Rustic Fall Banner DIY

I made this banner to hang across a fireplace mantle....and then I realized I don't have a fireplace.  Oh well.  I'll string it over my living room mirror for now and maybe later I'll put it on the front door.  Until which time I have a mantle, I'll make due!  I chose to write the words GIVE THANKS because I'm grateful for the life I have.  I get to share with all of you my creative journey.  I journey that I am forever grateful for.  Remember to give thanks and to always Make Your Mark!

 Give thanks!

Watch how I made mine here!

STUFF I USED

Walnut Hollow Creative Woodburner

Americana Multi Surface Satin in White and Orange

Walnut Hollow Birch Ornaments

Satin Ribbon and Twine

Hand Lettered Alphabet Reference

HERE'S HOW

1.  Draw each of the letters in pencil on a birch ornament

2.  Paint leaves around the edge of each ornament

3.  Connect the leaves with a small thin vine

4. & 5. Carefully burn around the edge with the drawing tip from the 

Creative Woodburner tool and then fill in each letter

6.  Using the end of a paintbrush, dab on orange berries amongst the outer vine

7.  Tie each ornament to a long piece of twine using satin ribbon

8.  Hang and enjoy!

There is always a reason to give thanks!

Boho Lampshade Makeovers

I live in Los Angeles and even though we don't get snow, we still get cloudy, gloomy days that make me long for sunshine.  I think that's why I love color so much.  It just makes me happy!  On a recent trip to the thrift store, I found these 4 lamps (with shades) for $20.  This "thrift-score" turned out to be the PERFECT project to brighten up my rooms with color and some extra light.  After scrounging around for fabrics to recover the shades, I soon realized I would have to paint them myself to get the colors I wanted.  I whipped out my Gel Press and got the most beautiful combinations going.  There is always a way to create just what you need!  Happy Tuesday and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

 The boho sisters!

Family portrait

On the back patio waiting for their new homes

Watch how I made them here!

STUFF I USED

12" X 14" Gel Press

Americana Multi-Surface Satin Paints

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

DecoArt Gold Extreme Sheen

Glue Gun

Lampshades

White Cotton Fabric

Medallion Stencil

Trim

HERE'S HOW

1.  Squeeze out 3 colors of Americana Multi Surface Satin paint on your Gel Press

2.  Roll and blend the edges

3.  Press the fabric on top and gently pull from the Gel Press

4. & 5. Try stripes and different color combinations

6.  Spread a contrasting paint on the Gel Press and add Gold Extreme Sheen for extra luster

7. Place your stencil on the Gel Press and some paper over any exposed part of the Gel Press that might have paint on it

*We want the stencil transfer to be perfectly clean

8.  Press your fabric on top of the stencil making sure to get every detail

*Don't use a brayer as it might shift the fabric

9.  Carefully pull the fabric to reveal your perfect stencil

10. & 11.  Trace a section of your lampshade on cotton fabric to create your pattern

*Pin it on the fabric and go over the edges with a crayon

12.  Use this to cut out your lampshade panels

13.  Remove all of the bulky trim for the lampshades leaving only the fabric

14.  Carefully glue the panels on top of the existing fabric on each shade

15.  Hot glue trim to cover the raw edges

16. Use beaded and tassel trim on the top and bottom once you've covered the sides

Let there be light!

Mark and Julie's Shoe Makeover Challenge!

Julie and I challenged each other to a shoe makeover and this is what happened!  I gave her boots a couture mixed media makeover and she rocked my Vans with some of my favorite images.  Have to say, she did an amazing job AND I like them so much I don't even want to wear them.

Remember, recycle, make messes and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

Julie rocking her new couture boots

 Love these!

See how I gave Julie's boots a makeover!

Watch how Julie rocked my Vans!  

STUFF YOU'LL NEED

E-6000

Heavy cotton fabric (like denim)

Lace

Americana Multi-Surface Satin paint

Andy Skinner Stencils (or stencils you like)

DecoArt Metallic Lustres

Metallic spray paint 

Sandpaper

Trash To Treasure Marquee Letters!

