinestone cup chain
Gems
Clear silicone
Glitter
Jewelry pieces
Pom poms
For the rhinestone headphones
1. & 2.  Grab some E-6000 and glue a row of rhinestones down the center of the headphone band
3.  Cut cup chain and glue it along the center
4.  Continue with the cup chain until the band is covered
5.  Glue rhinestones in the center of the ear cover and surround it with more cup chain
6.  Score, glue and tape on a large focal piece on one side until it dries in place
*I used a sparkly bow
7.  Cover the rest of the headphones with more cup chain 
For the decoden headphones
8. & 9.  Mix 100% clear silicone with glitter
10.  Pick out your embellishments
*We used tons of cute buttons from Blumenthal Lansing
11.  Spread the silicone mixture on the headband and press in the buttons
12.  Continue until the entire plastic part of the headphones are covered
Wow, these have great sound!


Friday, January 22, 2016

Let's Make Art! Warhol Inspired

A very long time ago, when I first moved to NYC,  I scammed my way into an art opening in SOHO and literally bumped into Andy Warhol!  I actually BUMPED-IN-TO-HIM!  The most I'd hoped for that evening was a table filled with good cheese and some free wine, but that night turned out to be sooooo much more.  I'd always been obsessed with everything Andy.  I loved his handwriting, his shoe illustrations and his huge, colorful portraits.  Today, just for kicks, I'm turning Julie and I into Warhol portraits.  I love this process and I hope you do, too.  Remember, have fun, make messes and don't forget to Make Your Mark! 

Come on, I couldn't just make one!

Watch the process here!
Stuff You'll Need
Your image printed out on transparent paper (Acetate)
*I use PicMonkey to alter my images
Small canvases
Paintbrushes
Warhol inspiration
Here's How
1.  On PicMonkey, make your photo black and white and then pump up
the exposure and contrast
2.  Print out on transparent paper and cut around the image
3.  Place the image on the canvas and pencil around the details
*Trace around it, draw in the eyes, lips, chin, and any details that show up
4. 5. 6. & 7.  Paint in the details with Americana Acrylics
*Use a Warhol portrait as a guide
8.  When the paint is dry glue the transparency over the painted canvas
9. Fill in the details with more Americana Acrylics in matching colors
10. 11. & 12.  Add details with Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint




Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Adult Coloring Book Ikea Hack

I admit it, I love adult coloring books.  L-O-V-E  T-H-E-M!!!!  Actually, I dig almost any coloring book from My Little Pony to anything Disney.  Coloring is a form of active meditation that really works.  Try it and you'll see how the day just melts away.  Add a glass of wine in the mix and your evening is SET.  For this Ikea hack I used enlarged copies of my favorite blank pages and a few of my colored pages, but this could also be fun with the entire table covered in copies of your favorite colored pages.  If you decide to tackle this project, just remember to have fun, make messes 
and don't forget to Make Your Mark!  
 Not sure I want to put anything on top!
Terrific place for inspiration

Watch how easy it is to make here!
You'll Need
Simple table (I used an Ikea Lack Table)
Adult coloring book page copies (I enlarged mine)
Paintbrush
Scissors
Craft knife
1.  Cut out your copies and figure out your layout
2.  Spray the top of your image with water
3.  Spray the back of your image with E-6000 Spray Adhesive
4. Carefully place your image in place
5.  Blot excess moisture with a cloth
6.  When dry, cut of excess with a craft knife
*Glide it along the edges for a clean finish
7.  Repeat the process on all of the sides
8. & 9.  Cover all 4 legs
10.  Add copies of your favorite colored pages to the center 
*Like a table runner
11.  Coat all pieces with Americana Decoupage in gloss
12.  Screw in the legs
A few of my favorite pages for you to print out  



Friday, January 15, 2016

2015 Bloopers!

No one is perfect.......certainly not me!  Here are a few of the 2015 bloopers that my fab assistant, Julie, gathered without my knowledge.  Enjoy!
Don't forget to Make Your Mark!
What?!
Are you sure you're ready for this?!

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Beautiful Paper Rings

If you ever went to summer camp there is a good chance you made a version of this beautiful project.  It's tried and true and always delivers amazing results.  What I love most is the resemblance to colorful agate stones, which is why I turned them in to fun rings.  Just an FYI, I coated mine with varnish and then nail polish, but you could skip the varnish and just use several coats of nail polish to get them nice and sturdy and waterproof.
Remember, have fun, make messes and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
xoxo, Mark
Julie rocking her awesome new paper rings

Try different shapes and thicknesses
See how easy they are to make here!
Stuff You'll Need
Construction paper
Large hole punch
E-6000 Spray Adhesive
Gloss Varnish
Clear nail polish
Sanding block (or sandpaper)
Ring findings
Desk lamp & Wax paper (optional)
1.  Start by punching out about 50 construction paper circles
2.  Grab some E-6000 Spray Adhesive (this makes the process a breeze)
3. & 4.   Glue the disks together one by one until you have a 1/4" stack or thicker
*Alternate the colors and use your favorite colors on the top of the stack
5.  Dry them under a desk lamp on wax paper if you're impatient like I am!
6.  When dry, sand the edges and sides to reveal the different colors
7.  Harden with several coats of nail polish
*This also brings out the color
8. & 9.  Glue ring findings on the back with E-6000 glue

E-6000 is non toxic and easy water clean up.  So much better than the other
spray adhesives on the market

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Easy DIY Bound Journal

I love book binding, but let's be real, some of the traditional methods can take forever.  Recently I discovered something awesome about one of my favorite products....It works PERFECTLY for quick book binding projects because it's flexible and clear when it dries.  Can you guess what I'm talking about?  The best thing about these journals is that you can use vinyl OR leather and embellish them any way you want.  I painted my edges with metallic gold, but you could embellish with a brass bird or gems.  Just remember to have fun, make journals and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
xoxo, Mark 

I used the Americana Decoupage Papers for my end papers.....because they
are beautiful!
See how easy they are to make here
Stuff You'll Need
Sewing machine
Americana Decoupage Paper (decorative paper)
11" x 17" vinyl or leather
Americana Stick On Stencils
Twine (that matches the vinyl)
Pinking shears
Dauber
Clothespins
Office copy paper
1.  Trace a folded piece of copy paper on the inside edge of your vinyl
2. Move it over 1/2" and trace it again 
3.  Add 3" more and then 1/2" all the way around
4.  Cut it out with pinking shears
*This is the cover (with flap) and it will be about 14 1/2" x 9 1/2"
5.  Edge the vinyl with metallic gold using a dry brush technique
*This will give it an aged and gilded look
6.  Stencil on the cover with more metallic gold lightly dabbing with a dauber
7.  Cut decoupage papers to 8 1/2" x 11" and create a stack of copy paper with the decorative paper on top
8.  Draw a line down the center and stitch the pages together
9.  Make about 8 - 10 stacks and fold them on the stitch line
10.  Clip them together and add a generous amount of E-6000 glue to the folded edges
11.  Secure them in place while they dry
12.  Clip a small hole in the flap and add a long piece of twine for a tie