Easy Boho Wall Decor

Grab some plywood and a jigsaw and make an impact with these easy boho wall decor projects!  Moon phase wall hangings are all the rage so I'm showing you two different ways to make one for your home.  If you're a feather fan, this simple metallic cut out will add some zing to any room.   Remember......paint things metallic, learn how to use a jigsaw and always Make Your Mark!

Feather, feather on the wall.....

I decorated my closet door with this moon phase wall hanging!

See how to make them here!

STUFF I USED

1/2" thick plywood

Jigsaw and sander

Printouts of a blue moon

Feather pattern

Hook screws

Chain

Americana Decoupage

Americana Decor Metallics and Satin Enamels

HERE'S HOW

1.  Draw your feather on the plywood in any size you want

*Mine is 36" long

2.  Use a large bowl to create your different moon phases

4. 5. & 6.  Cut out everything with jigsaw and then sand the rough edges

7.  Paint the feather and all of the moon phases with the Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass

*Once you've painted the feather, you're done with it

8.  Paint the full moon in Americana Decor Satin Enamels in Dark Denim

9.  Paint tiny star and moon details with the Vintage Brass on one side of the full moon

Optional:  Splatter the edges of the full moon with the Vintage Brass to create more stars

10. & 11.  Print out the blue moon (1 for each moon phase) in the same size as your moon cut outs and decoupage them to the shapes

12.  Attach the shapes with 4" lengths of chain and hang

3 Thrift Store Lamp Makeovers!

For some reason I've been scoring at the thrift store when it comes to interesting lamps!  I find them for less than $5 with the shades and they are always super fun to makeover.   Check out my latest creations complete with shade makeovers, too.  My favorite is the paisley lamp shade with black ribbon trim.  I made 2 for my bedroom and absolutely love them.   Next time you need a lamp, head to the thrift store first and see what you can paint and decoupage to match your space.   So much more fun than hunting around for something to match.  Remember one man's trash is another man's treasure....Oh, and always Make Your Mark!

Perfectly Paisley, Fornasetti Inspired and Flower Power

Watch the makeovers here!

Start with a selection of working, thrifted lamps and shades

(If you can, check the wiring at the store before you buy)

Perfectly Paisley

 Here's how

1. 2. & 3.  Tape over the cord and paint the entire lamp base with Americana Decor Satin Enamels in your favorite color and let dry

4. & 5.  Add highlights using a slightly damp rag with DecoArt Metallic Lustre in Gold Rush

6.  Remove the fabric from the original lampshade

7.  Press paper over one of the sections of wire to create a pattern and trace around it with a crayon

8. & 9.  Cut out the pattern and then cut out the panels in fabric

*Make sure that the fabric panels are all the same if you're using a pattern.  This means cutting them one at a time if you have to!

10.  One by one glue the fabric panels to each wire section of the shade 

11.  Glue 1/4" ribbon over where the fabric panels meet to cover the seams

12.  Glue more 1/4" ribbon around the top and bottom rim of the shade

*When you get to the end, fold the ribbon over 1/4" to make a clean finish

Fornasetti Inspired

 Here's how

1. & 2.  Paint the lamp with Americana Decor Satin Enamel in black

3. Carefully cut out a print that you want to decoupage on the lamp

*Check out http://thegraphicsfairy.com/ for an amazing selection to choose from

4.  Mist the front and back of the image with water to relax the paper

5.  6. & 7.   Add Americana Decoupage to the back of the image and apply it to the lamp

8.  Coat the image with more Decoupage

9.  Add a metallic gold border with a paint marker

Flower Power

Here's how

1. & 2.  Paint the base of the lamp with Americana Decor Chalky Finish in your favorite color

3.  Remove the fabric from the original lampshade

4. & 5.  Fold fabric on the diagonal and cut enough 2" wide strips to wrap your shade

*Do the math:  Measure the shade top to bottom and around and multiply to get a good idea of how much you will need

6.  Glue the strips together with hot glue to make very long strips

7.  Wrap the shade from top to bottom until you've gone all the way around

8. & 9.  Cut out fabric roses and glue them on the wrapped shade

Done, done and done!

Make A Desk!

My other half just opened a law firm so I was tasked with creating a desk and home office space worthy of an Esquire!  This couldn't be just an ordinary desk, it needed to have filing cabinets and a large work area.  After a few minutes scouring Craigslist, I found some amazing walnut filing cabinets perfect for the base and the rest of the design came together.  A little wood and some paint and the new home office looks like a million bucks.  My secret is that it cost less than $50 to put together.  Remember.......make furniture, rummage through Craigslist and always 

Make Your Mark!

The new office space

Ready for work

Learn how to make the chair HERE!