I admit it, I'm a dumpster diver....If I see something amazing sticking out of a dumpster, I will dive in there and fish it out!   Recently on my morning run I saw a ton of discarded styrofoam sticking out of a dumpster on my path and for the next hour I thought about what I could make with it.  Just as I passed it again on my way home, it came to me.....MARQUEE LETTERS!  I grabbed it and hauled it home!  My favorite part of this project was teaming up with GraphicStock.com and using their amazing library of patterns to print out and cover my letters!  This month GraphicStock.com is having a Creative Rewards Month and is offering 6 months of unlimited downloads for $39!  That's almost 90% of the regular price, which is $49 per month.  They seriously have thousands of royalty free patterns and photos for you to choose from.  Use them for your website, your designs, they even have amazing adult coloring book patterns.  Just click HERE for this very special deal! 

From trash to treasure!

Gifts for all of my friends (and one for my desk)

Slapped on a fence because, why not?

See how easy they are to make here!

Stuff You'll Need

Printed patterns from GraphicStock.com

*Purple and Pink Stripe

*Red and White Polka Dots

Styrofoam

Styrofoam Cutter

Large print out of a letter

Americana Decoupage

Americana Multi-Surface Satin in Metallic Gold

Gold Glitter

Small spray bottle

Metallic gold paint marker

Here's How

1.  Print and cut a large letter

2. Trace it on the smooth side of the styrofoam

3. Using your styrofoam cutter, carefully (and slowly) cut out the letter

4. Print your patterns from GraphicStock.com

5. Trace the face of the styrofoam letter face down on the back of the printed pattern and then cut out

6. & 7.  Paint the edges of the styrofoam letter with the metallic gold paint

8. & 9. Coat the edges of the letter (over the paint) with Americana Decoupage

 and then cover with glitter

10.  Mist both sides of the paper letter with a spray bottle to relax the paper and then decoupage to the face of the styrofoam letter

11.  Place something flat on top for a few minutes while it dries

12.  Edge the letters with a metallic gold paint marker

*Keep your glitter from getting everywhere by adding another layer of Americana Decoupage 

over the glitter

Julie, Mark and Brandon!

Colorful Wood Block Candle Holders

You must know by now that I'm a hoarder....I have an excuse to save almost everything!  My jar and wine bottle collection alone is reason enough to have me committed.  Since I'm constantly renovating my home and yard,  my pile of scrap wood makes me look like the crazy man in the neighborhood.  These candle holders were the perfect way to get rid of my stash.  I even made a few to give away as gifts this summer.  Paint yours in tons of different colors to match your decor.  They're terrific for a dinner table or to brighten up a fireplace mantle.  Just remember, make messes, have fun and don't

forget to Make Your Mark!  xoxo

Love 'em!

See how easy they are to make here!

Stuff You'll Need

4" x 4" wood pieces

2" x 4" wood pieces

Americana Multi Surface Satin Paints

Americana Decoupage in Matte

Sanding block

Drill with 1 1/2" - 1 3/4" spade bit

Paintbrush

Have a lumber yard cut 4" x 4" posts & 2" x 4"s to different lengths

1. & 2.  Mark the center of the 4" x 4" posts and evenly along the 2" x 4" pieces

3. & 4.  Using your feet as a stabilizer, carefully drill with the 1 3/4" spade bit about 3/4" deep

5.  Pick your favorite Americana Multi-Surface Satin Paints

6. & 7.  Paint each side of each candle holder a different color

8.  When dry, sand the edges where they meet to give them a professional look

9.  Use Americana Decoupage in matte to give them a nice, sealed finish

I'm ready to entertain!

Wonderland Blazer Makeover

Why not add a little Alice In Wonderland meets harajuku girl to your Valentine's Day wardrobe?  I took an inexpensive black thrift store blazer and added a few embellishments to give it a whimsical flair, perfect for your fun night out!  You could do even do this in all black if the stripes are too much for you.  The techniques would work for all kinds of blazer makeover projects.  Remember, have fun, make messes and don't forget to Make Your Mark!  xoxo

Julie channeling Alice 

Right before Julie fell down the rabbit hole....

