Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Drippy Paint Thrift Store Table Makeover

This table was sooooo ugly that I actually felt bad for it!  It reminded me of something you might see in Ceasar's Palace in Vegas, so I bought for 10 bucks and it sat in my work space for a solid month before I tackled it.  What the hell, it was time for a challenge!  Even though this didn't end up as part of my decor, a good friend snagged it for her art studio and she loves it.  As far as I'm concerned, that is a success story!  Try to tackle something that makes you feel creatively challenged every once in a while because you never know what you'll learn.  Oh, and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
My drippy paint experiment
I love how the colors blend into each other!

Watch how I did it here!
STUFF I USED
Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint
Old Thrift Store Table
Sponges
Spray Bottles
Americana Decor Crème Wax & Light Satin Varnish
Americana Decor Metallics in Antique Brass (my fave)
HERE'S HOW
1.  Paint the entire table in Antique Brass
2. & 3.  When dry, coat the details with the clear creme wax and let dry
4.  Paint the top of the legs with the chalky finish in Bestow
5.  While the Bestow is still a bit wet, wipe it back with a damp sponge to expose the gold while letting the color drip down the legs a bit
6. - 8.  Mix Renaissance chalky finish with water in a spray bottle and spray the top of the legs allowing the paint to drip down over the Bestow 
*Use a brush toward the top to blend it a bit and expose the gold
9. & 10.  Mix the Treasure chalky finish with water in a spray bottle and spray the very top of the legs allowing it to drip down into the Renaissance and blend a bit with a brush to expose the gold
11. Paint the entire top of the table with more Treasure, wipe back with a sponge to expose the detials and let dry
12. Coat the entire table with Americana Decor Light Satin Varnish and you're done!
Fresh!
Enjoy!

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Squishies DIY

Every once in a while I just want to make something cute!  Something my nieces will immediately want me to send to them.  These squishies were just the ticket!  Sweet little characters just waiting for a squeeze.  Perfect if you have a load of nervous energy like I do, too!  Create your own characters or make a squishy of your pet.  There is an endless amount of things you can do with this technique.  Just remember to have fun and always Make Your Mark!
Hanging out, waiting for a squeeze!
The lips have it!
All dressed up!

Watch how to make them here!
STUFF I USED
Fairfield World Squishy Foam
Pinking Shears
Home Printer
Iron
Sewing Machine
Spray Adhesive
White Cotton Fabric
Various printed fabrics
Craft Knife
Images To Print



Drag these images to your computer!
HERE'S HOW
1.  Iron the fabric perfectly smooth
2.  Spray a sheet of copy paper and adhere it to the ironed fabric
3.  Carefully cut around the fabric so it's the same size as the copy paper
4.  Size and print your images on the fabric covered side of the copy paper
5.  Peel it off and pin it to a colorful cotton fabric
*This is the back of the squishy
6.  Zigzag stitch around the squishy leaving a 4" hole at the bottom
7. Cut around the squishy with the pinking shears about 1/4" away from the zigzag stitch and about 3/4" away from the opening 
8.  Using a craft knife, cut the squishy foam in half lengthwise so it's about 2" thick
9.  Trace the shape of the squishy on the foam and cut it out
10.  Stuff the Squishy Foam into the 4" hole
11. & 12.   Zigzag the hole closed and trim down the opening area to 1/4"
 Happy! Happy! Happy!
Ex-squeeze me?!

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Paper Watercolor Lampshades DIY

I truly LOVE sewing paper....I love it!  Envelopes and funky stationery are some of my favorite things to stitch on the machine.  Well, now I have another favorite.....paper lampshades!  That's right, tiny, colorful paper lampshades!  The best part of this project is that there is no end to the patterns and colors you can mix and match.  Personally, I'm all about the brights!  For this project I printed some of my favorite adult coloring book pages on watercolor paper and spent a lovely afternoon relaxing and painting with my Graphix Aqua Inks....Watercolors in a jar!  Get creative my sweet friends and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
Join me!
Party perfect!
Just dip and watercolor!

Watch how to make them here!
STUFF I USED
Marabu Graphix Aqua Inks
Double Stick Foam Tape
Book Pages
Decorative Edge Scissors
Ribbon
Sewing Machine
Watercolor Paper
Adult Coloring Book Pages
Battery Operated Tea Lights
Hole Punch
Print pattern on standard size copy paper
*You will need 5 panels per shade
HERE'S HOW
1. Print your favorite coloring book pages on heavy watercolor paper
2. - 5.   Fill in the pattern with Graphix Aqua Inks in your favorite colors
6.  Try different patterns for this project
7. Trace lampshade panels on the watercolored papers using the pattern above
8.  Cut the sides of each panel leaving the top and bottom scallop uncut
9.  Using decorative edge scissors, cut the top and bottom part of each panel
10.  Glue book pages to watercolor paper for other panels
11.  Cut panels from heavy scrapbook paper, too!
12.  Using 1/4" seam allowance, stitch 5 panels into a shade
*Plain sides touching when you sew
13.  Add book page and scrap book panels in between the watercolored panels
14. Punch 2 holes at the top
15.  Thread ribbon through the holes
16.  Using double stick tape, secure a tea light to the ribbon inside the shade
Hang and you're done!
 Ready for an afternoon party!
The more color the better!
Happy SUMMER!

