Friday, April 28, 2017

Harlequin Pattern Nailhead Trim Headboard

I have been on a redecorating kick for months now and it was finally time to tackle the bedroom.  After looking for a headboard for ages,  I just couldn't settle on one that I loved so I decided to try my hand at making over the Ikea headboard I had.  It was the right size but I feel like it was time to graduate from an Ikea headboard to something more ME.  I love harlequin patterns,  nailhead trim and soft padded headboards, so I married all of my favorite things and THIS is what happened.  I grabbed the 1/2" thick foam and batting from FairfieldWorld.com and got the nailhead trim on Amazon.  After deciding on my pattern I was off.  Remember to repurpose what you have first, just in case it turns out better than what you might have replaced it with.....Oh, and always 
Make Your Mark!
In love!
 Pillows anyone?
Ready for set up!
Watch how I put it together here!
STUFF I USED
Ikea Malma Headboard (or wood cut to size)
Staple Gun, Ruler and Pencil
Fabric of your choice
HERE'S HOW
1.  Draw out your design
2.  Transfer it to an actual size pattern on butcher paper
3.  Glue the 1/2" thick cushion foam to the headboard (or wood cutout) with Fabri-Fuse
*Cut and piece foam if you have to 
4.  Cut batting 6" larger than the headboard all the way around
5. & 6. Staple the batting evenly to the back of the headboard and trim the excess
7.  Cut the fabric 6" larger than the headboard all the way around and pin in place 
on the batting and foam
8.  Flip the headboard and staple the fabric all the way around
9.  My pattern had a boarder so I penciled it in with a ruler first
10.  Apply the nailhead trim around the boarder first
11.  Transfer the pattern to the rest of the headboard with a pencil
*I chose a harlequin pattern so I dotted at the intersections
12.  Apply the nailhead trim to the pattern until you're done
Ready for bed!

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Faux Agate Side Tables

Nature has a wonderful way of repeating itself.  For example, the rings of a tree are remarkably similar to the rings in a beautiful slice of agate.  While perusing through the Walnut Hollow catalog a few weeks back, I noticed they carried some beautiful wood slices big enough for side tables. As I looked at them I wondered how I could paint them to look like agate slices, or close enough to get the feel of a slice.  After much research and a few failed attempts I remembered an old video I made years ago showing people how to make malachite obelisks.  Whew!  A little tweaking and I was off to the races painting huge agate slices on wood and turning them into these "rockin" side tables.  Get it?  Of course you do!  Pull out some old techniques and make them new again and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
I adore this table sooooooo much!
 Love how reflective the Glaze Coat is!

Watch how I made them here!
STUFF I USED
Cardboard
Drill
Agate Inspiration
 HERE'S HOW (PART 1)
1.  Paint the basswood round with Americana in white
2.  Paint rings on the white in Baby Pink and Dioxazine Purple
3.  Notch the edge of a strip of cardboard
4.  Mix equal parts of Vivid Violet and Americana Glazing Medium and paint it over the stripes leaving a white "hole" in the center
5. & 6.  Drag your notched cardboard over the wet paint, following the shape or your painted rings, to create your agate rings
7.  Using white and mixtures of other pinks and purples, create different colors and fill in some of the rings to create color variation
8.  Paint the very edge of the wood round with black (or dark brown)
9. - 12.  Repeat the process with different colors of green and turquoise

 HOW TO (PART 2)
13.  Experiment with different color combinations on paper and then paint them on the wood rounds
14. & 15.  Mix the Glaze Coat resin following the instructions to a "T"
16. & 17.  Pour the resin on the painted wood round and spread evenly with a sponge brush
18.  Cover and let cure overnight
19.  Screw 3 hairpin legs into the base of the large round
OR
20. & 21.  Cut out a base and use 3 painted agates together to create a bigger side table
Faux and Fabulous!

Friday, April 21, 2017

Watercolor Postcards DIY

I've written letters and postcards my entire life and will never stop no matter how much I communicate with computers.  It's a habit I'm happy to have.  Everyone loves getting something fun in the mail, right?  So much better than all of those grocery store fliers and AAA offers.  These watercolor postcards also double as little works of art that everyone you know will enjoy receiving.  I guarantee you'll see them on your mom's fridge next time you visit!  Remember to make art, send real mail and always Make Your Mark!
Too pretty to send?
Keeping in touch!
 I printed the back of the postcard first and then the images to paint

