Tuesday, December 19, 2017

New Year's Eve Centerpieces

Some dollar store wood letters and glitter and you're half way to having an amazing holiday centerpiece for just a few bucks!  Grab a number 9 and you're ready for next year, too.
Happy Holidays everyone!
Don't forget to Make Your Mark!
So much JOY! 
Are you ready for 2018?
Watch how to make them here!
STUFF I USED
Americana Decor Metallics and Silver and Antique Brass
Dollar store wood pieces
Various Christmas decorations and ornaments
Gold and Silver Glitter
HERE'S HOW
1.  Glue the letters to the base with E-6000 Glue and let dry
2. & 3.  Paint them with Americana Decor Metallics in Silver and Gold
4. & 5.  Add glue and then glitter to the letters and numbers
6.  Decorate them with cute ornaments and garland
 Happy New Year!
Joy to the world!

Friday, December 15, 2017

Paper Tile Mirror

Teal, neon pink and olive green is seriously one of my favorite color combos!  It reminds me of Mexico in the 1960s and I have no idea why.  DecoArt makes this sassy neon pink paint that I would eat if I could.....but unfortunately I can't.  Instead I used it to create the eye popping paper tiles for a little bathroom mirror project.   I cut my own mirror frame, but you could use a store bought frame for this project.....Totally up to you!  When coated in Famowood Glaze Coat, it's protected and ready for endless water splashes and hair spray!  Faux tile projects are soooo much lighter than using real tile and you can design your own in ANY pattern.  Be creative my sweet friends and always remember to Make Your Mark!



Watch how to make it here!
STUFF I USED
1/2" plywood and mirror
12" x 12" Gel Press
Drill, Jigsaw, Sander
Large stencil
Americana Decor Satin Enamels in Woodland Green and True Teal
Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint (in Gold Leaf)
Extreme Sheen in 24K Gold
Americana Acrylics in Peacock Teal & Sizzling Pink Neon
HERE'S HOW
1. & 2.  Cut & sand a frame in 1/2" thick plywood
 *Mine was 18" x 24" with a 5" border
3. & 4.  Paint the frame with Americana Decor Satin Enamels in Woodland Green and then edge in True Teal to give it some dimension
5.  Stencil over the entire frame with 24K Gold Extreme Sheen using a Fleur Medallion stencil
6.  With a brayer, spread 24K Extreme Sheen on your Gel Press and then add some 
Sizzling Pink Neon
7.  Press your cardstock onto the Gel Press to transfer the paint
8. - 10.  Spread Peacock Teal on the Gel Press, place the Fleur Medallion stencil and then transfer the stencil the the previously Gel Pressed pages
11. & 12.  Cut the pages into 4" x 4" tiles and then add dimension to the designs with Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint in Gold Leaf
13.  Glue the tiles to the frame with Americana Decoupage
14.  Mix the Famowood Glaze Coat and pour it over the frame following all of the instructions for mixing and popping bubbles
*Cover and cure overnight
15. & 16.  Sand the back opening flat and then glue the mirror in place
 The pink just pops!
Always Make Your Mark! 

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Iridescent Mermaid Ornaments

My dad owned a car lot when I was about 6 and my brothers and I would have to spend almost every Saturday with him so my mom could have a (much needed) break from us!  One of the things I remember vividly was the oil pan in the main garage.  I thought the swirls of color on top were mesmerizing and my entire life I've been trying to replicate those iridescent colorful swirls.  I think I might be getting closer with this iridescent mermaid ornament project.  I love all of the blended metallic colors together!  Have a wonderful Christmas and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

My iridescent trio!

Watch how to make them here!
STUFF I USED
Lace or doilies
Plastic ornaments
 HERE'S HOW
1.  Cut the lace into pieces
2. & 3.  Soak them in Americana Decoupage and glue them to the ornaments
4. Paint the entire ornament in Gold Extreme Sheen 
5. - 7.  Start brushing on different colors of Metallic Lustres
8. Glue on small rhinestones with E-6000 Glue
9.  Add a ribbon to hang the ornaments
Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Coco Inspired Mini Piñata Ornaments

Have you seen the beautiful animated Pixar movie Coco yet?  It's a MUST see!  A wonderful story of family, following your heart and of the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead.   The movie inspired me to make these mini sugar skull piñata ornaments for Christmas.  Some of them are empty and a few of them are filled with treats to give to my crafty friends.  A little cardboard and some Oly-Fun made these sturdy enough to use for years to come!  I cut my sugar skulls on my Cricut Maker, but you could print some out and just glue them on top.  I'm including my Sugar Skull graphic & cardboard patterns here:  http://www.markmontano.com/p/blog-page_80.html
Have an awesome holiday and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
Ready to hang on my tree!
A must see movie!

Make some mini trees, too!

Watch how to make them here!
STUFF I USED
Cardboard
Americana Acrylics
Glue Gun
Cricut Maker 
Candy and small toys

HERE'S HOW
1. & 2. Cut 2 skulls and 2 strips of 1 1/2" wide cardboard
3.  Curve the 1 1/2" wide strips along a table edge
4.  Glue the 1 1/2" strip along the edge of one of the cardboard skulls
5.  Fill with candy and toys and then glue the 2nd cardboard skull on top
6.  Paint the piñata in a color that matches the fringe you will be using
7. & 8. Cut 1" long strips of Oly-Fun Craft Material and then fringe every 1/4" along one side
9. & 10. Starting at the chin, glue strips of fringed Oly-Fun up the cardboard piñata
* Use one color or several
11. - 13. Upload the sugar skull graphics into your Cricut Maker and cut them in heavy card stock
*You can also print out the graphics and use them by themselves OR print out a sugar skull and color it with markers or crayons
14.  Glue the card stock sugar skull on the piñata
15. Glue Oly-Fun flowers on the top
16.  Try making a mini Christmas tree piñata and decorate it with pom poms
Feliz Navidad!
Love these so much! 

