Splatter Art Dishes DIY

When I'm poking through the dish section at the thrift store I always wonder who buys the mismatched coffee mugs with weird company logos on them?  The answer, my friends, is me.  I grabbed several for a song and went wild with Americana Gloss Enamels to create my own Jackson Pollock tea set.  Not only do I love this set, I figured out a way to make it dishwasher safe!  Make sure to follow the instructions for curing and baking so that they last a lifetime.  Have a blast, use every color in the box and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

 A tea set for the artist in you!

Look at that mug!

Watch how to make them here!

STUFF I USED

Americana Gloss Enamels in several colors and Metallic Gold

Thrift store tea pot and mismatched mugs

Americana Dishwasher Safe Decoupage

Gold Glitter

Masking tape

 HERE'S HOW

1.  Tape around the mouth of the mug

*1/2" should be enough

2. - 4. Paint big swashes of color all over each mug (skipping the handles) and 

don't worry about being perfect

5.  Tape over the handles 

6. & 7.  With the mugs face down, start splattering all of your favorite colors on all sides of each piece

8.  Remove the tape and paint the handles with metallic gold Gloss Enamels

9.  Follow the instructions for curing and baking

10.  Coat the handles (and teapot lid with Americana Dishwasher Safe Decoupage

11.  Sprinkle gold glitter on the wet decoupage and let dry

12.  Coat the glitter with a generous amount of dishwasher safe decoupage and let dry

Chamomile or peppermint?

Enjoy!

Pet Portrait Dishes DIY

So you have tons of photos of your fur babies and don't know what to do with them?  Why not turn them into artsy, food safe dishes for your next dinner party!  I asked my FB friends to send images of their pets for this project and got over 1,500 to choose from.  Honestly, they were all so cute I just ended up randomly picking 4 for this project.  I seriously could not decide!  So hear you go....Fur Baby Dishes to brighten up your home.  Remember to turn every day objects (like plates) into art, use your fur baby photos for DIY projects and always Make Your Mark!

King Louis on the bottom, Wilma on the right

Fred on the right!

 Just a few of the gorgeous fur babies sent in!

Watch how to make them here!

STUFF I USED

Americana Gloss Enamels

Pet photos

Americana Gloss Decoupage

Rubbing Alcohol 

Spray bottle

Glass plates

 HERE'S HOW

1.  Turn your image into a work of art at Turbo.Deepart
2.  Print them out and cut around the edges
3. Slit around the sides so that it lays flat when you decoupage it to the back of the plate
4.  Mist the back of the image with water and spread Americana Decoupage on the face of the image
5.  Carefully decoupage the image to the back side of the plate so that you can see the image from the front of the plate
6. Paint the edges using Americana Gloss Enamels with some artsy strokes and let dry
7.  Fill in the rest of the plate with another color of Gloss Enamels
8.  Follow the instructions for curing and baking
9.  Start decorating for your next dinner party!

Sugar Skull Plates DIY

Every year since I wrote The Big Ass Book of Crafts in 2007 (published in 2008) I have made a sugar skull plate.  Some were decoupaged, some were painted and several were both.  Oddly, it's never really around Day of the Dead.  I make them when it strikes my fancy.  This year is no exception since Mother's Day was just last week.  These look much more difficult to make than they actually are.  If you can trace and hold a paintbrush, you're good as gold!  The best part is that you can actually eat off of them because the design is on the underside.  Remember to make art, decorate dishes and always Make Your Mark!

All plates look better on a charger!

 Nothing says eat this like a skull on a plate!

Watch how to make them here!

STUFF I USED

99c Store Glass Plates

Rubbing Alcohol

Americana Gloss Enamels in Black

DecoArt Glass Paint Markers

Krylon Gold Paint Pen

Floral Wreath and Sugar Skull Printouts

HERE'S HOW

1.  Cut out the image and tape it face down on the front of the plate so that you can see it through the glass on the bottom of the plate

2.  Clean the back of the plate with rubbing alcohol

3.  Trace over the sugar skull with a white DecoArt Glass Paint Marker

4.  Cut out the floral wreath pattern and tape it to the front of the plate so that you can see it on the back of the plate

5.  Trace the pattern around the skull with the white Glass Paint Marker

6.  Follow the instructions for curing and baking

*You must back the white Glass Paint Marker Design on the plate before the next steps or it will rub off of the plate when you apply the last coat of paint

7.  OPTIONAL:  Paint the rim of the plate with a metallic gold paint marker

8.  Paint the back of the plate with 2 coats of Americana Gloss Enamels and let dry

9.  Follow the instructions for curing and baking

 Now set that skull chic table!

Summer Watermelon Bowls DIY

I have been googling watermelon bowls all summer and finally decided to try my hand at painting my own.  It took some experimenting, but I figured out a great way to keep the colors looking their truest.  The best part?  These are food and dishwasher safe!  Just take your time and let the paint dry in between coats and you'll be just fine!  I may not even use them for food because I really like how they look empty.  What do you think?  Remember, have fun, paint everything and don't forget to 

Make Your Mark!

 Almost too pretty to use

I like them hanging around just like this!

Watch the quick video tutorial here!

