Let's Make a Rug!

Like many of you, I have color schemes I like to follow in each room in my house.  The bathroom is olive green mixed with dark teal and I love it.  For the life of me I couldn't find a rug to match that was big enough for the space.  I came close a few times, but alas, no luck!  It was time to take matters into my own hands.  I found the heaviest fabric I could and rocked a mandala stencil and some multi-surface paints to get the look I wanted.  It took some time, but it was much less frustrating than the endless rug searching.  Remember, if you can't find it, make it and always Make Your Mark!

Trying it out in my foyer

Watch how I made it here!

 STUFF I USED

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

Heavy poly-cotton fabric

Cotton fringe

Foam grip drawer liner

Black paint marker

Americana Multi Surface Satin Paints

Americana Decor 18" x 18" Mandala Stencil

I find that cleaning your stencils in between uses with 99c store Totally Awesome works perfectly 

and keeps them in perfect condition!

HERE'S HOW

*Cut your rug fabric 1" larger all the way around before you start

1. & 2.  Press the edges of the fabric in 1" all the way around and glue them in place with E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

3.  Add masking tape around the edges about 1/2" in and then add more tape 1" from that to create a 1" border around the rug

4.  Using your stencil brush, fill in the 1" border around the edge of the rug

5.  Center the Mandala stencil on the rug and tape down

6.  Figure out your colors and start painting

7.  When you've painted the stencil (clean it) and then edge the shapes with a paint marker

*This takes some time but makes the rug look like a hand blocked rug from India

8. & 9.  Instead of a paint marker you can also use a writer tip with black Multi-Surface Satin paint to get the detail

10. If you want more pattern like I have, use the stencil around the edges making sure to tape over the areas that are already painted

11.  Glue the fringe on the underside of each edge with more Fabri-Fuse

12. Glue the foam grip drawer liner to the underside of the run over the raw edges to add some cushion and to make the rug non-slip

Easy Carved Wood Printing Blocks

I'm a big fan of the traditional wood printing blocks from India.  Not only are they wonderful pieces of decor, they're really fun to use, too.  Because I can't throw anything away I decided to experiment with my wood scraps and see if I could carve some of my own wood printing blocks using my adult coloring books as pattern inspiration.  The first couple were a mess until I realized that my handy Dremel would be the perfect tool for this project!  As soon as I heard that little engine buzzing I couldn't stop making them.  I have a feeling you might get hooked, too.  Remember, have fun, use your scraps and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

A few of my favorites

 I can't wait to make more

Watch the video here

STUFF YOU'LL NEED

Americana Multi-Surface Satin Paints

Jigsaw and Dremel

Wood blocks

Foam sheets

Adult coloring book pages for inspiration

 1.  Using adult coloring book pages for inspiration, draw your design on scrap wood

2. Carefully cut out the shape with a jigsaw

*You can skip this step and only work on squares if you want.....It's up to you

3. Carve out your design with the Dremel

*Add lots of detail with dots and lines to make your blocks more interesting

4.  Sand the sides and face of the block

5. & 6.  Gather your paints and foam sheets

7. Place the foam sheet under the fabric, sponge paint on the surface of the printing block

*The foam sheets allow for the wood block to stamp evenly on the fabric surface

8.  Carefully add even pressure to the printing block on the fabric

9.  Use the extra small scraps for smaller printing blocks

 Americana Multi-Surface Satin paints work well on fabrics once they are cured

See you next week!

Fully Lined Foxy Makeup Bag

Why not make yourself (and your friends) a fully lined fox purse for summer and show everyone just how "foxy" you are!  With just a little fabric and these easy directions, you'll have the perfect bag for your change, makeup or pencils! 

Have fun! xoxo 

Mark

 I just realized these are the Howard Johnson's colors

 Add a colorful tassel to the end of the zipper!
See how to make these tassels here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xlx2RmGMLbk

Back to back!

Watch the video tutorial here!

YOU'LL NEED

Iron

E-6000 Stitchless Iron On Glue

1/4 yard cotton canvas

1/4 yard cotton fabric

Black American Multi-Surface Satin Paint

Scissors

Sewing Machine

10" zipper

Print this template on standard copy paper (8 1/2" x 11")

 Pin and cut the lining and bag fabric with the print out

Carefully cut out the fox making sure you use plenty of pins

Edge the fox with E-6000 Stitchless

Center and press the fox on the canvas fabric

Paint on the details with the Americana Multi-Surface Satin Paint

Add a scalloped edge for more detail

 Stitch the zipper face down across the top of the canvas

Fold the bag over and stitch the zipper to the other side

Stitch the lining fabric to the opposite sides of the zipper

*This will trap the zipper and leave clean edges on the inside

Stitch along one side using 1/2" seam allowance

Stitch along the other side using 1/2" seam allowance leaving a 3" opening in the lining

Optional: Fold the canvas to stitch boxed corners

 Trim the zipper on both sides

Pull the bag right side out through the 3" opening in the lining

Stitch the lining closed and stuff it inside of the bag

I added a small hat and bow using contact paper as a stencil and

more Americana Multi-Surface Satin

HUGE Rubber Stamps, Mixed Media Envelopes and an Artist Trading Envelope Swap!

