Monday, July 27, 2020

Happy Scrappy Hanging Lamps

I can't tell you how many lampshades I end up with in my storage. TONS!  Some are in great shape, others are ready to be reimagined for my next video.  For these shades I wanted to create something whimsical, happy, light and magical and I couldn't be happier with them.  A few fabric scraps, faux flowers and butterflies and voila!  Perfect for a kids room, to hang on a patio or to brighten up a pure white space.  Not every shade needs to have fabric all the way around it, some look just great with a low watt soft bulb or with nothing at all.  Make something bright, my sweet friends, and always
Make Your Mark!
Simple pearl trim makes a wonderful scalloped trim

A sweet little faux bird is the perfect touch!
Bows made of simple 1" wide grosgrain ribbon
Watch how to make them here OR
Watch the video on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/TeOYoMchEf0

Use a super soft clear bulb to make these shades sing!

Just use what you have and it will look amazing....Promise!

Saturday, July 25, 2020

Paper Feather Mobile

What I love most about a mobile is that you can truly hang anything from it as long as it's colorful, cute and dances in a slight breeze!  Use an embroidery hoop or some wire for your loop at the top and gather up your most colorful bits!  C'mon, I know you have a box of craft stuff just waiting for this project!  For mine I made paper feathers and colorized them with Unicorn SPiT spray which you can easily make with a bit of water and a small spray bottle. I used it on everything from art journals to happy mail.  I've said it 100 times...Use what you have and always Make Your Mark!
Just magical in the sunlight!

Everything I used for this project:
Watch how to make them here OR
Watch the video on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/lcrpZX0bG60
My paper feathers before I fringed them
Perfect to brighten up a sad little corner!

Add a dab of E6000 on your knots to keep everything in place!

Happy crafting, sweet friends!

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Nature Art Journal

There is inspiration EVERYWHERE if you just look for it.  Lately, like many of you, I've been spending a lot of time in my backyard.  I practically live out there!  Since I live in Los Angeles, I have things constantly blooming in my yard so I decided to use nature as my jumping point for this art journal.  Pressed leaves and flowers and vintage botanical prints always look wonderful in a journal so I gathered up a bunch of those to start.  I also wrote out some of my favorite nature quotes to get me going. Hey, whatever you have to do to stay creative and positive, right?  Create something today, my sweet friends, and always Make Your Mark!
Rubber stamps & embossed tissue paper are always fun in a journal!

Everything I used for this project:
Xyron Creative Station: https://bit.ly/2yuW31n Permanent Adhesive Cartridge: https://amzn.to/2KaMzuC Derwent Inktense Pencils: https://bit.ly/3cynWUN www.DerwentArt.com & www.Xyron.com MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano
Pressed leaves used as a mask on book pages...Perfect backgrounds!
Watch how I art journal here OR
Watch the video on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/R10MZJwSEuw

My Derwent Inktense Blocks are great for leaf rubbings. 
They can also be used with water like watercolor!


Happy journaling!

Saturday, July 4, 2020

Magazine Flowers - Upcycled Craft

Have a stack of magazines?  Need a quick bouquet for a special occasion?  These paper flowers are just the ticket!  A little folding, cutting and gluing and you'll have a bouquet that will be sure to make an impression.  Watch the video below to see just how they're done.  Spray with color to match your decor OR pick colorful magazine pages and see what happens.  I added some glitter to mine to make them even more special.  Use what you have, my sweet friends, and always MAKE YOUR MARK!

I spray painted these with shimmer misters from DecoArt, but you could
just use colorful magazine pages!
Fringe the folds...It's so easy!

  
Watch how to make them here OR
watch the video on my YouTube channel here:  https://youtu.be/TNKc24Pmwe4


A little glitter makes them sparkle! 
Save the day with a paper bouquet!