Friday, September 21, 2018

Hedgehog Halloween Costume

It's that time of year when everyone panics about their Halloween costume.  Well, relax!  I've got you covered with this cute and comfy hedgehog costume perfect for any age.  If you're clever, you can turn this into a skunk or porcupine....Just change up the colors and the shape of the ears.  Happy Halloween and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
Julie rocking her new costume!
Sexy hedgehog?
Trick or treat!
Watch how to make the costume here!
STUFF I USED
XL Hooded Sweatshirt and fitted tights
Sewing Machine
Oly-Fun Fabric from Fairfield World in Hot Fudge and Sand
Pinking shears
Brown felt
Patterns for spine and ears
HERE'S HOW
1.  Draw a smaller armhole and connect it to the side seam
2. - 4. Cut it out, place it on the opposite side and then cut the other side
5. Fold the armhole cut over 1/2" and zigzag stitch
6.  Stitch down the side seams down to the hem
7.  Cut 9 1/2" strips of Oly-Fun in Sand and Hot Fudge
8.  Fold the strips in quarters, pin the spine patterns and cut long strips of spines
9.  With the hood folded in half, draw a line on the hood from shoulder to shoulder
10. & 11.  Put a rolled up towel in the hood and glue the spines facing front on the hood using 
E-6000 Fabri-Fuse
12.  Continue glueing rows of spines alternating between Sand and Hot Fudge
13.  Glue individual spines along the edge of the last two rows of spines to cover the edges
14.  Glue alternate rows of Hot Fudge and Sand Oly-Fun (pointing upward) across the
back of the sweatshirt all the way to the hem
15.  Glue small, individual spines along the hem
16.  Cut two ears in sweatshirt fabric (from the sleeve) and two felt ears
17.  Trim the cream sweatshirt fabric ears a little bit smaller using pinking shears
18.  Glue the cream ears on the felt ears using more Fabri-Fuse
19. & 20.  Stitch a small pleat in the center of each ear and then attach them to the hood
Done!
Happy Halloween!

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Newspaper Flowers DIY

Not long ago I saw some colorful newspaper flowers made by kids on Pinterest and have not been able to get them out of my head.  There was something about the up-cycling, the wild abandon with color and how joyful they looked that just inspired me.  I immediately pulled out my Gel Press (best way to get tons of colorful paint on paper) and started experimenting on newspaper sheets.  It was addicting!  The paint on the paper made it into an amazing craft material.  Next, I cut some patterns and started stitching them together.  Pretty soon I had an adult version of newspaper flowers that could adorn almost anything!  Grab some newspaper and start crafting....
and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
Gift bag magic!
Try them on a wine bottle!
The more color the better!
Watch how I made mine here!
STUFF I USED
Americana Acrylics
Plastic Gems
Newspaper
Optional:  Sewing Machine
DecoArt Craft Twinkles and Glamour Dust
Flower pattern
Print on standard copy paper
HERE'S HOW
1.  Squirt Americana Acrylics on your Gel Press and spread the colors with a brayer making sure to keep it color blocked by rolling off each color before you spread it
2. Press and pull newspaper sheets laying them flat to dry
3.  Coat the sheets with Craft Twinkles and Glamour Dust to give them a glittery sheen and sparkle
4.  Trace the 5 different sizes of flowers and the leaves on a sheet (or 2 depending on how big your Gel Press is)
5.  Pin the pressed sheets in stacks and cut out several of the different sizes of flowers
6.  Stack the flowers largest to smallest
7.  Optional:  Stitch lines emanating from the center on the smallest flower
8.  Place the small flower back on top of the stack and stitch (or glue) the entire stack together right in the center
9.  Stitch down the center of a stack of 3 leaves
*You could also glue a line down the center of a stack if you don't have a sewing machine
10.  Glue (with hot glue or white glue) a plastic gem in the center of the stack on the smallest flower
11.  When the gem is dry, crunch the flowers, one by one, around the gem
12.  Glue curling ribbon and the flowers on gift bags, wine bottles, wrapped packages or toss them around your dinner party table!
 Gift ready!
Recycle, reuse, repurpose!