STUFF YOU'LL NEED

Americana Gloss Enamels in Foliage Green, Black, True Red, Dark Green and White

Paint brushes (I like the fine hair brushes when painting on glass)

Rubbing alcohol

Glass bowls in different sizes

Oven

HERE'S HOW

1.  Clean the outside of the bowl with rubbing alcohol

2. Paint a line of dark green around the edge of the bowl about 1/4" wide

*Dab the edges so it's a fuzzy line, not a clean, sharp line

3.  Paint seeds with black

4. & 5.  Paint a 3/4" wide fuzzy white line above the green fuzzy line overlapping them slightly

6. Mix the True Red and White to create a dark pink and paint 2 coats over the seeds 

up to the white line

7.  Next paint over the entire bowl with white and let dry

8. & 9.  Paint part of the bowl with the Foliage Green

10.  While still wet, paint the rind stripes with the Dark Green

*Thin at the center of the bowl and getting wider as you reach the rim

11.  Touch up until it looks like a watermelon rind

12.  Follow the instructions for curing and baking on the Gloss Enamels packaging

Yum!

Faux Stained Glass Feathers

A few weeks ago I saw some amazing stained glass feathers and instantly wanted to learn how to make stained glass.....Cut to me realizing that this new hobby might be a little more involved than I anticipated.  I decided instead to use some of my favorite paints from DecoArt (Americana Crystal Gloss Enamels) to create faux stained glass feathers.  You know what?  I love them just as much and they were soooooo much easier to make.  Plus, I made a ton of them and just put them everywhere.  You will, too.  Remember, make messes, have fun and always Make Your Mark!

 Hang them from a cheap-o embroidery hoop like I did!

Hang them from a curtain rod for a beautiful boho look!

See how easy they are to make here!

STUFF YOU'LL NEED

Americana Crystal, 3D and Frost Gloss Enamels

*These can be baked on glass for a permanent (dishwasher safe) stained glass look

Embroidery hoop

Yarn

Clear plastic sheets

*You could use old plastic folders or even clear plastic take-out lids

HERE'S HOW

1. & 2. Design your feathers on white paper and place the clear plastic over the top

3. & 4. Trace the design with the Americana 3D Opaque Gloss Enamel and let dry

5. - 8.  Fill in the designs with different colors of the Crystal and Frost Gloss Enamels and let dry

9.  Cut out each feather

10.  Tie four pieces of yarn around the embroidery hoop so that you can hang it

11. & 12.  Tie yarn to the end of each feather and then hand from the embroidery hoop

Boho Beautiful!

Love they way they look in my window

Floating in the wind

Vintage Marimekko Dishes DIY

I've been inspired by the Target commercials for the new line of modern Marimekko products they launch on April 17th!  Though I have to say, I'm more a fan of the colorful, vintage Marimekko patterns.....So, instead of hunting down a full set, one piece at a time, at thrift stores and on EBay, I decided to paint my own set on some mismatched dollar store dishes.  Americana Gloss Enamels is the perfect paint for this because after curing and baking, they are dishwasher safe!  Still, because I spent so much time on them, I always wash them by hand.  It's my thing and I'm a bit freaky about the stuff I make. Google "vintage Marimekko" for some amazing inspiration!

Oh, remember to have fun, make messes and Make Your Mark, OK! 

These are mine....

These are the originals

My new breakfast set!

See how I made them here!

Stuff You'll Need

Dollar Store Dishes

Americana Gloss Enamels

DecoArt Glass Marker

Pencil

Fine hair paintbrush

Rubbing Alcohol

Here's how:

1. Clean your dishes with rubbing alcohol

2. & 3. Use a pencil to draw your design

*The originals are above to use as reference

4.  Fill in the petals with yellow

5.  Fill in the center with black

6. Draw around the 2nd circle with the glass marker

7. & 8. Draw dots around the 2nd circle and around the base of the petals

9. Draw lines connecting the row of dots at the base of the petals and the 2nd row of dots

10.  Draw lines around the petals

11.  On the mug, draw leaves with veins on the sides of the flowers

12.  Follow the instructions for curing and baking on the Gloss Enamels packaging

Where is that toast?!

8O's Memphis Plates DIY

I LOVE 80s Memphis style....LOVE IT!  The colors, the mixed patterns, the COW PRINT mixed with yellow and stripes and dots and squiggles.  I guess you could say this is what the inside of my head looks like.  I'm glad to see this wonderful design movement is making a comeback.  What better way to add a little Memphis to your life than with some funky, painted (dishwasher safe) dishes?!  I had a terrific time painting these.  I could have painted them for weeks, BUT I have tons more fun projects in store for you that I have to get crackin' on!

  xoxo, Mark

A few of my new plates

You can get the perfect porcelain coffee mugs at the 99c store, too!

Watch the video tutorial here!

STUFF YOU'LL NEED

White porcelain plates *99c store

Painter's tape

Craft knife

Paintbrushes

Americana Gloss Enamels

Alcohol

Makeup sponges (triangles)

Black Krylon Short Cuts paint pen

DecoArt Glass Paint Marker in black

Contact paper

Minwax Polycrylic

Clean your plates with rubbing alcohol

Create your designs with contact paper and painter's tape

*I cut circles and taped triangles

Fill in the shapes with Americana Gloss Enamel using a makeup sponge

*Blow on the bubbles to pop them

Remove the tape when dry

*Create stripes with thin pieces of painter's tape

Make dots on folded contact paper using a hole punch

Try different designs using the DecoArt Glass Paint Markers

Bake in the oven twice at 325˚ for 30 minutes each time

*Let the oven cool in between baking times

To make them food save, coat them with Minwax Polycrylic

The best way to get REAL color on glass and porcelain!

Even works on dishes from the 99c store

The perfect morning coffee combo!

I call the one on the right Veins & Rice...Yup, weird, I know.