See how I put it together here

Stuff I Used

2 wood filing cabinets (scour Craigslist for these)

Vintage images for the sides

Americana Decor Metallics and Satin Enamels

Americana Decoupage

1" thick plywood

1" wide trim

Finishing nails and hammer

Here's How

1. 2. & 3. Paint the filing cabinets and plywood with the Americana Decor Satin Enamels

in Classic Black 

4. 5. & 6.  Paint the 1" trim with the Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass

7.  Tape 2" up from the base with painter's tape

8.  Paint along the underside of the painter's tape with more Classic Black

*This is a painter's trick to get crisp lines when using tape for stripes

9.  Paint the base with more Vintage Brass

10.  Cut out the vintage images

11.  Mist with water to relax the paper and decoupage to the sides of the desk with Americana Decoupage

12.  Attach the top to the base with either nails or screws and you're done!

Voila! 

Mismatched Bedroom Furniture Makeover

If you're like me, you probably have a mishmash of furniture in your home.  Maybe it's a table from your parents, a mirror you found on the street and headboard from Ikea.  Well, fear not my mismatched furniture collecting friends!  I'm going to show you how to make mismatched furniture into a beautiful matching set with some easy tricks.  Remember to never toss anything out until you paint it, rescue things from the street and always Make Your Mark!

My new guest bedroom set!

From this......to this!

Getting artsy with the mirror!

Watch how I did it here

Stuff I Used

Mismatched furniture

Laser cut frames

E-6000 Glue

Americana Decor Satin Enamels in Moss Green

DecoArt Metallic Lustre in Gold Rush

Americana Decor Metallics in Antique Brass

Jigsaw

 Here's How

1. & 2.  Center the laser cut frames on the headboard and glue in place with E-6000 Glue

3.  Paint the sides and support with the Metallic in Antique Brass

4.  Paint the rest of the headboard in Moss Green Satin Enamels

5. & 6.  When dry, rub the Metallic Lustre around the frame and on the edges of the headboard

7. Tape paper on the mirror so you don't get paint on it

8. & 9.  Figure out which parts of the laser cut frames you'll need to cover the edge of the mirror frame

10. & 11.  Cut them in pieces and make sure they fit on the frame of the mirror

12. & 13.  Paint the mirror and the frame pieces with the Moss Green

14.   Paint the details with the Metallic in Antique Brass

15.  Glue the frame pieces around the mirror frame with more E-6000 Glue

16.  Rub Metallic Lustre on the edges of the frame pieces and on the details

*I painted a simple side table with the Americana Decor Metallics in Antique Brass to match the set

Time to bring it inside and start decorating.

See you soon!

Roadside Rescue Nightstand Makeover

I can't do it....I can't pass up a piece of perfectly good furniture on the side of the road.  I at least have to TRY to spruce it up.  Hey, if it doesn't work out, I can always put it back outside again, right?  This little nightstand looked so lonely when I saw it on my street corner and because it was so kooky, I decided to go nuts with it.  I discovered something amazing while working on it, too......the new Americana Decor Satin Enamels will paint over ANYTHING and make it look brand new.  Remember to have fun, rescue furniture and always Make Your Mark!

Still not sure where this little guy is going to end up... 

Watch the video here!

Stuff You'll Need

Metallic Lustres in Silver Spark

Old nightstand

Americana Decoupage

Americana Decor Satin Enamels in Charcoal Gray

Fabric to match the paint

Butcher paper and crayon

Here's How

1.  Remove the hardware

2. & 3.  Trace the pattern of the face of the drawers on butcher paper by rubbing crayon along the design

4.  Pin on fabric and cut out

5.  Paint the entire nightstand with Satin Enamels and let dry

6. - 8.  Apply Americana Decoupage to the face of the drawer (where the fabric will be placed) and apply the fabric to the drawer.

9.  Coat the fabric with more decoupage

10. & 11.  Add shimmer to the details and handles by rubbing them with Metallic Lustres 

in Silver Spark

12.  If you want, line the fabric with a silver paint marker

Loud and proud!

Boho Bench Makeover

Not sure about you but I have several pieces of furniture that look like they're ready for the trash heap!  This bench was still pretty sturdy, but the wood was wrecked and more than once I've had to remove a splinter from my rear end!  A little sanding and some Americana Decor paints and it was ready for a new life as the centerpiece of my colorful, boho patio.  Always think twice about tossing old pieces of furniture.  It's amazing what a coat of paint and a stencil can do.  Have fun!  Make messes!  Oh, and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

I love it!

Grabbed these pillows on Amazon for a song!

See how easy it was to makeover here!