Big Big week!  I'm hosting an ATE SWAP and if you want to get involved, e-mail me at MarkMontanoNYC@aol.com This week we're making HUGE rubber stamps with kids sticky foam and we're making mixed media envelopes with them. They're like mini canvases and they're super fun to trade with other artists. I really hope you join us.

A few of my favorites!

Preparing for the trade

Some of my HUGE rubber stamps!

Watch the video tutorial here

YOU'LL NEED

Standard size envelopes

Iron

Stencils

Embossing folders (mine are from Spellbinders)

Crayons 

Paintbrushes

Americana Multi-Surface Satin Paints

Kids sticky foam letters

Sheets of sticky foam

Old credit card or hotel key

3 1/2" x 6 1/2" wood blocks (or bigger)

 For the first stamp just press on tons of sticky foam letters to a wood block

For the next stamp cut two pieces of foam the size of the block

Stick them both to the block, one on top of the other

Using the protective paper, iron the foam until the edges curl

Quickly press the foam on top of the embossing folder

Use as much weight and pressure as possible!

Sometimes I even stand on mine for a minute

 To make the envelopes:

Slip an embossing folder into an envelope and create a rubbing

*Like you did when you were a kid

Scoop some paint onto an old credit card and scrape it across the envelope-

front and back

Stencil over everything with another color and let dry

Coat your large rubber stamp with another color of paint

Press on to the envelope

*I like to wipe my large stamps with a damp rag after use to keep them in great shape

 If you want you can

1.  Zigzag around the envelope with a contrasting thread

2.  Stitch fuzzy yarn around the edge of the envelope

3.  Put a fine tip on a bottle of paint and add dimension

4. Use glue and glitter to add some sparkle

Finally, add copied images and another wash of color!

Artist Trading Cards DIY and SWAP!

I can't stop making ATCs..... Artist Trading Cards.  For me, making them is like taking a creative cigarette break without the smell and yellow teeth.  No offense to the smokers out there!

This month I'm hosting an ATC SWAP and contest to win DecoArt's Mixed Media Starter Kit.  I'm also showing you how to make your own rubber stamps using a heat gun and kid's sticky back foam.  If you would like to participate in my swap, simply write to me for the information at: 

MarkMontanoNYC@aol.com.

I'll send you everything you need to know.

 Just a few of the hundreds I've made over the last few months

A few of my new rubber stamps

Watch the video here!

YOU'LL NEED:

Wood blocks

Sticky back craft foam

Cardboard

Americana Multi-Surface Satin Paints

Stamp pad

White glue

Hot glue gun

Items with texture (I used a beaded appliqué)

Heat gun

Clip art

Paintbrushes

 Cut and stick 3 layers of sticky back foam to a wood block

Draw a design on cardboard

Trace over the design with hot glue

Heat your sticky foam wood block until the edges begin to curl

Firmly press the heated foam block onto the raised hot glue design to make your stamp

Spread a thick layer of paint on a flat surface

"Ink" your stamp with the paint and press onto a card

You can also use an ink pad with the stamps

Cut out clip art images and glue them to your stamped cards 

Paint around the edges with metallic paint and by rubbing the edges over the ink pad

Fill in the clip art images with more color

Add more stamping

Decoupage small pieces of paper, book pages and quotes 

Be creative and experiment!

A few of the cards I'll be sending out for the swap!

Make sure to write to me for more information at 

MarkMontanoNYC@aol.com

Eyeglass Case Animal Clutch

So last year I bought several plastic eyeglass cases because I knew that eventually I would find something fun to do with them.  Cut to an entire year of looking at them and wondering what was I thinking?  Finally I figured out a worthy project!  My nieces are going to flip for these little zoo animal clutches.  

Everything is more fun with googly eyes!

A baby hippo and a tiger cub!

Watch the video tutorial here!

YOU'LL NEED

Hard plastic eyeglass case

Drill

Americana Multi-Surface Satin Paint

Pony beads

Googly Eyes

E-6000 Glue

Cord

Paintbrushes

Trace the eyeglass case and figure out your animal design

Paint it on the case and let it dry

Drill a small hole in the top of the case

String about 12" of beads on a 20" piece of cord 

Thread the cord through the hole and knot on the inside

Glue on the googly eyes with E-6000 and let dry!

I ain't lion!