WATCH THE MAGIC HERE!
STUFF I USED
Home Printer
 HERE'S HOW
1. & 2.  Remove the back plug on the water brush and fill with water
3. & 4.  Pour the water in a small container and mix in a few drops of Unicorn SPiT
5. & 6.  Stir and fill the water brush
*DO NOT REMOVE THE BRUSH CAP
7.  Carefully plug the end of the waterbrush
8.  Make an entire set with each color of Unicorn SPiT!
9. & 10.  Copy your favorite coloring book pages onto watercolor paper and cut into postcards
11. & 12.  Start watercoloring!
OPTIONAL:  You can print one side of the watercolor paper with my postcard template and the other side with your coloring book pattern

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Margarita Chair Ikea Hack

As you might have noticed, I've been experimenting with Unicorn SPiT quite a bit lately.  We all know that it's a wonderful wood stain with incredible, intense color, but I've been having a terrific time finding other ways to use it.  Take a peek back at my summer pillows from a few weeks ago.  Recently I bought a beat up Ikea chair to see if I could turn it in to something amazing and WOW was I surprised at how fun and easy this was to paint.  I used Mexican serape blankets as my inspiration and created what I now call my Margarita Chair.  If you come for a visit and I don't answer the door, there is a good chance I'm in the back yard sitting on this little number sipping a nice, cold Margarita.  Paint furniture, use tons of color and always Make Your Mark!
Shoes off and a book in hand
Two are always better than one

Watch how I did it here!
STUFF I USED
Spray Water Bottle
Serape Inspiration
HERE'S HOW
1.  Using a yardstick, draw vertical lines about 5" apart along the back of the chair, over the ridge and down the front
*Start painting on the back of the chair so you can get the hang of it first
2.  Working on the middle stripe, spray the area with water
3. & 4.  Paint the stripe in Zia Teal, lighten the edges with White Ning and then paint a small stripe of Blue Thunder down the center
5.  For the next stripe paint Molly Red, lighten one edge with White Ning and the other edge with Midnight Blackness
6.  Paint yet another stripe with Dragon's Belly, lighten one edge with White Ning and the other edge with Midnight Blackness
7.  Paint a stripe with Lemon Kiss and blend Dragon's Belly on one side
8.  Continue the strips over to the front of the chair and on the seat cushion when you get the hang of how to paint the stripes, always making sure to spritz with water before you paint to help blend the colors easily
9.  Paint the front arms of the chair as well
10.  Add thick black lines between the stripes and cover add some wide black stripes to break up the color
11.  Using a 1/2" flat brush, create woven "stitch" lines along the stripes in Midnight Blackness and White Ning
12.  When everything is dry and to your liking, screw on the legs and seal the entire chair with Minwax Lacquer or a waterproofing spray
 Ready to mix up a batch and read a book!

Friday, April 14, 2017

Colorful Summer Lanterns

I'm obsessed with jars. I will not throw them away and my cabinets are overflowing with them.  Thankfully I was able to make a little room in one of the cabinets by making several of these colorful summer lanterns!   DecoArt makes this amazing stained glass paint called Crystal Gloss Enamels and I LOVE the stuff.  You can bake it for a dishwasher safe finish or just let it dry like I did for these little numbers.  They come in beautiful colors AND allow candle light to emanate in the most beautiful way.  Remember to recycle and always Make Your Mark!
Drying in the sun
Lined up at night and filled with tea lights
Just as pretty during the day
Watch how to make them here!
STUFF I USED
Americana Crystal Gloss Enamels
Americana 3D Opaque Gloss Enamels
Jars
Tea Lights
 HERE'S HOW
1.  Draw vertical lines about 3/4" to 1" apart from the very top of the jar to the bottom all the way around
2. - 6.   When dry fill in between the black lines with different colors of Crystal Gloss Enamels and let dry
*Work on several at a time so that the colors can dry between stripes
Ready for some tea lights!

