No Sew Boho Clutch DIY

It's almost summer and you're going to need a few little handbags to jazz up your favorite outfits! These little boho gems are PERFECT and you can make them in any color combo you want.  Grab some trim and a base fabric (I used vinyl but you could use heavy canvas) and get gluing! It's that easy.  A little velcro and you have a cute, safe place to keep your phone and some cash.  Add a strap and you're ready for a night out.  Kick up your style this summer my sweet friends and don't forget to

Make Your Mark!

Jazz trio!

Perfect for a cell phone and some cash!

Watch how to make them here!

Happy summer!

Anthropologie Chair Makeover

I'm obsessed with the printed wooden chairs at Anthropologie!  They're just beautiful.....and, well, a little too expensive for my ever changing decor budget.  As usual, I decided to see if I could make my own set with a fabric of my choice.  Grab some E-6000 Fabri-Fuse, some thrift store or Ikea chairs and a fabric print you love and you've got yourself some amazing seating!  Follow the directions in the video below and you're good to go. As always,  if you can't afford it, try making it!  Oh, and always Make Your Mark.

Sitting pretty!

Garden party

The original Anthropologie chairs that inspired this project

Watch how to make them here!

I used E-6000 Fabri-Fuse &

Minwax Polycrylic

Enjoy!

Hedgehog Halloween Costume

It's that time of year when everyone panics about their Halloween costume.  Well, relax!  I've got you covered with this cute and comfy hedgehog costume perfect for any age.  If you're clever, you can turn this into a skunk or porcupine....Just change up the colors and the shape of the ears.  Happy Halloween and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

Julie rocking her new costume!

Sexy hedgehog?

Trick or treat!

Watch how to make the costume here!

STUFF I USED

XL Hooded Sweatshirt and fitted tights

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

Sewing Machine

Oly-Fun Fabric from Fairfield World in Hot Fudge and Sand

Pinking shears

Brown felt

Patterns for spine and ears

HERE'S HOW

1.  Draw a smaller armhole and connect it to the side seam

2. - 4. Cut it out, place it on the opposite side and then cut the other side

5. Fold the armhole cut over 1/2" and zigzag stitch

6.  Stitch down the side seams down to the hem

7.  Cut 9 1/2" strips of Oly-Fun in Sand and Hot Fudge

8.  Fold the strips in quarters, pin the spine patterns and cut long strips of spines

9.  With the hood folded in half, draw a line on the hood from shoulder to shoulder

10. & 11.  Put a rolled up towel in the hood and glue the spines facing front on the hood using 

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

12.  Continue glueing rows of spines alternating between Sand and Hot Fudge

13.  Glue individual spines along the edge of the last two rows of spines to cover the edges

14.  Glue alternate rows of Hot Fudge and Sand Oly-Fun (pointing upward) across the

back of the sweatshirt all the way to the hem

15.  Glue small, individual spines along the hem

16.  Cut two ears in sweatshirt fabric (from the sleeve) and two felt ears

17.  Trim the cream sweatshirt fabric ears a little bit smaller using pinking shears

18.  Glue the cream ears on the felt ears using more Fabri-Fuse

19. & 20.  Stitch a small pleat in the center of each ear and then attach them to the hood

Done!

Happy Halloween!

Funky Shelf Makeover

If you follow me, then you know I'm a huge fan of mixed prints, crazy colors and MacKenzie Childs furniture.  This shelf was inspired by her amazing furniture but instead of the meticulous hand painting, I used fabric to get the mix of patterns.  All of these prints are available at JoAnn so head there for an amazing selection of things you can use to makeover your own shelf.   Skip steps, use different colors and patterns and make this project your own.  Just remember to have fun and always Make Your Mark!

Strike a pose! 

I decided to throw caution to the wind and just go with every color and pattern I liked!

STUFF I USED

Shelf in need of a makeover

Americana Decor Outdoor Living Paint

Selection of printed cotton fabrics

Plastic rhinestone trim

Sander and jigsaw

E-6000 Glue

Plastic ornate mirror

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse and glue gun

1/2" wood trim

1/2" thick plywood OR 1" x 12" pine board

Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass

 HERE'S HOW

1. & 2.  Paint the face of the shelf with Ladybug and the inside walls of the shelf with Pansy

3. & 4.  Paint each shelf in Harvest and the edges of the sides with Morning Glory

5. & 6.  Remove the shelf back if possible (most modern shelves have removable backs) trace the back on your chosen fabric, cut and glue in place with Fabri-Fuse

*I find squirting on a generous amount of Fabri-Fuse and spreading it with a 

paintbrush works the best

7.  Measure the face of each shelf

8. & 9.  Measure cut and glue your chosen fabric to the face of each shelf

*I wrapped the fabric around the front and around the underside

10.  Measure the size of fabric you'll need for the side panels

11. & 12.  Cut and glue on the sides with more Fabri-Fuse

13.  Glue a contrasting gimp trim around the fabric side panels

14. Glue gimp trim along the top face of each shelf

15. Replace the back on the shelf

16.  Trace around the top of the ornate plastic mirror frame (adding about 1 1/2") to create the pediment

HERE'S HOW PART 2

17.  Mark where you are going to cut the plastic frame

18. - 20. Cut the frame and the pediment with a jigsaw and sand the rough edges

21. & 22.  Trace the pediment on your chosen fabric and glue on the face

23. & 24.  Paint the plastic frame and edges of the pediment with Vintage Brass

25. & 26.  Glue the gold frame to the pediment and the pediment to the top of the shelf

27. & 28.  Paint the 1/2" decorative trim in Vintage Brass and then glue it to the 

front sides of the shelf

Done! Whew!

