Beautiful Happy Mail Ideas

You might know by now that I love happy mail.  I love making it, sending it and getting it!  These Gustav Klimt inspired pieces are from my latest batch.  I even went faux wax seal crazy with hot glue and foliage from my backyard.  I used the bottom of a flat drinking glass and some good, clear hot glue from Surebonder!  It's a great way to seal a letter and it looks just beautiful!  Why not make someone's day and send them a little hello with a stamp on it?  I'll bet you'll get one in return!

My stack of Klimt inspired stationery

Hot glue "wax" seals using the bottom of a glass

Why not add a seal on the card inside, too!

Love the look of this little daisy!

Everything I used for this project:

Awesome Gel Press Products: https://amzn.to/364hn95 DecoArt Gold Paint: https://bit.ly/3dQbqmA & https://bit.ly/36kH8UY Surebonder Glue Guns & Products: https://amzn.to/3bOpfiZ Stencils I used: https://amzn.to/3jWwoUP ART SPRAYS...Put these in a spray bottle: https://amzn.to/3jWNBNV MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Watch how to make this Klimt inspired happy mail here!

Surebonder makes colorful glue stiks in every color you can think of!

Make someone's day and send out some happy mail!

Paper Feather Mobile

What I love most about a mobile is that you can truly hang anything from it as long as it's colorful, cute and dances in a slight breeze!  Use an embroidery hoop or some wire for your loop at the top and gather up your most colorful bits!  C'mon, I know you have a box of craft stuff just waiting for this project!  For mine I made paper feathers and colorized them with Unicorn SPiT spray which you can easily make with a bit of water and a small spray bottle. I used it on everything from art journals to happy mail.  I've said it 100 times...Use what you have and always Make Your Mark!

Just magical in the sunlight!

Everything I used for this project:

Unicorn SPiT: https://amzn.to/2pwP4kq E6000 Glue: https://amzn.to/2VfF248 MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Watch how to make them here OR

Watch the video on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/lcrpZX0bG60

My paper feathers before I fringed them

Perfect to brighten up a sad little corner!

Add a dab of E6000 on your knots to keep everything in place!

Happy crafting, sweet friends!

The Easiest Paper Beads - Upcycled DIY

I STILL get a phone book every 6 months and when I see it on my doorstep, it's like being zapped back in time!  Still, I immediately grab it because I love making stuff with the thin, translucent paper!  These paper beads could easily be made with newspaper, too, but a phone book just seemed so much fun and I had one on hand.  By using several coats of paint, starting with black, you can get an amazing raw turquoise look.  Add a little Triple Thick Gloss Glaze from DecoArt and you'll have a strand of beads worthy of a chic gallery opening!  Like I always say,  use what you have
and always Make Your Mark!

I'm moving to Florida so I can wear these with a huge caftan!

Paint them any color...add gold flakes!

STUFF I USED
Americana Acrylics: https://amzn.to/2UFQwgQ Triple Thick Gloss Glaze: https://amzn.to/2UIrD4e

Watch how to make them here!

Giving these a strand-ing ovation!

Bead-utiful!

Upcycled Magazine Art Journals and Stencils

As you may already know, I can't stand tossing things that I know can be turned into something beautiful!  For example, every year I splurge on a fancy home decor magazine from England called The World of Interiors and I have stacks of them going way back.  Because this magazine is printed on thick, yummy paper, in college I would use the old ones for smash books.  Now, I cut them in half and make art journals with them.  So much better than tossing them, right?  You can use Citri-Solve to dissolve the ink on each page OR you can just add some white Americana Acrylic over each page to create a base in which to paint.  Up to you!  Either way, this is an economical way to have tons of art journals for your creative adventures.  Use what you have, my sweet friends, and always

Make Your Mark!

Get the magazines cut in half at Staples with their guillotine machine!

I used a 5" x 7" Gel Press to create my colorful pages!

Make your own stencils with plastic salad lids and a Creative Versa Tool from Walnut Hollow

Watch how I made mine here!

And so the day begins!

Happy journaling!

Rolled Paper Valentines DIY

It's a little late, but I had to post these pretty rolled paper Valentines.  Maybe they'll spark something for your next Easter or St. Patrick's Day craft project?  Rolling pages of magazines is super therapeutic and can be done while you're binge watching old episodes of Dawson's Creek or Ugly Betty.  I used the paper rolls for these whimsical hearts, but they also make beautiful beads and can be glued into any shape.  Upcycle all those gossip magazines you keep buying and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

Ready for love?

Painted with Unicorn SPiT!

A layer of chunky glitter glue is always required!

Watch how to make them here!

A ribbon bow is the perfect embellishment!

Happy belated Valentine's Day!

Paper Tassels

Who doesn't love a tassel?  I have them hanging from every doorknob, from the back of every chair and from every skeleton key in my house.  Yeah, I have a bit of an obsession with them.   You can make tassels with everything from leather to yarn and even paper, like we did here!  Print your paper in gorgeous colors and patterns using your Gel Press and then add a bead to make them POP!  Use what you have, my sweet friends, and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

 Ready for my tree!

Watch how to use a rubber drawer liner to get texture on your Gel Press!

Watch how to make them here!

 Miami colors with a dash of black!

Fan-tassel!

Acorn Candy Dishes (from recycled cardboard)

It's time to start decorating for fall and these recycled cardboard acorn candy dishes will be a hit on your table!  Create these cute toppers in any size or color for pennies using twigs from your backyard.  Make a few extra and fill them with treats for the holidays. 

Have fun!

I use them on top of 99c store candles and I LOVE the way they look

Try mixing candles and candies for a fun table setting

Watch the video tutorial here!

YOU'LL NEED

Cardboard

Craft knife

Cutting mat

Ruler

Tape

Glass dishes

Americana Acrylics in Burnt Sienna

DecoArt Dazzling Metallics in Rich Espresso

Pinking shears

White glue

Hot glue gun 

Paintbrush

Twigs

Brown fabric or faux suede

 Cut about 15 1/2" wide strips of cardboard

Rub them along a table edge to give them a curve

Hot glue the end of a strip to a small twig

Wrap the cardboard around the twig to the end, tape on another piece and continue until you have the lid size that you need.

*Usually about 1/4" larger than the mouth of the glass piece you're pairing it with

Hot glue the end of the last piece on the coil

Gently press the center of the coil upward to create a dome

Paint white glue on the inside of the dome/lid to keep it in place

When dry, paint the lid in Burnt Sienna and then dry brush it in a Rich Espresso Dazzling Metallic 

When dry, cut out fabric leaves with pinking shears and hot glue them to the twig.

Done!