"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!

Vintage Botanical Mirror DIY

 I love this mirror so much that I've decided to redecorate my entire bathroom around it.   The nice thing about this project is that you can make it in any size you want.  Just have the pieces cut to size and glue them together with E6000 Plus.  I got super messy painting this frame so I tried something new called Workman's Friend Superior Barrier Skin Cream which protects your hands from paint and glue.  Just put it on like lotion (it does make your hands super soft) and when you're done getting messy, the paint washes right off!   Get creative and get your hands dirty, my friends, 

and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

Perched on my patio 

Love the mix of black and white and colorful flowers

STUFF I USED

Workman's Friend Superior Barrier Skin Cream

Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Bestow, Cherish, Reminisce, Preservation, Treasure

Americana Decor Creme Wax

Americana Decoupage in Matte

E6000 Plus

1" x 4" wood: 2 - 28" pieces & 2 - 14" pieces

16" x 22" Mirror

Small laser cut dollar store frame

Botanical images

Optional: Dremel

Watch how to make it here!

Color is everything!

Happy Spring!

Paper Tile Mirror

Teal, neon pink and olive green is seriously one of my favorite color combos!  It reminds me of Mexico in the 1960s and I have no idea why.  DecoArt makes this sassy neon pink paint that I would eat if I could.....but unfortunately I can't.  Instead I used it to create the eye popping paper tiles for a little bathroom mirror project.   I cut my own mirror frame, but you could use a store bought frame for this project.....Totally up to you!  When coated in Famowood Glaze Coat, it's protected and ready for endless water splashes and hair spray!  Faux tile projects are soooo much lighter than using real tile and you can design your own in ANY pattern.  Be creative my sweet friends and always remember to Make Your Mark!

Watch how to make it here!

STUFF I USED

1/2" plywood and mirror

E-6000 Glue

12" x 12" Gel Press

Drill, Jigsaw, Sander

Large stencil

Famowood Glaze Coat

Americana Decor Satin Enamels in Woodland Green and True Teal

Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint (in Gold Leaf)

Extreme Sheen in 24K Gold

Americana Acrylics in Peacock Teal & Sizzling Pink Neon

HERE'S HOW

1. & 2.  Cut & sand a frame in 1/2" thick plywood

 *Mine was 18" x 24" with a 5" border

3. & 4.  Paint the frame with Americana Decor Satin Enamels in Woodland Green and then edge in True Teal to give it some dimension

5.  Stencil over the entire frame with 24K Gold Extreme Sheen using a Fleur Medallion stencil

6.  With a brayer, spread 24K Extreme Sheen on your Gel Press and then add some 

Sizzling Pink Neon

7.  Press your cardstock onto the Gel Press to transfer the paint

8. - 10.  Spread Peacock Teal on the Gel Press, place the Fleur Medallion stencil and then transfer the stencil the the previously Gel Pressed pages

11. & 12.  Cut the pages into 4" x 4" tiles and then add dimension to the designs with Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint in Gold Leaf

13.  Glue the tiles to the frame with Americana Decoupage

14.  Mix the Famowood Glaze Coat and pour it over the frame following all of the instructions for mixing and popping bubbles

*Cover and cure overnight

15. & 16.  Sand the back opening flat and then glue the mirror in place

 The pink just pops!

Always Make Your Mark! 

Moroccan Inspired Mirrors

There is NOTHING better than a mirror to make a room feel bigger and bring in more light.  Hang them across from a window and you've doubled your visual real estate!  In my effort to use up my stash of wood laser cut frames I got at the 99c store a few weeks ago, I designed these delicate Moroccan mirrors.  They were surprisingly easy to make considering how intricate they look.   I painted them in the new colorful metallics from DecoArt called Extreme Sheen, and wow do they shimmer.  Remember to mash up your styles, hit the 99c store for fun craft supplies that won't break the bank and always Make Your Mark!

My lovely trio

A sneak peek of my newly upholstered sofa!

Watch how they come together here!

STUFF I USED

DecoArt Extreme Sheen

99c Store Mirrors

99c Store Laser Cut Wood Frames

Copies of the frames

E-6000 Glue

Bandsaw, Small Dremel or Jigsaw

 HERE'S HOW

1. & 2.  Copy the wood frames onto paper and cut out pieces to create your mirror design

*These pieces will be your cut pattern for the actual wood frames

3. Carefully mark where you'll cut the frames

4.  Using a fine blade on a bandsaw or jigsaw, carefully cut out each piece

5.  Protect the mirror with newspaper

6. & 7.  Paint the mirror frame and cut wood pieces with Extreme Sheen

8. Glue the pieces to the mirror and let dry

9. Touch up as needed

 Extreme Sheen comes in tons of different metallic colors.....I couldn't decide!

Beauty and the Beast Castle Mirror

I'm absolutely sure that in a past life I lived in a castle.  It's the only logical explanation for my love of chandeliers, brocade fabrics and fireplaces that you could literally rent out as a NYC studio apartment.  Later this month Disney reinvents Beauty and the Beast with Emma Watson and I seriously cannot wait to see it.  Disney asked that I create a little something to celebrate the release, so here it is......A castle mirror that can be made on a pauper's budget.   Hey, Belle fell in love with a beast, why not a cardboard mirror?  Remember to recycle, paint things brilliant metallic gold 

and always Make Your Mark!   

 I cannot wait to see this movie!

 For this version I added some extra rows of cardboard leaves

Watch me put it together here!

STUFF I USED

Dollar store mirror

E-6000 Glue

Allure Metallic in Gold Leaf

Americana Acrylic Paint in Sweet Mint

Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass

Sponges

1/4" thick plywood (or cardboard) base

Cardboard scraps

Gems

HERE'S HOW

1. Create the shape of your base and then trace the mirror shape in the center

*This will help when you start gluing

2. & 3.  Cut diamond shapes in cardboard and then trim them into leaf shapes

4.  Starting at the penciled line, glue rows of leaves around and around working your way to the edge of the base

5.  Paint everything with Vintage Brass and let dry

6.  Embellish the leaves with Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint and let dry

7.  Add a light patina around the edges with the Americana Acrylic Paint in Sweet Mint using a sponge

8. & 9.  Randomly glue on gems around the mirror and then glue in the mirror using E-6000 Glue

Tale as old as time......