Need to lift someone's spirits and don't have a ton of cash? These BOUQUET CUPS just might be the ticket! I used dollar store mugs and filled them with tea and small chocolates. The rest is just paper & cardboard! If you're not a fan of polka dots, you might try using the DecoArt Glass Paint Markers to write a sweet note on the side of the mug! So many ways to reinvent this project! The best part is that you'll be making someone happy. Now that's a craft you can get behind! Ok sweet friends, get out there and Make Someone's Day!
I'm hosting another POSTCARD SWAP! I hope you'll join our artists from all over the world who are exchanging stacks of 10 for 10. I've posted the rules below.
Join our international POSTCARD SWAP! The theme for this swap is UPCYCLED, LAYERED & COLORFUL! Use your imagination!
*THE FIRST 40 PEOPLE WHO SIGN UP (and send me a screen shot of their paid participation fee AND their mailing address) GET A 5" X 7" GEL PRESS!
To be eligible you must send a screenshot of your paid participation fee to me at MarkMontanoNYC@aol.com with (GEL PRESS CONTEST) IN THE SUBJECT! Please include your mailing address in the email. We are going to try to get these out quickly so you can use them for your cards if you want! *Contest opens at 7 a.m. PST Friday morning, September 25th, so entries before that won't be considered BUT you can get everything prepared beforehand to email me at that time.
UPCYCLED 4" X 6" MIXED MEDIA POSTCARD SWAP RULES:
1. There is a $10 fee to participate in the swap in the US and $15 if you are participating from another country.
This covers the cost of envelopes, organizing with my assistant, packing and 1st class postage (with tracking) for sending the postcards back to you.
Please use my PayPal.me account here: paypal.me/MarkMontanoDIY *Use the FRIEND TO FRIEND option when sending the participation fee.
2. Postcards are to be 4" x 6" in size (no smaller or larger) and no thicker than 1/8". Create any kind of art you want! Make them colorful, sparkly, upcycled and something you're proud of.
Deadline is November 15th, 2020 meaning cards need to be here with me by November 15th.
3. Everyone submits 10 cards and gets 10 different cards in return. If you want to send 11, that's GREAT! *On rare occasion a card is destroyed in shipping OR a participant's cards get lost in the mail and arrive late...I keep sets of cards for them as well just in case and an extra is always appreciated.
4. Please sign your postcards on the back so people know who made them and include a social media handle so that you can make some new friends! You could also clip a business card to each postcard. Just let your new friends know who made it.
5. Make sure that you print your return address CLEARLY so that we can easily address your package and get it back to you without a problem. We ship everything in 6" x 9" manilla envelope. If you want to enclose a return envelope, that's awesome, too!
6. Please (try) to use an upcycled material like cereal box cardboard, newspaper, phone book pages, thin corrugated cardboard, magazines or old book pages. Whatever you toss out that can be incorporated!
7. Please put 4" x 6" pieces of wax paper between each card so that they don't stick together. Sometimes heat and humidity during transit can cause some paints to stick together. Wax paper will insure everything is pristine.
8. Send postcard packages to my studio: Mark Montano 2126 Cove Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90039
9. Deadline is November 15th, 2020 meaning cards need to be here with me by November 15th
These lanterns have been hanging in my kitchen window since I photographed them for this DIY and I have to say, they bring me so much joy...You have no idea. When I get up late at night for a glass of water, they give off the perfect peaceful glow. The beads catch the light in the sweetest way both during the day and at night, too. I know that some of my projects are a bit more involved than most DIYs that you find out there, but there are often ways to improvise if you don't have everything I do...Ways that might make the task at hand a bit easier for you. Do your best, my sweet friends, and stay creative during these difficult times. And like I always say, get out there and Make Your Mark!
Now that we're wearing masks all the time, earrings need to be impactful and BIG! These feather earrings are perfect for making a statement even if half of your face is covered up. My sister-in-law loves them and gets compliments on them all the time, so I know this to be true. Now, you could use denim, a heavy canvas fabric or vinyl like I did to make the shapes. Whatever you have on hand. Once the paint is on and dry, you won't have a problem fringing the edges. After all, vinyl is just paint on fabric! Make exciting accessories, my fashionista friends....and always MAKE YOUR MARK!
Feathered and fabulous!
The chain and turquoise give it some terrific movement!
My vinyl sheets after they're painted...Time to add some gold flecks!
Are you a mermaid at heart? Why not show everyone how FIN-tastic you are by making yourself an awesome mermaid tiara? With a little hot glue, some seashells and acrylic gems you'll be swimming in compliments! Between quarantine and wildfires I think we need to just do whatever makes us feel fantastic, don't you? Make magic, my sweet friends, and always MAKE YOUR MARK!
Any lantern that doesn't need oil or a battery is alright with me! These solar lanterns are great because you can just hang them in the trees and they turn on when the sun goes down. Easy peasy! I grabbed a few lightweight glass vases at the 99c store and painted them with my dishwasher safe glass paint from DecoArt. It's fantastic stuff...trust me on this. I made a mistake and had to scrape some off with a craft knife BEFORE it had the chance to fully cure. That's some tough glass paint! BTW, it also comes in beautiful colors, too. The glass at the top of the vases isn't painted so it allows solar charging during the day. Excuse me while I pat myself on the back for that little discovery! Make beautiful things, my sweet friends, and always Make Your Mark!
