For years I've been hitting the dollar store for inexpensive frames to makeover.  When I lived in my tiny East Village apartment in NYC I covered the walls (salon style) with TONS of small 99c store frames filled with postcards and art that I bought on the street. I would paint the frames in different colors, add beads and cardboard to them and find fun papers for the matting. I loved my "broke art student" decor...and still do!  These malachite frames are currently part of my decor and I got all the frames at the 99c store.  A little hot glue and paint and you have something amazing!  Now get out there and MAKE YOUR MARK!

Watch how to make them here!

Everything I used for this project:

Awesome Gel Press Products: https://bit.ly/3uHBnjU Xyron Creative Station: https://bit.ly/2yuW31n RE-DESIGN WITH PRIMA Silicone Moulds: Regal Trimmings https://bit.ly/3AFhF7s?aff=59 Etruscan Accents Silicone Mould: https://bit.ly/3PY6FI4?aff=59 Re-Design with Prima Decor Wax: https://bit.ly/3Bl2UZE

Decor doesn't have to be expensive, just brave and bold!

See you soon!  Love, Mark

 

Faux Malachite Boxes DIY

Malachite is my favorite stone.  Though I only have a few real malachite pieces in my home, I have tons of faux painted malachite objects.  Everything from coffee tables and obelisks to these gorgeous keepsake boxes.  Recently Marabu sent me their new line of alcohol inks and I started dripping them on different substrates like plastic and metal.  It's amazing what these inks can do!  Dripped just right in color succession, you can get this amazing malachite effect on simple, hardware store aluminum flashing.  Hey, you have to experiment with whatever you can find, right?!  Be a mad, crafty scientist and see what happens...and always Make Your Mark!

My faux malachite boxes made with Marabu Alcohol inks!

What will you keep in yours?

Watch how to make them here!

My cardboard faux MALACHITE OBELISKS

So chic!

Faux Malachite Tile Table DIY

I finally got off of my butt and made another coffee table for my living room.  The last one I made (also malachite) was lovely, but just too big.  I started playing with shapes and finally decided that a hexagon tile table might look interesting.  Little did I know that I'd be up for 3 days cutting hexagon tiles out of cardboard! The minute I thought I had enough I had to make more.  That's what happens when you jump into something blindly.  Still, all of the effort and time paid off and to paraphrase Clairee from Steel Magnolias,  I LOVE this table more than my luggage!  Take the creative leap, my friends, and make sure to see it through to the end...It's always worth it on the other side!  Now get out there and Make Your Mark!

My new coffee table.  Thinking I'm needing a new rug now, too!

 It's much bigger than it looks!

Made with my Gel Press and my MANY Amazon boxes!

Watch how to make this here!

Just right with malachite!

Faux Malachite Coffee Table

As you all know, I'm obsessed with many things but nothing turns me on more than malachite.  Green is my favorite color and this stone, with it's 100 shades of green, has a special place in my heart.  A couple of years ago I started painting faux malachite objects and decided it was time to tackle something on a larger scale for my home.  Something that Tony Duquette would have loved.  I literally ran into this huge round coffee table at a thrift store and decided it was just the THING!  For $25 dollars, how could I go wrong?  If I messed up, a little decoupage and no one would be the wiser.  I'm so proud of this piece and I hope you love it as much as I do.   Remember to take risks, paint thrift store finds and always Make Your Mark!

Smack dab in the middle of my living room!

Before I piled on my stuff!

I think it needs more!

Watch how I made it here!

STUFF I USED

Americana Glazing Medium

Americana Acrylics in Sea Aqua, Sea Breeze, Sweet Mint, Forest Green, Evergreen & Antique Teal

E-6000 Glaze Coat

Thrift Store Coffee Table

Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass

Cardboard

Small torch or long arm lighter

 HERE'S HOW

1. & 2.  After you remove the table top from the base, use Sweet Mint, Sea Breeze & Sea Aqua to paint large cloud shapes in the 3 different colors on the table top

*There is no right or wrong way to do this, you just want color variation for the base

3.  Cut notches on 4" x 4" pieces of cardboard

4.& 5.  Mix equal parts Americana Glazing Medium and Americana Forest Green Acrylic 

on a paper plate

6. & 7.   Paint over part of the cloud shape with the mixture and then drag the notched cardboard over the wet mixture to create the lines

