Magical Resin Crystals DIY

Do you love crystals as much as I do? I'm obsessed with them...The stories behind them, the powers they possess and of course, the beauty they have.  I decided to make some of my own crystals (using this amazing silicone mold I found on the internet) and fill them with gold leaf flakes and good thoughts.  Now I have my own special crystals filled with just the things that are important to me.  You could even put a personal charm inside that might mean something special to you!  Heck, fill them with whatever you like!  Remember sweet friends, stay creative and always MAKE YOUR MARK!

Marabu Alcohol Inks give the perfect amount of color and work 

beautifully with resin!

Everything I used for this project:

Famowood Glaze Coat Resin: https://amzn.to/30GJc4P Marabu Alcohol Inks: https://bit.ly/3dcKlrR Gold Leaf: https://amzn.to/3wxmrzZ Crystal Silicone Molds: https://amzn.to/3ug0JRq Aquarium Glass: https://amzn.to/3ibwDd2

Watch how to make them here OR watch how to make them (and many more things)

on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/x-etxhOZdhA

Try different color combinations and fill them with things like special jewelry pieces, saint medals or small stones from your last amazing trip!

While you're pouring the resin, think about amazing things that have happened in your life OR think about the things you want to happen in your life!  Yes, I know, very hippy dippy, but I love having reminders that our lives can be what we make them!

Wishing you all good energy and love!

Tie Dye Glass Jars

I hoard jars.  There, I said it.  I can't help it. They're way too useful and perfect to use in many of my DIY projects.  When I got my cup turner last year, I decided that it wouldn't just be for making tumblers...I mean, how many darn tumblers to you need anyway?  I started experimenting with all kinds of vessels and jars just made sense.  Coupled with the Marabu Alcohol Inks and a little resin, these jars became the most beautiful containers for plants, pencils and battery operated tea lights. They even sparkle at night!  Upcycle everything, sweet friends, and always Make Your Mark!

Rainbow glassware!

Propagate some plants!

STUFF I USED:

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

Marabu Alcohol Inks: https://bit.ly/3dcKlrR

Cup Turner: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083TK23KM/

Watch how to make them here OR

Watch the video on my Youtube channel here: https://youtu.be/m1C8gXEsWMQ

Love how they sparkle!

Faux Quartz Pendants

I always have a glue gun at the ready when I'm working. It's quick, versatile and much sturdier than clay when you fill silicone molds with it!  These druzy crystal necklaces took a while to formulate...At first I wasn't sure how to get the look I wanted so I tried everything from making a glob and rolling it in the crushed glass to putting the glass in the mold first and then filling it with hot glue.  In the end, the simplest way worked out.  See the video below. My favorite part of this technique is spreading the glitter on the base of the mold with a brush...it looks like a metal coating when you pop out your crystal!  Experiment like a kid, sweet possums, and always Make Your Mark!

Druzy afternoon

I used decorative crushed glass for the light pink version and crushed glass (in my crafty coffee grinder) for the other colors

STUFF I USED FOR THIS PROJECT
Surebonder: https://amzn.to/3bOpfiZ MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano Marabu Alcohol Inks: https://bit.ly/3dcKlrR Silicone Molds: https://amzn.to/2Au94tt & https://amzn.to/2YDN4nH Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass: https://amzn.to/2UPX1h0

Use different sized sifters to get different sized "crystals"

Gently sprinkle it on the glue and leave it alone for a few minutes, even if you don't want to!

Watch how to make these here OR

watch the video on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/bwXuaE7D7dU

Marabu Alcohol Inks are perfect for adding color to crushed glass!

Just lovely! 

Hot Glue Beads

My glue gun is ALWAYS ready to go...ALWAYS!  I may need to start wearing a holster with a very long extension cord soon.  Lately I've been obsessed with lampwork beads but, if you follow me, you know I'm not a huge fan of working with molten glass.  Molten hot glue is a totally different story. Turns out a messy glob of glue covered in glitter on my work table was just the inspiration I needed to conjure up these shimmery faux glass beads.   Adding a coat of clear varnish when they were all done made them even more glasslike, too!  I tried using paint on the inside, but it didn't dry as quickly as the Marabu Alcohol Inks, so I stuck with those for color.  The inks work perfectly!  Experiment like a madman, my creative friends, and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

 A little fine glitter makes everything better!

 Gold spacers work beautifully with these beads!

I LOVE my Surebonder glue gun!

Surebonder Hot Glue Products: https://amzn.to/3bOpfiZ Marabu Alcohol Inks: https://bit.ly/3dcKlrR

Watch how to make them here!

Watch the video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/5BSYywN4l1Y

Love my Marabu Alcohol Inks! 

Just Glue-tiful!

Electric Bracelets - Upcycled Cardboard Craft

This project harkens back to 2nd grade art class (FYI, my favorite class ever) where we took yarn and tinfoil to make awesome works of art to adorn every fridge in my hometown.  Well, at least until the turkey hand project took over.  I kicked this one up a notch for my fresh and funky fashion friends and used aluminum tape and gorgeous Marabu Alcohol Inks which come in fantabulous colors.  The best part about this project, for me, is that I get to upcycle cardboard and make them in all different wrist sizes!  Your waste bin is the best place to find craft supplies, my resourceful friends!  Now get out there and Make Your Mark!

 Serious colorful fun!

 For a fantastic, fashion-y night out!

EVERYTHING I USED FOR THIS PROJECT:

Marabu Alcohol Inks: https://bit.ly/3dcKlrR

SUREBONDER DETAIL GLUE GUN: https://amzn.to/2tJxueL

ALL the SUREBONDER PRODUCTS: https://amzn.to/2Rw5kNt

Aluminum Tape: https://amzn.to/38XjQ6n

DuraClear Gloss Varnish: https://amzn.to/2U0CVkb

Watch how to make them here!

Try using just one or two colors!

 I used stripes, but you could use any design!

I love the nightlife! I like to boogie!

German Glass Glitter DIY

I love the vintage look of glass glitter and that it's not made from plastic.  With this project you can add a little eco-friendly sparkle to your projects with these lovely sprinkles.  Now, they're not as sparkly as other glitters but they do have an amazing look that's just as wonderful.  I used a thrift store coffee grinder to make mine and labeled it for CRAFT USE ONLY to make sure that it's never used for food.  You can grab a new grinder for $12 on Amazon and considering the expense of glass glitter in craft stores, you'll save money after a few uses.  Color them with Marabu Alcohol Inks in your favorite colors and you'll be glitterizing everything you can get your hands on.  One more thing, make sure to let the dust settle IN the grinder for 5 minutes before you open it, ok.  Happy crafting, my sparkly friends, and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

Displayed in my collection of 99c store shakers

Around the rim of a simple glass votive

Watch how to make it here!

Colorize them with Marabu Alcohol Inks in all of your favorite colors!

Happy Glittering!

Stained Glass-tic Beads DIY

It actually makes me sad to see the big plastic salad containers just tossed into the bin after just one use.  So much waste and soooo much plastic.  It's frustrating.  Daily I challenge myself to find things to make with what most would consider garbage and I take that challenge very seriously.  Recently I remembered a Tyvec bead project using a heat gun and thought that the technique just might work on these salad clams.  Guess what...It did!  Add a little bit of Marabu Alcohol Ink to give them some amazing color and you have some beautiful, stained glass beads!  Think out of the box (or in this case, salad clam) and always Make Your Mark!

Attached to paper clips for art journals

Strung with gold spacers for jewelry!

Watch how to make them here!

I just can't make these fast enough!

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!