STUFF YOU'LL NEED

Bench in need of some love

Sander

Americana Decor Metallics in Antique Brass

Americana Decor Satin Enamels in Aubergine

Americana Decor Light Satin Varnish

Americana Decor Mandala Stencil

Stencil brush and paint brush

Masking tape

Optional: Cosmetic sponges

HERE'S HOW:
 1. & 2. Sand and wipe down your bench to remove any splinters.  This also helps remove some of the dirt!

3. & 4.  Paint the entire bench in Americana Decor Satin Enamel in the color of your choice

5. & 6.  Stencil your design in the center and on the edges (or arms) of your bench with Americana Decor Metallics Antique Brass

7.  For smaller accent designs, tape around the center of the stencil
*Cosmetic sponges are terrific for painting stencils.  Get a bag at the 99c store

8. When dry, sand the hard edges of the bench

*This is a lovely way to outline the shape of the bench

9.  Since my bench is outside all year, I protected it with Americana Decor Light Satin Varnish

Have a seat!

No-Sew Upholstered Chair

Yup, you heard me!  Miriam Webster defines Upholster as "to put a covering of cloth, leather, etc., on (a piece of furniture, such as a couch or chair).  Well friends, that's exactly what I did with this boxy dining room chair that almost everyone I know has a version of.  OK, maybe Americana Fabric Decoupage didn't exist when they wrote the definition, but I'm going to compose a persuasive letter to old Miriam and see if we can add a little side note!  This process works on vinyl, leather and smooth fabric covered chairs.  Just make sure you use a generous amount of the decoupage so it becomes "part" of the existing fabric.  Choose cotton with big, bold patterns that you can cut out and arrange to fit the shape of your furniture.  Remember, have fun and make messes!

Alone in the forest

Make a whole set!

Watch how easy it is to do here!

Stuff You'll Need

Cotton fabric with big patterns

Americana Decoupage for Fabric

Americana Satin Enamels in a color that matches the fabric

Masking tape

Paintbrush

Dining chairs

1. Tape around the legs to protect the chair

2. & 3. Pick a matching Americana Decor Satin Enamel and paint the legs

4. Cut out the patterns on your fabric

*I chose a large floral because it was easy to overlap and I could use the leaves to fill small spaces

5. Figure out your design

6. & 7. Using a generous amount of Americana Decor Fabric Decoupage, apply the pattern to the chair

8. Clip corners on the fabric pieces to make it easier to decoupage around corners and curves

9. Finish with a thick coat of Americana Decoupage for Fabric

*Sometimes exposed vinyl can remain tacky so either cover all of the vinyl with fabric OR coat the chair with Americana Decoupage in Matte and let dry

Grab a plate and come sit down!

Resin Butterfly Tray DIY

I have trays for EVERY occasion because, well,  they just make everything look so much better!  I have them on my walls for decoration, by my door for my keys and mail, above the fridge for when I entertain and in my studio holding pots filled with brushes and pencils.  My (hands down) favorite tray is the one I use when I eat in bed like a big lazy-puss.  That's what my mom used to call me when I didn't want to help clean the house.  I made this tray from top to bottom and you can, too with a few simple cuts of wood from the hardware store.  Use any image you want in place of the butterflies!  Stop at the decoupage stage OR add resin for a beautiful glass-like bottom.  It's all up to you.  Just remember to have fun, get messy and Make Your Mark!

With a thick layer of Americana Decoupage in Gloss

Ready for afternoon tea

Filled with resin for a beautiful glass-like base

Watch how to make them here!

Stuff You'll Need

Wood for base (size is up to you)

1 1/2" wood trim for the edges (have them cut to size)

1" x 1" wood trim for handles (two pieces about 4" long)

Americana Decoupage in Gloss

Americana Decor Metallics in Antique Brass

Americana Satin Enamel in True Teal

E-6000 Glaze Coat Resin

Optional: Brass corners

Spray bottle with water

Butterfly images

Hammer and small nails

Sander

Paintbrush

 Here's How

1. Nail your tray together using 1" long nails

2. Sand the edges so they're even and smooth

3.  Paint the base with Americana Decor Metallics in Antique Brass

4. Paint the edges and bottom with Americana Decor Satin Enamels in True Teal

5. Cut out your butterfly images

6. & 7. Decoupage the butterflies to the base of the tray and let dry

*Mist each butterfly with a spray bottle to relax the paper to prevent bubbles

*Finish with a generous coat of decoupage over all of the images and on the inside edges of the tray

8. Add brass corners (this step is optional but I think it makes the tray look expensive and chic!)

9. & 10. Nail in the 1" x 1" wood pieces on the sides for handles and then paint in the True Teal

11.  Mix the Glaze Coat resin and pour evenly in the base of the tray

*Spread with a sponge brush to help even it out

12.  Pop the bubbles with a small torch OR long arm lighter and let cure overnight

Ready for my keys and the mail!

Perfect for trinkets or an afternoon snack