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Funky Shelf Makeover

If you follow me, then you know I'm a huge fan of mixed prints, crazy colors and MacKenzie Childs furniture.  This shelf was inspired by her amazing furniture but instead of the meticulous hand painting, I used fabric to get the mix of patterns.  All of these prints are available at JoAnn so head there for an amazing selection of things you can use to makeover your own shelf.   Skip steps, use different colors and patterns and make this project your own.  Just remember to have fun and always Make Your Mark!
Strike a pose! 
I decided to throw caution to the wind and just go with every color and pattern I liked!

STUFF I USED
Shelf in need of a makeover
Americana Decor Outdoor Living Paint
Selection of printed cotton fabrics
Plastic rhinestone trim
Sander and jigsaw
Plastic ornate mirror
E-6000 Fabri-Fuse and glue gun
1/2" wood trim
1/2" thick plywood OR 1" x 12" pine board
Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass
 HERE'S HOW
1. & 2.  Paint the face of the shelf with Ladybug and the inside walls of the shelf with Pansy
3. & 4.  Paint each shelf in Harvest and the edges of the sides with Morning Glory
5. & 6.  Remove the shelf back if possible (most modern shelves have removable backs) trace the back on your chosen fabric, cut and glue in place with Fabri-Fuse
*I find squirting on a generous amount of Fabri-Fuse and spreading it with a 
paintbrush works the best
7.  Measure the face of each shelf
8. & 9.  Measure cut and glue your chosen fabric to the face of each shelf
*I wrapped the fabric around the front and around the underside
10.  Measure the size of fabric you'll need for the side panels
11. & 12.  Cut and glue on the sides with more Fabri-Fuse
13.  Glue a contrasting gimp trim around the fabric side panels
14. Glue gimp trim along the top face of each shelf
15. Replace the back on the shelf
16.  Trace around the top of the ornate plastic mirror frame (adding about 1 1/2") to create the pediment
HERE'S HOW PART 2
17.  Mark where you are going to cut the plastic frame
18. - 20. Cut the frame and the pediment with a jigsaw and sand the rough edges
21. & 22.  Trace the pediment on your chosen fabric and glue on the face
23. & 24.  Paint the plastic frame and edges of the pediment with Vintage Brass
25. & 26.  Glue the gold frame to the pediment and the pediment to the top of the shelf
27. & 28.  Paint the 1/2" decorative trim in Vintage Brass and then glue it to the 
front sides of the shelf
Done! Whew!
Took a while, but so worth it!
Happy Tuesday!

Friday, September 7, 2018

Let's Make Stencil Art

So you want to paint something beautiful but you feel like you just can't do it?  Well, here's an easy solution!  Grab some pretty leaf & flower stencils, pick out your favorite colors and get going!  You'll have a beautiful floral painting in no time!  Start with leaves as the background.  When they're dry stencil light flowers working your way up to the darkest.   Easy, squeezy!  Have fun and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
 I used Americana Tube Acrylics for this masterpiece!


STUFF I USED
DecoArt Stencils (pick your favorites)
Succulent Stencil
Large Succulent Stencil
Botanical Leaf Stencil
Tropical Leaf Stencil
Americana Premium Tube Acrylics
Masking Tape
1" Thick Wood Plank
Canvas
Cosmetic Sponges
Watch how I painted mine here!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Hedgehog Pillows DIY

Hedgehogs, squirrels and baby possums just do it for me.  I have no idea why, but I find just looking at them makes me happy.  Set me in front of a baby hedgehog taking a bath in a kitchen sink and I'm done for.  DONE FOR!  Well, now you see why I needed to make these hedgehog pillows.  Instructions and pattern are included in this blog.  Make them any size you want and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
 A family affair
Stop and smell the flowers

Watch how to make them here!
STUFF I USED
DecoArt Stylin Paints
Poly-fil stuffing
Brown and cream medium weight fabric
Sewing machine
Googly eyes and pompoms
Print out this pattern and make it any size you want!
HERE'S HOW TO MAKE THEM!
1. & 2.  Pin and cut the pattern on folded cream fabric
3. - 5.  Trace the face, paint it beige and then paint the mouth on one piece of the fabric
(both sides if you're ambitious)
6. & 7.  Stitch the two pieces together using 1/2" seam allowance and leaving a 5" opening
8. & 9. Cut 2" wide strips of brown fabric and then cut them into fringe every 1/4"
10.  Glue the fringe along the tush moving toward the face of the hedgehog
11.  Glue on the eye with more Fabri-fuse and paint the cheek with more Stylin
12.  Stuff and stitch the 5" opening closed.

Enjoy!