Wednesday, May 17, 2023

When I was a kid I got wallet kits for Christmas almost every year.  When you come from a very large family in southeastern Colorado, leather tooling is a thing and apparently I was supposed to learn it.  I never did. Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I got another wallet kit and was stumped again. Fortunately there is leather paint and stencils and colorful synthetic sinew to make your leather projects amazing! This wallet has the perfect mix of boho, cowboy and me!  Check out the colorful waxed sinew from John Bead...I mean this stuff comes in NEON colors! Now get out there, my amazing friends, and MAKE YOUR MARK!

I love that I didn't have to learn how to tool to get this effect!  I call it my dollar hauler!

Watch how to make this gorgeous, boho/western wallet here without tooling and only leather paints and colorful sinew!
You can also watch it on YouTube here (and see some of my other videos)
Links to everything I used for this project:
John Bead Synthetic Sinew: Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/41fyPob Amazon.ca - https://amzn.to/3KMbSC6 Wallet Kit: https://amzn.to/3Nsb4Fs Leather Paints: https://bit.ly/2N9O7W2 MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano
Have an awesome day!  xo, Mark!


Thursday, May 11, 2023

I save everything...envelopes, newspaper, cardboard tubes, plastic & glass containers and burned out light bulbs. I boarder on hoarder BUT I do try to use everything I save in my craft projects.  These pears were my desperate attempt to use up a few of the bulbs I have been saving over the years and I'm so happy with they way they turned out.  When I was finished I thought of 100 other ways to decorate them, but that's for another day.  Upcycle, recycle and reuse as much as you can my awesome friends!  Now get out there and Make Your Mark!  xo
I used decorative paper but book pages would look beautiful, too!
Some of my decorative papers
The foil helps smooth out the screw thread area but it's not 100% necessary!

Watch how I make them here!  I used a Xyron Creative Station which turns everything into a sticker, but regular white glue would work, too.  I find my Xyron makes it easier and less messy!
Aren't we a pear!  Love you all!
Mark