Decorative Books For Your Guest Room

I finally have 2 guest rooms to decorate and I'm going nuts with fun projects so that my friends are comfortable and happy while they visit!  For my friends who love to read before bed, I grabbed a stack of thrillers from the thrift store and turned them into something beautiful.  I will use decor transfers on almost anything and WOW did I love figuring out how to put them on these book spines.  I'll leave links to everything I used for this project right under the video below.  Happy decorating and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

Put the covers on the inside so they know what they're reading and they can use it as a bookmark!

A scented candle is always nice, too!  Don't forget to have a piece of paper with the wifi password, too!

Watch how to make these beautiful books here OR watch this and other videos on my

Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj9NgQKJwyc

Everything I used for this project:

Re-Design with Prima Royal Burgundy Decor Transfer: https://bit.ly/3Kl6UdO Re-Design with Prima Imperial Garden Decor Transfer: https://bit.ly/3CmZOT9 Harlequin Stencils: https://amzn.to/3ZoaUTe Re-Design with Prima Script Stencil: https://bit.ly/3GrIHlQ MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Either upright or side by side, this stack of books looks beautiful and serves a purpose!

Happy creating everyone! 

Love, Mark

 

Scrap Wood Mirror DIY

Being a full-time DIYer, I end up with tons of scrap wood in every shape and size.  Also being a bit of a hoarder, I pick up scrap wood whenever I see it for future projects!  This scrap wood mirror started off as slats for a bed frame and ended up being a lovely entry mirror on my front porch!  Use what you have, upcycle what you can and don't be afraid to turn trash into treasure!  Now get out there and MAKE YOUR MARK!

My house is painted a gorgeous green and this mirror worked perfectly with it!

I almost didn't want to paint it, but I LOVE color!

Everything I used for this project:

Americana Acrylics: https://amzn.to/2UFQwgQ Spray Sealer: https://amzn.to/3gUGlAH Amazing Goop II Max: https://amzn.to/2ZptldN

Watch the video here OR

Watch how to make it on my YouTube channel here:  https://youtu.be/C-5a23EPTuA

Loved the 70s color combination here!

Who is the fairest of them all?

"Paint" like Van Gogh with Oil Pastels

Have you heard about the Van Gogh immersive experience that's been a huge hit around the world? So far over 2 million people have enjoyed it.  I haven't been yet, but I'm excited to go!  To celebrate this event I created a Van Gogh inspired mirror using Van Gogh Oil Pastels from Royal Talens.  It was so easy to get that impasto feel using pastels by simply painting the base of my wood mirror in a dark blue.  I call it the impostor impasto technique! It was a relaxing way to study Starry night which was my inspiration for this mirror.  Even though I didn't interpret it literally, I was able to get the look of it with these amazing highly pigmented oil pastels!  Make sure to check out the beautiful Royal Talens craft supplies!  Now get out there and Make Your Mark!

Of course you photograph anything Van Gogh with sunflowers!

Small strokes in bold colors make the perfect imposter impasto!

Everything I used for this project here:

Royal Talens Oil Pastels Set of 12: https://bit.ly/3xVEcKn Royal Talens Oil Pastels Set of 24: https://amzn.to/3dlPVtF Royal Talens Oil Pastels Set of 60: https://amzn.to/2U8l50O Royal Talens Pastel Varnish: https://bit.ly/3haZbSG Fish Tank Glass: https://amzn.to/35TLeTQ E6000 Glue: https://amzn.to/2VfF248 Dark Blue Matte Chalky Finish: https://bit.ly/3jjCa2x

Watch how to make this mirror here OR watch

how to make it on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/ehgUHam07Fk

Love the crushed fish tank glass!  It gives the mirror more dimension and softened the 

edges of the mirror

Paint like a master!

Resin Butterfly Trays

Not sure how I ended up with 20 of these pressed tin trays from Dollar Tree, but I did.  Pretty sure instinctively I knew that one day inspiration would strike and they would be on hand for a project.  At least that's what my inner hoarder whispers every time I'm at the register or filling my cart late at night online.  While cleaning out my desk I found some beautiful butterfly printouts and it finally came to me...Butterfly trays!  A little paint and some resin in the base to protect them and they look like a million bucks.  Well, not a million, but definitely more than the 99c I paid for them.  Everything can be transformed and made more beautiful, my sweet friends!  Think of the caterpillar and the butterfly while you Make Your Mark!

I can't decide which to keep by my front door for keys and mail...Hmmm.

The perfect little holiday gift!

STUFF I USED:

Famowood Glaze Coat Resin: https://amzn.to/30GJc4P

Xyron Creative Station: https://bit.ly/2yuW31n

www.DecoArt.com

Enchanted & Enchanted Shimmer: https://buddlycrafts.com/search/?q=enchanted+DecoArt

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

Watch how to make these trays here OR

watch the video on my YouTube channel here:  https://youtu.be/fKDjwLD7kEs

Using a Xyron Creative Station eliminates the misting and decoupage medium application!

A thin layer of resin looks absolutely beautiful and protects the paper butterflies.

The DecoArt Enchanted and Enchanted Shimmer are my new obsessions!

Tray jolie!

Whimsical Lamp Makeovers

I have the best thrift stores near my home and very often I can find lamps for $5 each for my DIY projects.  These ginger jar lamps were perfect for this whimsical makeover! I know the stripes aren't perfect but the lamps were just too heavy for my old record player hack.  Instead, I opted for using my lazy susan which was just fine.  I also ended up loving the wonky stripes a bit more.  There is something truly "handmade" about them!  Go nuts with fabrics and trims for your shades and just have fun!  For $5 you can experiment, right?!  Stay creative, awesome friends, and always 

Make Your Mark!

Glamps! 

I used DecoArt Gloss Enamels for this project!

Vivid Violet & Calypso Blue

We all need a little more color right now!

Got the fabric at JoAnn Fabrics!

Wonky stripes are just fine with me!  

Grab your lazy susan to help you out with this!

Watch how to make them here!

Watch the video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/Pdc-ztBu8SY

 Love a $5 lamp makeover!

Lamp-tastic!