Friday, October 26, 2018

Anthropologie Chair Makeover

I'm obsessed with the printed wooden chairs at Anthropologie!  They're just beautiful.....and, well, a little too expensive for my ever changing decor budget.  As usual, I decided to see if I could make my own set with a fabric of my choice.  Grab some E-6000 Fabri-Fuse, some thrift store or Ikea chairs and a fabric print you love and you've got yourself some amazing seating!  Follow the directions in the video below and you're good to go. As always,  if you can't afford it, try making it!  Oh, and always Make Your Mark.
Sitting pretty!
Garden party
The original Anthropologie chairs that inspired this project
Watch how to make them here!
Minwax Polycrylic

Enjoy!

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Faux Stained Glass Lanterns

I'll admit it, I'm too lazy to learn how to make real stained glass.  I love it, but I just don't have the patience or the skill. I truly admire those who do!  As you may already know, I will do almost anything to come up with a way to make faux stained glass and today I'm sharing how to do it with Unicorn SPiT Sparkling!  Yup, a little hard to capture in the photos, but these have a lovely shimmer when the light hits them!  Change up the design and you can make these lanterns for your table for any season.  Remember possums, there is always an alternative!  Oh, and don't forget to 
Make Your Mark!
 Fall tablescape complete with my new glowing lanterns
 Love they way they look with light shining through!
Fill them with tea lights or LED lights....It all works!
Watch how to make them here!
STUFF I USED
Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint in Gloss Black & Brown
Minwax Polycrylic
4 matching wood frames
Print leaf pattern on standard copy paper
1. Remove the backing and paper from each frame and 
glue in the glass (to the frame) with E-6000 Glue
2.  Tape the pattern on the underside of the glass so that you can see it from the front
3.  Trace the leaves on the glass with Allure Gloss in Black and Brown and let dry
4. & 5.  Mix equal parts Minwax Polycrylic and Unicorn SPiT Sparkling
 in a fine tip squirt bottle and shake
6.  Mix Dolly Firebird and Lavish Lovebirds to make Copper
7.  Mix Golden Gosling and Dolly Firebird to make Orange
8.  Fill in the leaves with the mixed colors and let dry
9. Glue the frames together in a box and fill with tealights or LED lights

Glowing and gorgeous!  Happy Fall!

Friday, October 19, 2018

Holiday Forever Wreath

Happy holidays, friends!  It's that time of year when we decorate everything we can to celebrate the season.  I wanted a wreath that I could leave up year round (not just for the holidays) on my little California craftsman house, but I couldn't find anything I truly loved.  As usual, I decided to take matters into my own hands and get crazy making my own metallic leaves on my Gel Press.  I used Oly-Fun fabrics from Fairfield world because I love the colors and they have a stiffness that works perfectly for this project!  Have a wonderful holiday season and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
Love how it shimmers!


Watch how to make yours here!
STUFF I USED
Oly-Fun Fabric from Fairfield World
Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paints
DecoArt Dazzling Metallics
Pool Noodle
Glue Gun
Wood Sign
Print out on standard copy paper
 HERE'S HOW
1.  Tape the ends of a pool noodle together to create a wreath
2.  Lightly score the edges so that it creates a perfect circle
3.  Wrap the wreath in 3" strips of Oly-Fun fabric in Hot Fudge using 
a hot glue gun to keep the pieces in place
4. Cut 8" x 10" pieces of Oly-Fun in Clover, Kiwi and Sea Green
5. Grab your Gel Press
6.  Load it with different colors of DecoArt Dazzling Metallics
7. Press and pull several sheets of the Oly-Fun on the Gel Press
8.  Trace the leaf patterns on the back one of the pressed sheets
9.  Stack, pin and cut several layers of the Gel Pressed Oly-Fun fabric
10.  Edge the leaves and add veins with Allure Dimension Design Adhesive Paint in different matching colors.  I used Copper Glitter, Gloss Brown and Gold Leaf
11.  Hot glue the leaves around the wreath
12.  Decorate the wreath with a wood word and a huge metallic bow

Welcome!

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Rustic Fall Banner DIY

I made this banner to hang across a fireplace mantle....and then I realized I don't have a fireplace.  Oh well.  I'll string it over my living room mirror for now and maybe later I'll put it on the front door.  Until which time I have a mantle, I'll make due!  I chose to write the words GIVE THANKS because I'm grateful for the life I have.  I get to share with all of you my creative journey.  I journey that I am forever grateful for.  Remember to give thanks and to always Make Your Mark!
 Give thanks!


Watch how I made mine here!
STUFF I USED
Walnut Hollow Creative Woodburner
Americana Multi Surface Satin in White and Orange
Walnut Hollow Birch Ornaments
Satin Ribbon and Twine
Hand Lettered Alphabet Reference
HERE'S HOW
1.  Draw each of the letters in pencil on a birch ornament
2.  Paint leaves around the edge of each ornament
3.  Connect the leaves with a small thin vine
4. & 5. Carefully burn around the edge with the drawing tip from the 
Creative Woodburner tool and then fill in each letter
6.  Using the end of a paintbrush, dab on orange berries amongst the outer vine
7.  Tie each ornament to a long piece of twine using satin ribbon
8.  Hang and enjoy!
There is always a reason to give thanks!