8.  Continue with this process until the entire table is covered with the faux malachite technique

*Cut smaller pieces of notched cardboard to get into the smaller spaces

9.  Use the Antique Teal and Evergreen to fill in some lines to create more variation in color

10. & 11.  Paint the rim and base of the table in Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass

12.  Mix the E-6000 Glaze Coat according to directions and pour on top of the table

*Make sure the table is elevated, level and that there is plenty of newspaper underneath to catch the dripping glaze coat

13.  Spread evenly with a sponge brush making sure to take care of all the drips

14.  Pop the bubbles in the Glaze Coat with a small torch or long arm lighter, cover and cure overnight

15.  Replace the base on the table and you're ready to entertain!

So in love!

Artsy Fartsy ThursDIY!

It's an Artsy Fartsy Thurs-DIY!  Check out all of the fun, artsy things you can do this weekend.  We have everything from embroidery to glass slippers.  Seriously, something for everyone.  Enjoy and be creative!

XO, Mark!

Margot Potter makes some beautiful bling for summer!  

http://diydoyenne.com/bling-blog-hop/

Who doesn't want a pair of Cinderella's Glass Slippers? Here's how to make your own:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnOXqGooUt0

Margot also paints mini canvases perfect for that tiny little space that just needs "something"!

http://diydoyenne.com/diy-mini-masterpieces/

Aunt Peaches makes beautiful confetti and shows you how!  

http://www.auntpeaches.com/2013/01/homemade-confetti.html

 Pla makes a super cute paperclip necklace with items from the dollar store!

http://www.plaschneider.com/#!1-Store-Rainbow-PaperClip-Name-Necklace/c1p0l/553e129e0cf2836c87fb74f9

Cathy Attix rocks a no sew denim bag with a Chanel chain!

http://ilovetocreateblog.blogspot.com/2015/04/no-sew-denim-mini-bag.html

Vicki O'Dell embroiders a vintage bag to perfection here:

http://vickiodell.com/thrifting-thursday-embellish-a-small-bag-with-vintage-needlework/#sthash.fgIVp2kS.dpbs

I show you how to recycle cardboard and newspaper to make Faux Malachite Obelisks for your home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFgdqiBPbvs

Faux Malachite Obelisks (made from cardboard)

I'm a huge fan of malachite but unfortunately it's a little too expensive for my taste.  Tony Duquette, one of my favorite designers, used it like crazy in his home decor.  He also painted tons of furniture in a faux malachite pattern and it always looked amazing!  I thought I'd give it a try with some simple cardboard obelisks.  These are perfect for a desk or bookshelf and if done right, people will think you're rolling in dough!  Little do they know that they cost just pennies to make.

Enjoy!  xo, Mark

 My handsome pair

I love that they're just cardboard and newspaper!

Watch the short video tutorial here!

YOU'LL NEED

Newspaper

Cardboard

Americana Acrylics in Evergreen, Sea Breeze, White and Holly Green

Americana Glazing Medium

Ruler

White glue

Masking tape

Minwax Polycrylic

Craft knife

Paintbrush

Print out and use to create your pattern

Each square is 1/2" by 1/2"

Enlarge and make them any size

 Trace the obelisk pattern 4 times, side by side

*Clean up your lines with a ruler

Cut out the entire shape and score so it can be folded

Trace the base pattern, cut and score

Tape all pieces together with masking tape

 Water down some white glue to use as a decoupage medium

Cover the cardboard obelisk in at least one layer of newspaper

When dry, paint the entire obelisk in Sea Breeze and White Acrylic

*The paint doesn't have to be perfect, it can vary from light to dark

*Make sure to paint all surfaces

Cut jagged edges on a 2" x 2" piece of cardboard 

Mix equal parts of Evergreen and Glazing Medium

Paint one surface of the obelisk and immediately scrape the surface

with the jagged cardboard to create the malachite effect

*Try circles and scallops and overlap the patterns

 When all surfaces are dry, coat with at least two coats of Minwax Polycrylic

If you want, edge the base with a metallic paint marker by

running it along the edges