Took a while, but so worth it!

Happy Tuesday!

Hedgehog Pillows DIY

Hedgehogs, squirrels and baby possums just do it for me.  I have no idea why, but I find just looking at them makes me happy.  Set me in front of a baby hedgehog taking a bath in a kitchen sink and I'm done for.  DONE FOR!  Well, now you see why I needed to make these hedgehog pillows.  Instructions and pattern are included in this blog.  Make them any size you want and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

 A family affair

Stop and smell the flowers

Watch how to make them here!

STUFF I USED

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

DecoArt Stylin Paints

Poly-fil stuffing

Brown and cream medium weight fabric

Sewing machine

Googly eyes and pompoms

Print out this pattern and make it any size you want!

HERE'S HOW TO MAKE THEM!

1. & 2.  Pin and cut the pattern on folded cream fabric

3. - 5.  Trace the face, paint it beige and then paint the mouth on one piece of the fabric

(both sides if you're ambitious)

6. & 7.  Stitch the two pieces together using 1/2" seam allowance and leaving a 5" opening

8. & 9. Cut 2" wide strips of brown fabric and then cut them into fringe every 1/4"

10.  Glue the fringe along the tush moving toward the face of the hedgehog

11.  Glue on the eye with more Fabri-fuse and paint the cheek with more Stylin

12.  Stuff and stitch the 5" opening closed.

Enjoy!

Trash to Treasure Padded Stools DIY

You can turn almost any old wood chair into a cute padded stool in no time with this little DIY!  Grab some outdoor fabric, padding and your staple gun and you're half way there.  I snagged a pair of wobbly-backed chairs for $5 and turned them into fabulous extra outdoor patio seating.  They're easy to move around, look great with my other furniture, too.  I went wild with color because, well, why not?!  It was a super fun little project that I will definitely do again and again.  Make our outdoor spaces just as beautiful as your indoor spaces and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

Too cool for stool!

 Be fearless with color!

This outdoor mandala fabric was just the ticket!

Watch how I made them here!

STUFF I USED

2 Thrift Store Chairs

2" Cushion Foam from Fairfield World

Cushion Wrap from Fairfield World

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

Americana Decor Outdoor Living Paint

Outdoor fabric *2 yards

Jigsaw, Staple Gun & Sander

Upholstery Gimp Trim

Electric Knife *You can also use a craft knife if you're careful

HERE'S HOW

1.  Using a jigsaw, cut the back off of the chair along the seat

2.  If you need to, sand everything smooth and smooth out the legs if they're nicked or scratched

3.  Flip the stool on the 2" foam and trace around the seat

4.  Cut the 2" foam with an electric knife

*An electric knife is amazing for cutting foam but you can use a craft knife if you're careful

5.  Paint the legs of each stool in bright colors

6.  Add E-6000 Fabri-Fuse to the seat and glue on the 2" foam

7.  Flip the stool on the cushion wrap and cut a piece that will fold around the 

cushion and under the seat

*Usually adding about 4" will do the trick

8.  Staple the to the underside of the stool all the way around

9.  Trim the excess

10. Center and pin the fabric on top of the stool

11. & 12. Staple all the way around (over the cushion wrap) and then trim the excess

13.  Using Fabri-Fuse and pins, glue the gimp trim all the way around the base of the stool and pin in place while it dries

14.  Measure up 4" on each chair leg

15.  Wrap masking tape around the 4" mark and paint the edge of the masking tape the same color as the chair leg

*This is a painter's trick to prevent bleeding when you use the contrasting color!  Also great tip for painting stripes

16.  Paint the bottom 4" of each leg a contrasting color

Can't wait to use these!

Have a seat!

Outdoor Rug Makeover

This could just as easily be an indoor rug, but alas, it was my outdoor rug that really needed some love.  I've seen a few of these rug makeovers over the years and figured it was as good a time as any to try one.  At first I wasn't sure about the fabric I chose, but after a few days I was in LOVE!  It screams 1970 and every color my mother loved when I was a kid.  Remember to try new things and always Make Your Mark!

 Ready to cut a rug?

 Snug as a bug!

Watch how I made it here!

STUFF I USED

Old Outdoor Rug

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

Loc-tite Spray Adhesive

Outdoor Fabric

Iron

Minwax Polycrylic

Plastic Drop Cloth

Sewing Machine

*You only need the machine if you have to piece together your fabric to match the size of the rug

HERE'S HOW

1.  Iron the fabric perfectly flat

2. Center it on the rug

3.  Cut the fabric 2" longer all the way around

4. & 5. My fabric wasn't wide enough so I cut extra strips for the sides

*My strips were measured so when I attached them to the main fabric, the entire piece would be 2" bigger all the way around

*Measure carefully

6.   Stitch the strips to the side of the main piece of fabric 

7.  Iron the seams so that they are perfectly flat

8.  Place the rug on a plastic drop cloth and center the fabric on top of the rug

9.  Fold over 1/2 of the fabric and spray the rug with a generous 

amount of spray adhesive

*Do this on both sides of the rug

10.  Roll a generous amount of Minwax Polycrylic on the fabric so that it soaks through and

adheres to the rug underneath

*Give the rug another 4 layers of Minwax and let it dry for 30 minutes in between each coat

11.  Flip the rug and glue down the corner with Fabri-Fuse

*Use a weight to keep it in place while it dries

12.  Fabri-Fuse the 2" excess all the way around the rug and let dry

 Spankin' new!

Happy Summer!