Monday, October 15, 2018

Fabric and Resin Jewelry DIY

I save every scrap....I can't help it! I'm a bit of a hoarder AND I have enough different projects up my sleeve that I know I'll be able to use them all one day.  Ok, it might take 100 years, but I'll get there!  These little fabric scraps were just too cute to toss so I coated them in Americana Decoupage to get them super hard and then added a layer of Famowood Glaze Coat Epoxy resin to make them shiny and hard.  Pretty easy process actually.  Take a peek at the video and you can see just how I made them.  Have fun and don't forget to Make Your Mark!




STUFF I USED
Fabric scraps with images
Famowood Glaze Coat
Americana Decoupage 
Pin Backs
Watch how to make them here!
Can't wait to gift these!

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Mexican Tin Hearts

My first version of Mexican Tin Hearts from a few years ago is still getting tons of attention so I decided to up the game a little and try a few different techniques for this version.  I love the versions I see for sale, but I'd go broke buying every one of them.  Instead, here's an inexpensive way to make your own. Head to the hardware store and grab some aluminum flashing and serrated edge scissors and you're halfway there. Also, if you have some thin cotton gloves, that can be helpful.  I tend to scratch myself when I'm cutting the flashing.  Have fun, make art and don't forget to 
Make Your Mark!


 My trio of hearts
Watch how to make them here!
STUFF I USED
Aluminum Flashing and Serrated Blade Scissors
Hot glue and glue gun
Prima silicone molds
Americana Acrylic Paints
DecoArt Matte Metallic Paint in Vintage Brass
Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paints
Loteria Images
Pattern for heart and frame
Print on standard copy paper
 HERE'S HOW
1. & 2.  Trace and cut the heart and frame from the aluminum flashing using serrated edge scissors
and making sure to cut off the sharp points on the flames
3.  Trace a loteria image in the center of the frame, cut of the corners of the frame piece (to the corner of the tracing) and then bend each side upward
4.  Paint the flame part of the flashing black and the base in a light color of your choosing 
5.  Paint flowers, leaves and teardrops using a small round brush around the heart
6.  Paint gold teardrops on the flame with Matte Metallics in Vintage Brass
7. & 8.  Accent the flowers and teardrops with different colors
*The more color the better!
9.  Paint the outside and inside of the frame piece in two different colors
10. & 11. Using Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint, dot all around the edge of the heart, around the edges of the frame piece and along the top of the flame
12.  Glue the loteria card inside of the painted frame piece
13. & 14.  Fill the Prima silicone flower mold with hot glue, remove the flowers and 
paint in different colors
15.  Dry brush the flowers with the Matte Metallics
16  Glue the frame and the flowers on top of the painted heart
La Sirena, my favorite!
All in all another heart on the wall 
I'll bet your friends would love one!

Friday, October 5, 2018

Halloween Candles DIY

Like many of you, I'm obsessed with Halloween!  Every year I make something to add to my collection of decorations and this year it was these hauntingly beautiful candles.  Totally my style!  I used some amazing silicone molds from Prima and jazzed them up with my favorite DecoArt paints.  So easy, even an unskilled skeleton could do it!  Happy Halloween, possums! 
Don't forget to Make Your Mark!
 My skull looks too real!
Love the hints of gold so much!

Watch how to make them here!
STUFF I USED
Pillar Candles
DecoArt Matte Metallics in Vintage Brass
Stick-Um Candle Adhesive
Prima Silicone Molds
Hair Dryer
Large Glue Gun
Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Carbon
HERE'S HOW
1. & 2. Fill your favorite Prima and skull molds with hot glue and let them dry
*Should only take about 5 minutes
3.  Warm the hot glue pieces around a cup with a hair dryer to curve them so 
they adhere to the candle easier
4. & 5. Spread a generous amount of Stick-Um Candle Adhesive to the back of the hot glue pieces and adhere them to the candle
*IF you're having a hard time sticking your pieces to the candle, use a straight pin.  Hold the pin with pliers, heat it up and stick it through the hot glue into the candle
6. Warm the pieces again if you need to
7. Paint the entire candle with chalky finish in Carbon
8.  When the chalky finish is dry, dry brush the Matte Metallics over the edges and molded pieces
9. Display with pride!

Happy Halloween!

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Romantic Dresser Makeover

Every once in a while something comes along that just blows my mind!  The new Re•Design With Prima furniture decals did just that.  What a way to transform a piece of furniture in the most beautiful way!  This was a simple Ikea Rast dresser but wow does it make an impact.  I find the decals work best on light colored furniture and you want to make sure that if you paint your piece first, let it dry for at least 24 hours before you apply the decals.  Give everything a facelift and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
I used Unicorn SPiT in White Ning to get this bleached Farmhouse look!


 Watch how I did it here!
HERE'S HOW
1.  Stain a plain wood dresser with Unicorn SPiT in White Ning.  It's perfect for a farmhouse look!
*Make sure to seal it with a spray or paint on lacquer when you're done
2.  Spread out your Re•Design With Prima furniture decals so you know the order of the pattern
3.  Trim them to fit on the dresser drawers making sure to save the pieces in case they need to be put on the adjoining drawer to create the whole pattern
4.  Follow the instructions for rubbing the decals on the furniture making sure to get every part
5.  Carefully remove the protective paper while you rub any spots that you might have 
missed the first time
6.  Once the decals are on perfectly, coat the top with a paint on water-based lacquer
*I like Minwax Polycrylic
7. & 8.  For some interest on the sides I used the Prima Chalk Paste for some dimensional interest and to pick up a color from the decal
9. Spray the handles gold and reattach to the dresser and you're done!

Make sure to check out Re•Design With Prima!