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Moroccan Side Tables DIY

If you follow me on social media or watch my YouTube videos, you might have noticed that lately I've been on a Moroccan design binge.  Everything from the keyhole arches and geometric tiles to the jewel toned mosaic lanterns are really turning me on right now!  Fast forward to me whipping together some Moroccan inspired side tables to use on the back patio this summer.  I loved figuring out the easiest way to make these, too.  The trick to getting the perfect pointed keyhole cutouts on the base is to nail the base pieces together first and then cut them out.  I figured that out the hard way.  Remember to look for inspiration in every part of the world and always Make Your Mark!
So ready for the summer!
The perfect little Moroccan inspired side table!
I'm obsessed with nailhead trim
Watch how I put them together here!
STUFF I USED
1 piece of 20" x 20" x 3/4" Plywood
4 pieces of 1" x 12" x 22" Pine Board
Hammer and Nails
Jigsaw and Sander
 HERE'S HOW (PART 1)
1. & 2. Fold a sheet of 12" x 22" paper in half and sketch 1/2 of a pointed keyhole design on one side and cut it out
3.  Trace it on the 4 pieces of pine board
4.  On the 20" x 20" plywood, mark 5" from each corner on each side and connect to marks to make an octagon shape
5. Nail the pine boards together with 2" long nails 
6. - 8.  Cut out the 4 pointed keyhole shapes and cut off the corners of the 20" x 20" piece of plywood to make the octagon shape and then sand all of the edges
9.  Paint the outside of the base and the top of the table top with Vintage Effect Wash in Berry 
and let dry
HERE'S HOW (PART 2)
10. & 11.  Paint the pointed keyhole edge and table top edge with Americana Outdoor Living in Turquoise Sky
12.  On the top part of the base (above the tip of the keyhole design) stencil about 1/2 of the mandala on all 4 edges using a cosmetic sponge and more Turquoise Sky
13. & 14.  Center and trace a dinner plate in the center the table top and fill in with Americana Decor Outdoor Living in Sunset
15.  Stencil the mandala over the orange circle on the table top
16.  Paint the inside of the table base with more Outdoor Living in Sunset
17.  Apply nailhead trim to the outer edge of each keyhole cut out and around the edge of the table top
18. Center and nail the table top to the base
This table was washed in Vintage Effect Wash in Orange and the edges were painted in Outdoor Living in Adirondack Green.  The mandala was stenciled in Picket Fence.

Friday, April 7, 2017

Moroccan Inspired Mirrors

There is NOTHING better than a mirror to make a room feel bigger and bring in more light.  Hang them across from a window and you've doubled your visual real estate!  In my effort to use up my stash of wood laser cut frames I got at the 99c store a few weeks ago, I designed these delicate Moroccan mirrors.  They were surprisingly easy to make considering how intricate they look.   I painted them in the new colorful metallics from DecoArt called Extreme Sheen, and wow do they shimmer.  Remember to mash up your styles, hit the 99c store for fun craft supplies that won't break the bank and always Make Your Mark!
My lovely trio

A sneak peek of my newly upholstered sofa!
Watch how they come together here!
STUFF I USED
DecoArt Extreme Sheen
99c Store Mirrors
Copies of the frames
E-6000 Glue
Bandsaw, Small Dremel or Jigsaw
 HERE'S HOW
1. & 2.  Copy the wood frames onto paper and cut out pieces to create your mirror design
*These pieces will be your cut pattern for the actual wood frames
3. Carefully mark where you'll cut the frames
4.  Using a fine blade on a bandsaw or jigsaw, carefully cut out each piece
5.  Protect the mirror with newspaper
6. & 7.  Paint the mirror frame and cut wood pieces with Extreme Sheen
8. Glue the pieces to the mirror and let dry
9. Touch up as needed
 Extreme Sheen comes in tons of different metallic colors.....I couldn't decide!

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Unicorn SPiT Pillows

Did you know that you can dye fabric with Unicorn SPiT?  Well, you can!  It's easy and soooooo much less messy than traditional fabric dyes.  The colors are beautiful and vibrant, too!  There are several methods used on these pillows, but my favorite was the plastic bag method, which I'm sharing below.  Have fun!  Make summer pillows! Oh, and always Make Your Mark!

 For this pillow I painted stripes on moistened cotton fabric....Easy!
A little plastic bag and you're ready to "print" your fabric for this version!
Watch how I did it here!
STUFF I USED
Cotton fabric
Sewing machine
Plastic bags
Spray bottle and salt
Straight pins
HERE'S HOW
1.  Tape a plastic bag flat to a paper protected table making sure that the plastic is bigger than the fabric you're colorizing
2.  Squirt lines of Unicorn SPiT about 4" apart on the plastic
3.  Smoosh the lines together with your finger starting from light color to dark
 *I wore gloves for this
4. & 5. Moisten your cotton fabric (I used a piece that was 20" x 20") with a spray bottle and carefully place it on the plastic bag
6.  Take another piece of paper and place it on top of the fabric and press down so that the Unicorn SPiT prints on the fabric
7.  Remove the fabric and sprinkle salt on it
*When the salt dries it will give it a dotted, dappled look
8.  When the fabric is dry, seal the Unicorn SPiT with Minwax Acrylic Lacquer
LET'S MAKE THE PILLOW
9.  Pin a piece of same size fabric on top of the colorized fabric marking off a 5" area which will not be sewn
10.  Stitch around the edges using a 1/2" seam allowance
11.  Flip the pillow inside out through the 5" hole and stuff with Poly-fil
12.  Pin and hand stitch the hole closed

Summer fun