ABSTRACT ART DIY

Everyone can use a little color in their world, so why not make some simple abstract DRAG art and freshen up your decor! Pick your favorite colors and you'll have something for you wall worthy of MOMA! Grab the kids and have them help. Seriously, you can't go wrong with this technique!

 Is it upside down?

Try hanging several together....

I may leave these out in my garden!

Check out the video tutorial here!

YOU'LL NEED

Americana Decor Multi-Surface Satin Paints

DecoArt Dazzling Metallics

Canvas

Small paint roller

Paintbrushes

Cardboard 

Roll several colors of paint to cover the entire canvas and let dry

Squeeze your favorite colors along one entire edge of the canvas
*Be generous with the paint 

Take the flat edge of a piece of cardboard and drag the paint straight across the canvas

Take a new piece of cardboard and continue along the edge until the canvas is completely covered

Add more colors to cover up any "holes" you may have

For a different technique, try using a wavy motion when dragging the paint across the canvas

Back to School Belt and Shoes Makeover

Why not save a little cash and makeover a few accessories for back to school.  I used Multi-Surface paint and spruced up some basic belts and an old pair of shoes in no time.  I coated everything with a DuraClear Varnish to make it last.  My favorite are my new green wingtip shoes!

 Danielle and I rocking our new belts! 

My new striped belt and fancy green shoes!  

Watch the video tutorial here! 

YOU'LL NEED

Americana Multi-Surface Paints (in your favorite colors)

Americana DuraClear Gloss Varnish

DecoArt One Step Crackle 

Belts and shoes in need of a makeover

Painter's Tape

Craft knife

Paintbrushes

 With a ruler, draw a diamond pattern on your belt lightly with a pencil

Fill in the sides with cream or white

Fill in each diamond with your favorite colors

Coat with DuraClear Gloss Varnish and let dry

Slim down some painter's tape with a craft knife and ruler 

Place it on the center of a belt making sure it's completely adhered to the belt

Paint both sides of the belt with your favorite colors of multi-surface paint

Let dry, remove the tape, coat with varnish

 Clean and dust your shoes

Coat the entire shoe with your favorite multi-surface paint

Add black to the color you chose to make a darker shade

Accent the shoes with the darker color and blend with a cloth

Coat with varnish, lace up and you're done.

 Pick your favorite colors and color block a belt from tip to buckle

Add a line of extra color at the end of each block and drag

with a dry brush into the next color

Paint your details 

Coat with varnish and let dry

Coat an old belt with One Step Crackle and let dry

Coat the belt with your favorite color of multi-surface paint

Coat the belt with Varnish and let dry

9 Easy Place Card DIYs

Want to make your friends feel extra special at your next dinner party?  Why not let them take home their little place card holder as a gift?  These 9 ideas are cheap, cheerful and easy to put together. Hit the dollar store for pieces you can buy in bulk!

My favorite of the lot!

Watch how I put them all together here! 

 Punch card stock circles

Edge with glitter

Punch a small hole for your office rings

Add to the bottom of each wine glass

 With a craft knife, carefully add a slit to the back of small toy animals

Punch out large card stock circles

Insert in the slit

Grab sparkly pieces of jewelry at the dollar store

Add them to name tags with ribbon

 Hot glue feather butterflies and card stock leaves to twigs

Glue plastic men on lids with E-6000 glue

Create flags with card stock and toothpicks

Hot glue them in each hand

 Backyard twigs and card stock leaves make an inexpensive and beautiful place holder

 Using Multi-Surface paint and chalkboard coating, you can write

the name of each guest on their own personal votive holder

Erase and rewrite for the next party

Punch medium and large card stock circles and glue together

Punch a hole for colorful curling ribbon

Wrap around several crayons

Cover your table in white butcher paper or fill it with white paper placemats

Bend small metal forks with pliers

Insert a card stock circle in each 

Emoji Patches DIY

I wasn't sure this patch trend would last, but guess what!  They're back again for fall and they're super fun. You don't have to spend a fortune on patches, you can make your own.  I used Emoji images for some of mine and glue them to painted fabric shapes.  Embellish everything from a pair of boyfriend jeans to your old ratty backpack!  

Just a few images I've been seeing in the magazines

Danielle wearing her patched up boyfriend jeans

Backpack ready!

Watch the video tutorial! 

YOU'LL NEED

Americana Multi-Surface Paints

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse and StitchLess Glues

Ink Jet Fabric Transfer Sheets

Printed Fabrics

Plain heavy white cotton fabric

Backpack

Jeans

Paintbrushes

 Print out the Emoji images from the photos below 

*You can drag them to your computer and print the ones you like

Iron them on white cotton fabric using the directions on the packaging

Cut them out

Create a shield, speech and thought bubble pattern in paper and cut them out

Place them on white fabric and paint around them with Multi-Surface Paint

When dry, cut them out and write on them with a permanent marker 

 Use your shield shape on different fabrics

Cut out the images on different printed fabrics (I used owls and Hello Kitty)

Spread E-6000 Stitchless with a paintbrush on the back of the fabric cut outs

Figure out your patch placement on your jeans and backpack

Iron and glue the fabric patches on your items 

Done!

 This is a large image of all of the current Emoji.  Drag it to your desktop and print out what you like.

Some of my favorites to print out