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Make Your Own Mouse Pads

Not sure exactly why this happens, but my mouse pads get dirty!  I mean a grimy, yucky kind of dirty!  Because of that I switch them out regularly, which used to be quite expensive UNTIL I figured out how to make them.  Turns out the rubber mats they sell at the 99c store are perfect for this project.  Check out the kitchen department to see if they sell something smooth enough for this project.  If you're stumped for a gift, you might consider making one of these pads with a photo of you and your best friend!  Stay crafty and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
 I'm all about this pad!
 Psychedelic! 
Color me wonderful!
Watch how to make them here!
STUFF I USED
White or very light colored cotton
Home Printer
Copy paper
Iron and ironing board
Colorful images (Google away!)


HERE'S HOW
1.  Press your cotton fabric very flat
2.  Spray a sheet of copy paper with the spray adhesive
3.  Press the sprayed copy paper on the fabric and smooth it out so it's perfectly flat
4.  Cut around the copy paper
5.  Size your image so it fits the size of the copy paper
6.  With the fabric facing upward, print out the image on the fabric
7.  Peel the fabric away from the paper
8. Seal the printed fabric with the Minwax Lacquer
9.  Cut out the shape of your mouse pad from the rubber mat
10.  Spread E-6000 Fabri-Fuse on the rubber
11.  Press the fabric flat and let it dry
*Place a book or stack of magazines on top
12. Trim the edges when dry and you're ready to browse the web!


Click!

Friday, July 13, 2018

Scrap Wood Chandelier DIY

A few weeks ago I made upholstered stools from thrift store chairs and instead of just tossing the backs (made from beautiful spindles) I saved them to create this colorful, scrap wood chandelier.  It's been hanging from a tree in my back yard and I absolutely love it....It's magical!  It took some time, but was absolutely worth it.  Grab a solar light and stick it right in the middle and you're good to go.  Figure out ways to use all the scraps and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
 Garden gorgeous!


Watch how to make it here!
STUFF I USED
Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint
Thrift Store Chairs
Small Cup Hooks
Wire and Wire Cutters
Jigsaw, Sander and Drill
Wire Plant Basket
 HERE'S HOW
1. & 2. Cut the spindles off the back of the chair and then cut them into 6" to 10" long pieces
3.  Sand the pieces on both ends
4. & 5.  Paint the pieces in different colors of Americana Decor Chalky Finish
*While you're at it you can paint the wire basket with Chalky Finish, too!
6. Dry brush the spindles with contrasting colors so that each piece has 2 different colors
7.  Drill a small hole in the top of each piece
8.  Add a small cup hook to each piece
9. Hang the pieces from the bottom two rows of the basket
10. & 11.  Create S-hooks from wire to attach the top row of pieces
12.  Hook 2 pieces together to create your center hanging piece

Add a solar light in the middle and you're done!

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Build a Weaving Loom!

It started with paper plate weaving in a circle and then I advanced to a sturdy shoe box.  It was finally time to see if I could build a little loom for my weaving addiction....and here it is.   You do need some basic power tools, but it's well worth it since you can weave until you're heart's content and then start all over again!  I've given two versions here, one with nails and one with grooves.  Both are just as effective and take about the same amount of time.  Jump in and make something that challenges you this summer and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
 Weaving magic!
I love the way these look on my table!
I used every color in the basket!
Watch how to make a loom here!
STUFF I USED
32" of 3/4" x 1 1/4" wood trim
32" of 1/2" x 1 1/4" wood trim
32" of 3/8" wood dowel
3/8" Drill bit
Hammer and 1" nails
Large blunt needle
Various colors and textures of yarn
Masking tape

1. & 2.  Cut and sand two 16" long pieces of the 3/4" thick wood trim and the 1/2" thick wood trim
3.  Mark 1" in on the 3/4" wood trim on both ends of one 16" piece
4.  Make sure your drill bit is the same size or a bit bigger than the diameter of your dowel
5.  Drill through the 1'' marks on the ends of one piece of the 3/4" thick wood trim
6. & 7. Tape the other piece of 3/4" thick trim to the drilled piece and drill 1/2 way through the 2nd piece of trim
*This hole will be the "resting" place for your wood dowel when the loom is put together
8.  Match the holes, tape the drilled pieces together and mark every 3/8" along the sides (from hole to hole) across the two pieces of trim
9.  Using a rotary tool, create 1/4" deep grooves on each 3/8" line across both pieces of trim
10.  OPTIONAL:  Instead of the rotary grooves, you can also use 1" nails every 3/8" along the edge of the trim as shown
*The nails would be hammered along the edge of the 1 1/4" side, not the 3/4" side like the grooves
11.  Square and glue the grooved pieces to the 1/2" by 1 1/4" wide wood trim as shown
12.  Measure and cut the dowels so that they are about 16" in length and make sure they slide easily in and through the drilled holes
13. & 14  Thread the grooved loom or nailed loom (with yarn) from top to bottom keeping the yarn taught as you move along
15. & 16  Tie a long piece of yarn on the dowel, thread the blunt needle 
and start weaving from side to side
*Slide out the dowels and clip the yarn at the top and bottom when you're done then tie knots or use fabric glue to secure the ends
  Join me for coffee?