Tea anyone?

See how I put it together here

Stuff You'll Need

Black and white striped fabric

Sewing machine

Thrift store blazer

Americana Multi-Surface Satin Paints (Flamingo Pink and Cotton ball)

DecoArt Glamour Dust

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

2 yards pink ribbon

Sequin trim

Paintbrush

1. & 2. Trace a large heart on the center of the jacket back and paint it white

3.  When dry, edge with Fabri-Fuse and glue on sequin trim

4. Fill in with DecoArt Glamour Dust to add some sparkle

5. Draw two small hearts on the front hem and paint white and then pink

6. Paint with Glamour Dust and then glue sequin trim around the edges

7.  Cut two pieces of striped fabric that are 31" x 8"

8. & 9.   Stitch the 8" sides to create two tubes

10.  Hem one side of each tube by turning 1/4" twice

11.  Gather the raw edge of each tube by pushing the fabric under the presser foot

12.  Pin the gathered edge to the end of the cuff as shown and stitch around using 1/2" seam allowance

13.  Cut 4 pieces of 30" x 3" fabric strips  

14.  & 15.  Hem each side by turning the edges 1/4" twice

16.  Gather the hemmed strips under the presser foot while stitching down the center to create ruffles

17. & 18.  Glue around the collar with Fabri-Fuse and then pin in place while the ruffles dry

What! A talking rabbit?!

Decorative Halloween Skulls

It's officially skull season......Well, that's what I call it anyway.  I can't resist buying up all of the spooky plastic skulls this time of year because they're so much fun to decorate.  It's kind of like decorating Christmas ornaments but SOOOO much more fun.  After painting these black, I went nuts with Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint (puff paint) and then added gems.  Pretty sure I'm going to keep these around all year long.  Have fun and make messes!  

xoxo, Mark

See how I made them here!

Stuff You'll Need

Plastic Skulls

Americana Multi Surface Satin Paint in Black Tile

E-6000

Large flat back gems

Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint in Chrome & Silver Glitter

Small stick on gems

Paintbrush

 Paint the skulls black and let dry

Decorate with Allure in Silver Glitter

*I like leaves and swirls!

Fill in the leaves with Allure in Chrome

Add small stick on gems when the Allure is dry

With E-6000 Glue large gems in the eye cavities

My favorite paints!

Constallation Organizers DIY

Spaced out at your desk?  Need to get a bit more organized?  Why not recycle a standard shipping box from the post office and make these awesome CONSTELLATION ORGANIZERS!  

My favorite part of this project is the stars made from stick-on gems.  These are perfect to spruce up your office or organize your locker.  

My trio of constellation organizers

These would make Captain James Kirk jealous!

Watch the video tutorial here!

YOU'LL NEED

Print out of constellations 

Americana Multi Surface Satin Paint in Black Tie

Paintbrush

Priority shipping boxes from the post office (or recycled)

Glue

Stick-on gems

Krylon Short Cuts in Silver or Gold metallic

Ruler

Craft knife

Assemble the box 

Draw a line from corner to corner with a pencil

Intersect the line 3 1/2" up from the base of the box on each side

Draw a curve where the lines intersect on each side

Repeat on the other side

Connect the 3 1/2" lines on the sides of the box

 Cut along the lines with a craft knife

*This will give you two organizers

Cut an extra piece of cardboard 3 1/2" by the width of your box plus 3"

Score 1 1/2" in on each side and bend to create flaps

Glue the flaps to the inside of the mouth of the box to create an area for pencils

Print in gray scale to save ink

Paint the entire box with Americana Multi-Surface Satin Paint in Black Tie

When dry, lightly draw your constellations in pencil

Mark over the lines with a silver Krylon Short Cuts metallic paint marker

Connect the lines with stick-on rhinestones 

Make hundreds of dots with the metallic paint pen to create the night sky

You're done!