Sparkly Boho Mirror DIY

I always see the packages of round mirrors at the craft store, but I never know what to make with them!  Well, I decided to challenge myself and make some funky, sparkly mini mirrors.  They were lightly inspired by Rhoda's apartment on the Mary Tyler Moore show, as are most of my DIY projects!  For these mirrors I pulled out every trick in the book including creating the embellishments with hot glue and surrounding the mini mirrors with glamorous rhinestone cup chain.  Challenge your creativity when you can and see what happens, my fantastic friends, and don't forget to

Make Your Mark!

My colorful trio!

I love how the colors blend into each other!

2 layers of Unicorn SPiT Sparkling will give you some serious glimmer!

Watch how to make them here!

LIST OF EVERYTHING I USED

Walnut Hollow Plaques: https://bit.ly/2wBMFIm My favorite molds: https://amzn.to/2wNM06M Unicorn SPiT & Unicorn SPiT Sparkling: https://amzn.to/2pwP4kq E6000 Plus: https://amzn.to/30GJc4P

Hang them in a cluster!

A terrific way to brighten up any corner!

You're the fairest of them all!

Mini Art Journals DIY - Upcycled Cardboard & Gel Press DIY

My mom has a room in her house with every wall covered in shadow boxes filled with miniatures.  She's been collecting them since she was a little girl and they are fascinating.  I like tiny things, but that particular bug never bit me until I started seeing MINI ART JOURNALS on Pinterest.  Since I love to bind art books AND make art journals I thought, why not give this a try?!  The best part is that I got to use my Gel Press to make all the amazing pages for them in no time.  Working on a larger scale with the Gel Press and then cutting down the pages was a perfect way to get tons of color on the pages without having to start from scratch on each page.  Now I can stuff one in my canvas tote and take it to the coffee shop to work on it with my acrylic markers.  Art On The Go is the BEST, my creative possums!  Now get out there and Make Your Mark! 

THINGS I USED

Gel Press: https://amzn.to/364hn95

DecoArt Paints: https://amzn.to/2PAzk9H

My Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

3" x 2 1/2  Perfect size for your pocket or purse but you can make them any size you want!

I'm trying my hand at cardboard "rubber" stamps.  Still working out the kinks!

Watch how to make it here!

 Make several at a time.  Color copy your favorite pressed pages for filler!

Happy journaling!

Faux Blown Glass with Cup Spinner

As much as I want to learn how to blow glass, I'll admit it, I'm afraid.  There are classes here in Los Angeles, but I'm just too chicken to sign up.  Instead, I'll squirrel away in my art studio figuring out how to make a version of it with the things I have.  It dawned on me that I could take the tumbler trend and mix it with my bottle cutting obsession and create something blown-glass-ish!  I'm in love, friends. I can't stop making these beautiful vases!  The best part is that it's a perfect project to use with bottles that aren't cut perfectly.  A little dip or crack is covered with resin and the imperfections make this project even better!  Happy crafting, my sweet friends.  

Don't forget to Make Your Mark!

My beautiful faux blown glass vases/pencil cups

LIST OF EVERYTHING I USED:
Unicorn SPiT: https://amzn.to/2pwP4kq
Glaze Coat Resin: https://amzn.to/30GJc4P

My Cup Turner: https://amzn.to/2U7XDyp

MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

I love the sprinkle of glitter peeking through!

Watch how to make them here!

  

Make something beautiful!

Upcycled Magazine Art Journals and Stencils

As you may already know, I can't stand tossing things that I know can be turned into something beautiful!  For example, every year I splurge on a fancy home decor magazine from England called The World of Interiors and I have stacks of them going way back.  Because this magazine is printed on thick, yummy paper, in college I would use the old ones for smash books.  Now, I cut them in half and make art journals with them.  So much better than tossing them, right?  You can use Citri-Solve to dissolve the ink on each page OR you can just add some white Americana Acrylic over each page to create a base in which to paint.  Up to you!  Either way, this is an economical way to have tons of art journals for your creative adventures.  Use what you have, my sweet friends, and always

Make Your Mark!

Get the magazines cut in half at Staples with their guillotine machine!

I used a 5" x 7" Gel Press to create my colorful pages!

Make your own stencils with plastic salad lids and a Creative Versa Tool from Walnut Hollow

Watch how I made mine here!

And so the day begins!

Happy journaling!