Friday, February 28, 2020

Sparkly Southwest Jewelry DIY

Do you have belts from 10 years ago just hanging in your closet?  Belts that don't fit or have a funky buckle or that are just a little worn out?  Well don't toss them just yet, you can use them for this fun southwest-inspired-jewelry project!  A little Stylin paint from DecoArt and some flat turquoise stones and you'll have something amazing to wear that you made yourself.  The best part is that you've used something that was eventually going to get tossed.  Dig through your closet for upcoming craft adventures and always Make Your Mark!
I love the sparkly stones mixed with the earthy turquoise!
Save the rest of the belt for other projects!
Put it all together with E6000 Bead & Jewelry Glue!  This stuff is amazing!
Watch how to make them here!

Flat turquoise stones aren't expensive at all!

Sparkly on my friends!

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Fun Art Journaling Techniques

Sometimes I'll take hours and hours on an art journal page and other times I like it to be impactful and fast. It depends on how much creative energy I have running through my body!  When I have the need for speed, there are a few techniques I always use and I'm sharing them with you today.  First I glue ripped book pages down with indoor spray adhesive.  Next, I apply color on every page with something that dries quickly like liquid watercolors. It's a great base and it's light enough to build on.  After that it's all about big foam stamps and paint markers.  That's it.  Just a few simple things and you can fill up a journal in no time and have beautiful pages to jot down your amazing thoughts.    Check out the video below to see just how I did it and make sure to check out Discount School Supply, Joggles and Artistro for some of my favorite art journal supplies!  
Now get out there and  Make Your Mark, my creative friends!
 I filled in the circle shapes with acrylic paint
Be fearless with color! 

Watch how I do it here!
 Work on a few journals at a time!
 Huge fan of Joggles Foam Stamps!  Big and BOLD!

Happy Journaling, my thoughtful friends!

Monday, February 24, 2020

Unicorn SPiT Bench DIY

My brother Matt helped me figure out the pattern for this bench a few years ago and I've used it over and over for all kinds of different projects. I even found a way to upholster it!  Today I'm using every color of Unicorn SPiT to stain the lovely pine wood.  I love how the colors blend into each other and create new colors where they meet.  The intensity is just wonderful, too!  Every time I use Unicorn SPiT I learn something new and this bench allowed me to channel my inner maniac and use every color with wild abandon.  Just like a kid does with a new box of crayons.  Let yourself go with color, my creative posse, and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
The perfect little bench for my hidden forest!
Add a serape and you've got home decor gold!

Watch how I made it here!


Have a seat, friend!

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Hot Glue Bracelets DIY

I've been hooked on filling silicone molds with hot glue for a while now.  It dries super quick, is stronger than clay, doesn't have the odor of most epoxy resins and it's flexible.  Don't get me wrong, there's a time and place for other silicone mold fillers, but I'm a hot glue loyalist!  Now that I have my huge, high temp glue gun from SUREBONDER, I'm basically filling up every mold in the craft house.  For these bangles, I created a base from a plastic container and then made sure to connect everything so it would be one, solid piece of hot glue all the way around.  Grab a little black base paint and Enchanted iridescent paint from DecoArt and you'll be sure to Make Your Mark!
 Iridescent shimmer created by the new Enchanted paint from DecoArt!
 LINKS to the molds I used HERE

Watch how to make them here!


 Look at that shimmer!
Too good to be glue!

Friday, February 21, 2020

German Glass Glitter DIY

I love the vintage look of glass glitter and that it's not made from plastic.  With this project you can add a little eco-friendly sparkle to your projects with these lovely sprinkles.  Now, they're not as sparkly as other glitters but they do have an amazing look that's just as wonderful.  I used a thrift store coffee grinder to make mine and labeled it for CRAFT USE ONLY to make sure that it's never used for food.  You can grab a new grinder for $12 on Amazon and considering the expense of glass glitter in craft stores, you'll save money after a few uses.  Color them with Marabu Alcohol Inks in your favorite colors and you'll be glitterizing everything you can get your hands on.  One more thing, make sure to let the dust settle IN the grinder for 5 minutes before you open it, ok.  Happy crafting, my sparkly friends, and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
Displayed in my collection of 99c store shakers
Around the rim of a simple glass votive

Watch how to make it here!

Colorize them with Marabu Alcohol Inks in all of your favorite colors!
Happy Glittering!

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Rolled Paper Valentines DIY

It's a little late, but I had to post these pretty rolled paper Valentines.  Maybe they'll spark something for your next Easter or St. Patrick's Day craft project?  Rolling pages of magazines is super therapeutic and can be done while you're binge watching old episodes of Dawson's Creek or Ugly Betty.  I used the paper rolls for these whimsical hearts, but they also make beautiful beads and can be glued into any shape.  Upcycle all those gossip magazines you keep buying and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
Ready for love?
Painted with Unicorn SPiT!
A layer of chunky glitter glue is always required!
Watch how to make them here!
A ribbon bow is the perfect embellishment!
Happy belated Valentine's Day!

Monday, February 17, 2020

Rainbow Rorschach Table DIY

The only thing I remember more than Thanksgiving turkey handprints on paper plates is my Rorschach masterpieces made with construction paper and tempera paint.  Second grade was definitely a high point in my creative life!  In fact, I'm still splattering paint on paper and folding it to create crazy masterpieces!  This rainbow Rorschach table utilizes that 2nd grade skill but UPS it a bit with a printing technique that anyone can do.  I used my Americana Decor Outdoor Living paint for durability since this table is definitely going to get some wear and tear.  All of my tables do!  Look to your childhood for inspiration, my awesome friends, and don't forget to
Make Your Mark!
 An old Ikea table that really needed some love!
I see lips and a beetle! 
Watch how I made this here!

 What do you see?

Everything is better with color!

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Tin Valentines - Upcycled Cardboard DIY

This project hearkens back to grade school when we would glue yarn to cardboard and then glue tinfoil on top.  Damn I loved that craft!  My sweet mom has an entire closet filled with kids art projects that she considers the most valuable of her possessions...I'm sure there are still a few tinfoil/yarn masterpieces in there to this day!  But, I digress.  These are and updated version made with my new (and totally awesome) Surebonder detail glue gun and aluminum tape which is used for duct work.  You can grab the tape for a song at any hardware store and most 99c stores!  Here's a link to my awesome new glue gun!  Bring back the kids crafts for Valentine's Day and don't forget to 
Make Your Mark!
I really need a Valentine's Day Christmas tree for these!
A little bit Lisa Frank, right?!

Watch how to make them here!
The best part is sniffing the permanent markers!

Happy Valentine's Day, possums!

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Vintage Valentine Treat Buckets

Oh, the tin can!  What an absolutely wonderful container to use in our crafty adventures.  Not only is it the perfect size, but it's sturdy and can hold everything from pencils & pennies to Peonies!  I covered these with my favorite vintage Valentines (link HERE), added a beaded handle and then filled them with treats for my very special friends.  To be honest, any craft that requires a little bit of candy is alright by me!  Like I always say, my sweet friends, use what you have and always 
Make Your Mark!     
Filled with the best treats!
My favorite vintage Valentines!
Print them out HERE

Watch how to make them here!
 Everyone, no matter what age, loves a bucket full of treats!
 Happy Valentine's Day!