Back To School Art Jar!

My mom knew the value of a good bribe!  Getting extra art supplies and clothes for back to school made my unhealthy attachment to her a little easier to deal with when September rolled around.  Yup, I was a momma's boy and I still am!  BTW, my dad is pretty awesome, too.  This project is based on my Jolly Jars video from a few years ago and it seemed like the perfect time to give it a reboot!  

Be creative......xoxo, Mark

Why not make a perfect little back to school gift to inspire creativity in someone you love? 

Maybe an after school surprise for a good first week?  

How about a great excuse to spend some time with your kiddo?

Hit the dollar store for tons of awesome supplies (and the jar)

See how easy it is here!

 Make sure to pick out the most colorful things you can find!

 DCWV has a terrific block called the JET BLACK STACK that is perfect for this project!

It's all in the presentation!
Change out the labels and make your finds extra special

Of course you have to include some fun Americana Acrylics from DecoArt

and some scented glitter pens!

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

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

He Crafts She Crafts.....Back to school!

It's been years since I've had to buy school supplies for school, but EVERY year I buy them anyway!  My favorite purchase every early September is the basic composition notebook.  Everywhere I turn they are 99c or LESS and I buy them in bulk.  I use them for everything from writing to idea books. For this week's He Crafts She Crafts Stephenie (www.mycraftyadventures.com) and I gave the basic composition notebook a makeover.

Make sure to hop over to Stephenie's blog and say hello (and leave a comment on her beautiful notebooks) and we'll pick a winner from the comments to receive some goodies!  www.mycraftyadventures.com

SHE CRAFTS:  These are the FANTASTIC creations by Stephenie and hands down she NAILED this project!

Check out how she did it at www.mycraftyadventures.com!

SHE CRAFTS:  Here's a close-up of her Glitterific notebook!

HE CRAFTS:  Black on black lace with gold edged pages........So Chic!

1. Tape off the spine of the notebook with blue painter's tape or masking tape.

2.  Place a sheet of newspaper in between the covers and the paper.

3.  Spray front and back of the notebook with flat black Krylon spray paint.

4.  Open up the cover and spray the sides of the notebook pages with Krylon Metallic Gold spray paint and let dry.

Beautiful!

5.  Cut a piece of lace big enough to cover the front of the notebook.

6.  Lightly coat the lace with some Elmer's Spray Adhesive.

7. Cover the notebook cover with the lace.

8.  Spray the cover with Krylon Crystal Clear Coating.

I can't wait to write in this!

HE CRAFTS:  Use any fabric to change the cover of your notebook!  I chose this fantastic print of the Virgin Mary, but you could use anything print you like.

I made this one using Anime fabric.

1. Pick the fabric and pattern you want and make sure the design looks good on your notebook.

2. Trace the shape of the notebook on your fabric and cut it out.

3.  Paint Minwax Polycrylic Clear Coat over the fabric so that it soaks in.

4.  Let it dry for at least 1/2 hour.

 

5.  Make sure to add the clear coat to the spine!  

6.  Trim off any excess fabric to make it nice and neat.

HE CRAFTS:  I went NUTS on this one with a styrofoam plate and my Spellbinders Embossing machine.  I'm still a bit crafty drunk from it!

1.  Paint your notebook and let dry.

2.  Emboss a styrofoam plate in your Spellbinders embossing machine.

3.  Mount the embossed styrofoam on a piece of wood or some cardboard to create a stamp.

4. Stamp your cover with one color of paint and let dry.

5.  Stamp your cover with another color of paint and let dry.

Make sure to grab a copy of my books for more inspiration.

The best price for all my books!