Mini Mirror Pendants

I have a stash of mini craft mirrors and until this project, I didn't quite know what to make with them!  When DecoArt launched their new Glass Paints it finally hit me!  Lately, I'm all about a jewelry project and this one was really fun and surprisingly relaxing.  The Glass Paint Markers made it really easy, too!  If you don't want to wear one of these little gems as a pendant, hang one from your car mirror or make a suncatcher for the backyard!  Whatever you do with these painted mirrors, they really are fun to make!  Now get out there and Make Your Mark!

 Hangin' around

 Reflections of you!

 STUFF I USED

DecoArt Glass Paint: https://bit.ly/2xCVoul Craft Mirrors: https://amzn.to/3fw5Ynq E6000 Plus: https://amzn.to/30GJc4P Waxed Cord: https://amzn.to/3hDs2hS Perler Beads: https://amzn.to/3edxdmn

Watch how to make them here OR

Watch how to make them on my Youtube channel here: https://youtu.be/S0o2gV4f1_U

A fine brush works best 

Make magic, sweet friends! 

Happy Scrappy Hanging Lamps

I can't tell you how many lampshades I end up with in my storage. TONS!  Some are in great shape, others are ready to be reimagined for my next video.  For these shades I wanted to create something whimsical, happy, light and magical and I couldn't be happier with them.  A few fabric scraps, faux flowers and butterflies and voila!  Perfect for a kids room, to hang on a patio or to brighten up a pure white space.  Not every shade needs to have fabric all the way around it, some look just great with a low watt soft bulb or with nothing at all.  Make something bright, my sweet friends, and always

Make Your Mark!

Simple pearl trim makes a wonderful scalloped trim

A sweet little faux bird is the perfect touch!

Bows made of simple 1" wide grosgrain ribbon

Watch how to make them here OR
Watch the video on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/TeOYoMchEf0

Use a super soft clear bulb to make these shades sing!

Just use what you have and it will look amazing....Promise!

Nature Art Journal

There is inspiration EVERYWHERE if you just look for it.  Lately, like many of you, I've been spending a lot of time in my backyard.  I practically live out there!  Since I live in Los Angeles, I have things constantly blooming in my yard so I decided to use nature as my jumping point for this art journal.  Pressed leaves and flowers and vintage botanical prints always look wonderful in a journal so I gathered up a bunch of those to start.  I also wrote out some of my favorite nature quotes to get me going. Hey, whatever you have to do to stay creative and positive, right?  Create something today, my sweet friends, and always Make Your Mark!

Rubber stamps & embossed tissue paper are always fun in a journal!

Everything I used for this project:
Xyron Creative Station: https://bit.ly/2yuW31n Permanent Adhesive Cartridge: https://amzn.to/2KaMzuC Derwent Inktense Pencils: https://bit.ly/3cynWUN www.DerwentArt.com & www.Xyron.com MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Pressed leaves used as a mask on book pages...Perfect backgrounds!

Watch how I art journal here OR
Watch the video on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/R10MZJwSEuw

My Derwent Inktense Blocks are great for leaf rubbings. 
They can also be used with water like watercolor!

Happy journaling!

Cosmic Shimmer Tyvek Beads

I've always LOVED beads.  I think they were my first love other than Peanut Butter Crunch...the reason I will never have a six pack.  Making my own beads is a thrill every time I come up with a new color, design or material to use.  These Tyvek beads are so glittery, I want to use them with everything!  I grabbed Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Polish from Joggles.com and was able to apply the most beautiful metallic colors to the Tyvek paper before I melted them and then added even more glitter with my varnish finish. Watch the video below to see how they're made.  The result is out of this world!  Making things will make you happy, my sweet friends...I promise!  

Now get out there and Make Your Mark!

One day I'll just wear tons of these with a bright caftan and drink cocktails all day!

I chose large gold spacers, but you could use any kind of bead with them!

Tyvek Sheets: https://bit.ly/36Hx1sA Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Polish: https://bit.ly/3fjUDYn Ranger Inkssentials Mini Ink Blending Tool: https://bit.ly/2YBCbEC www.Joggles.com MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Watch how to make them here OR

Watch the video on my YouTube channel here:  https://youtu.be/BJyxTa6Z0TE

I love using waxed cord for my larger bead strands...it's so easy to use!

BEAD-utiful!

Mid-Century Art - From Thrift Store Art

One of the first places I hit in a thrift store is the art section.  Quite often you can find amazing art by random people that's perfect for your home OR you can find terrible art with an awesome frame that's perfect for a project like this!  Using some simple disposable DIY stencils and a couple of terrible $5 art pieces,  I was able to create some fun, mid-century inspired masterpieces perfect for my pad.  Since Alexander Calder is one of my favorite artists, I used his work as inspiration, but a quick internet search will give you tons of mid-century inspiration for a project like this!  If you don't love something, sweet friends, then just paint over it and turn it into something you do love!  

Also, don't forget to Make Your Mark!

Like jelly beans!

Love the touch of light blue in the upper right!

Paints I used for this project:

DecoArt Traditions Acrylics: https://bit.ly/2pFn3ag MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Watch how to paint these here OR
Watch the video on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/7WEi3X8ixRA

Hope I didn't paint over a priceless masterpiece!

Make art, sweet friends!

Colorful Newspaper Earrings - With Gel Press

There are not many printed newspapers out there anymore, but when I get a grocery store flyer or a stack of old local papers, I always grab some for my projects. This is a simple paper mache craft that is light as a feather and also hard as a rock when it's dry!  When you paint it with a Gel Press, you'll get some amazing effects!  Make earrings or a funky necklace and definitely go color crazy since summer is right around the corner!  Say it with me, sweet friends...Use what you have and always Make Your Mark!

 These fit perfectly in a regular envelope, so pop a pair in the mail for a friend!

Mix shapes and colors and layer, layer, layer!

I used 5 pieces of newspaper and then topped it off with my painted sheet

STUFF I USED

Awesome Gel Press Products: https://amzn.to/364hn95

Americana Acrylics: https://amzn.to/2UFQwgQ

Triple Thick Gloss Glaze: https://amzn.to/2UIrD4e

Learn to make paste here: https://youtu.be/3mkrHgiYXG8

MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Watch how to make them here

OR

Watch the video on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/brqy2FXAeUQ

 Contrast bright colors with tiny black dots

Now, get out there and rock that runway!

Secret Bottle Boxes - Upcycled DIY

I love to hide things. In fact, I'm still finding crap that I put in a "safe place" from years ago!  If you like to hide things, too, these secret bottle boxes might just be the ticket.  You all know I've been tinkering around with my bottle cutter for over a year now and I really enjoy figuring out fun things to make.  This was a great way to use the entire bottle for a project and then try out some simple mixed media techniques.  You could fill them with change, wishes, journal entries, or an extra set of car keys and no one would know that they're actually boxes!  Think outside the box, my amazing friends, and don't forget to MAKE YOUR MARK!

Watch how to make them here!

Images I used.  Just drag to your desktop and print to size!

Wishes, secrets and memories