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!

Valentine Treat Boxes

How many paper towel and tp rolls do you toss every week?  A decent amount I'll bet! Why not use them for this cute treat box project?  I created my doily printed papers with my Gel Press added gems and gold hearts.  This was a truly enjoyable project and a great way to upcycle something we toss every day!  Use what you have, my crafty friends, and always Make Your Mark!

 I admit it...I opened one and ate the candy!

A little curling ribbon always makes things more fun!

Watch how to make them here!

Happy Valentine's Day, my sweet friends!

Gel Press Paper Ball Ornaments

Over the past year I've become obsessed with making printed papers on my Gel Press.  It's truly easy to create organic color compositions or use the Gel Press Impressables & stencils to create specific patterns like I did with these ornaments.  The BEST thing about the Gel Press is that no two pulls look exactly the same.  You always get wonderful variations and there are endless techniques to try.  Using my simple pattern and a few little beads and baubles, you can make a tree full of these paper ornaments in no time using card stock and acrylic paints in traditional Christmas colors.  I've included the pattern below.  Just print it out in different sizes to get different sized ornaments.  Get crafty this Christmas, my sweet elves, and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

 It's LA so I had to photoshop some snow!

The bells give these light ornaments some needed weight

 Watch how to make them here!

Print in different sizes to make different sized ornaments

Oh, the bells just make this project for me!

Happy! Merry! All that stuff!