Friday, December 1, 2017

Vintage Bird Ornaments

Grab some cardboard and some old book pages and make these super cute vintage bird ornaments! Copy a book page if you don't have a damaged book you can use.  Most of what you need to make these ornaments you probably already have, too!  Use curling ribbon or string if you don't have satin ribbon or use scrapbook paper over the cardboard bases if you don't have a stencil. So many variations and Christmas is right around the corner.  I'll bet your friends would love a couple, too.  Happy holidays and always Make Your Mark!



Watch how to make them here!
STUFF I USED
Cardboard
Wire
Small jingle bells
Americana Acrylics
M Squared Stencils
Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint in Glitter
Cosmetic sponges (for stenciling)
Book pages
 HERE'S HOW
1.  - 3.  Trace, cute and glue together 3 cardboard birds
4.  Cut book pages 1" larger than the bird pattern (all the way around) 
5. - 7.  Mist with water and decoupage to each side of the bird making sure to cut slits so that the edges fold over to the other side
8. - 9.  Stencil and embellish with paint and glitter
10.  Bend a loop on a 5" piece of wire
11.  Push it through the center of the bird and bend a loop on the other side
12.  Hand a bell on the bottom with a jump ring and tie a ribbon on the top to hang
Bird pattern
Cut 3 in cardboard
Merry Christmas!


Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Christmas Jars

I have a hundred jars in my cabinets.  If you follow me, you know that I love a good jar makeover, so I save every one!  You might also know that I'm kind of a hoarder.  It's a trait I share with many of my crafty friends.  This year I went a little Christmas crazy and turned some of my instant coffee jars into stained glass, sparkly vases and lanterns.  Yup, you can either put a candle in them OR a pretty Christmas flower arrangement.  My favorite part of this project was frosting the top and bottom of each jar using simple white spray paint.  Have fun and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
Filled with Christmas foliage!
Filled with candles!

Watch how to make them here!
STUFF I USED
Glass jars
Unicorn Spit
Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint
Rust-o-leum Lacquer 
Krylon White spray paint
Pinecones and ribbon
White glue
 HERE'S HOW
1.  Lightly spray the top and bottom of each jar
2. Draw your leaves and berries with the black Allure
3. Create Evergreen sprigs with Green Allure
4.  Mix Dragon's Belly Unicorn SPiT with a small amount of white glue
5. Fill in the leave design
6. Mix Molly Red Unicorn SPiT with white glue and fill in the berries
7. Use Allure Glitter in green & red to accent the Evergreen sprigs, leaves & berries
8.  Coat your jars with lacquer and let dry
9.  Tie a ribbon around the mouth of the jar and glue pinecones over the knot
11. & 12.  Fill with either candles or Christmas flowers
Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Three Easy Christmas Projects!

It's that time of year when I go Christmas CRAZY!  I finally got to use my bag of tiny bottle brush trees with a Pinterest inspired candle DIY I've been anxious to try!  I also printed out some vintage Christmas card images (find tons on Google) to make some cute little wall plaques/ornaments that would make fun gifts for your friends if you're stuck for something.  I even got to use the extra large pinecones I've been saving since summer to make little Christmas trees! For all of these projects I used small Walnut Hollow Basswood Country Rounds and I still have some left over to make gifts for friends.  Have fun decorating for Christmas and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
Pinecone Christmas Tree
 Vintage Image Christmas Ornaments
Snow Globe Candle Holder
Watch how to make them here!
 STUFF I USED for the Pinecone Christmas Tree
Large Pinecones
Wood blocks
Walnut Hollow Basswood Country Rounds
Krylon Spray Paint in Metallic Gold and Emerald Green
Large colorful pony beads
Sprinkle snow
Deer Ornaments 
Small wood star
STUFF I USED for the Snowglobe Candle Holder
Large wineglass
Walnut Hollow Basswood Country Rounds
Small snowman ornament 
Small bottlebrush trees
Snowflake ornament 
White ribbon 
STUFF I USED for the Christmas Plaques
Vintage Christmas images
Walnut Hollow Basswood Country Rounds
Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint
Ribbon


Happy Holidays!

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Boho Thanksgiving Tablescape

Presenting my Boho Thanksgiving Tablescape!
I used a Cricut for some of these projects but it's not necessary.  Use what you have!  Graphics for the plates are included below.  Don't worry about being traditional, use your favorite colors and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
Ready for my colorful, intimate Thanksgiving dinner!
I got this image from a dollar store calendar and love it on my new plates!
Use a pool noodle for a wreath base and you're half way there!
Watch how to make the entire table here!
THINGS I USED
Glass Plates
Peacock printout (below)
Cardstock
Pool noodle
Blue cotton fabric
Glitter ribbon (99c store)
Glue gun & packing tape
Print the peacock image on 8 1/2" x 11" paper and enlarge (on a laser copier) to 11" x 17"
Upload to your Cricut 
Happy Thanksgiving!