Mini Crate Organizer

When you run out of desk and table space, it's time to start filling up the walls!  I have an abundance of pens, markers, brushes and pencils and I was sick of them cluttering up my work table.  I made this sweet, little wall organizer to save me some serious work table real estate.  I have my tools loose in each mini-create, but you could use pencil cups for easy removal AND to keep them even more organized.  Big thanks to Walnut Hollow for providing the pallets and mini crates for this project! Remember to stay organized and always Make Your Mark!

I'm going to need about 3 more of these!

 Grab and GO!

Watch how to make it here!

STUFF I USED

Rustic Pallets from Walnut Hollow

Mini Crates from Walnut Hollow

2' x 3' 1/4" thick plywood

DecoArt Vintage Effects Wash in Orange, Patina & Turquoise

Masking Tape

Amazing Goop II Max

DecoArt Stencil

Tacklife Jigsaw and Sander

Optional:  Drill

1.  After measuring the size I needed for 2 mini Rustic Pallets, I cut a pattern for my plywood back

*Everything is glued on this back so make sure you measure your pieces first

2.  & 3.  Trace the pattern and cut with a jigsaw

4.  Sand the edges smooth

5.  Drill a hole in the center top so you can hang it from a nail or screw

6. 7. & 8. Paint the plywood in Turquoise, the pallets in Orange and the mini crates in Patina making sure to wipe them as you paint to expose the wood grain

9.  Stencil along the top, sides and bottom of the plywood base

10.  Sand along the edges of the plywood back and pallets to give a weathered, aged look

11.  Using Amazing Goop II Max glue, adhere your pallets to the plywood back

12.  Measure the spacing between the crates and glue them in place with more Amazing Goop II Max

Let dry overnight and you're done!

See you next time!

Vintage Valentine Heart Boxes

It has to be said...I'm obsessed with the line silicone moulds by Iron Orchid Designs!  They are absolutely brilliant and beautiful!  For this vintage Valentine box I used the Fleur mould and filled it with.....wait for it....hot glue!  Yup.  It was super easy and I didn't have to wait ages for my pieces to dry.   After a little paint and highlighting, these gorgeous boxes are ready for my Valentine!  This year, make something special for someone you love.  It doesn't even matter what it is!  Have fun and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

Yes, it's really hot glue!

Ready to fill with LOVE!

Watch how to make them here!

STUFF I USED

Iron Orchid Designs Fleur Mould

Mardi Gras Beads

Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Rouge

Heavy duty glue gun

Light duty glue gun

DecoArt Vintage Effects Wash in Pink

DecoArt Metallic Lustres in Gold Rush

Cardboard

HERE'S HOW

1.  Cut cardboard hearts that are about 7 1/2" x 7 1/2" in size

2. & 3.  Cut 1" wide cardboard strips and curve them by running them along a table edge

4.  Hot glue the 1" strips around one of the cardboard hearts at the very edge

*This is the top of the box

5.  Hot glue 1" strips around the other heart about 1/4" in from the edge

*This is the bottom of the heart

6.  Hot glue Mardi gras beads around the top and bottom edge of the top heart

7.  Fill the Iron Orchid Designs Fleur Mould with hot glue and let dry

8.  Use hot glue to adhere the moulded pieces to the top of the box in an arrangement you like

9.  Paint the box with Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Rouge

10.  Paint another box in metallic gold

*I like gold spray paint for this OR Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass

11.  Paint on Vintage Effects Wash in Pink and use a rag to expose the details of the 

flowers while it's still wet

12. Brush DecoArt Metallic Lustres on the moulded flowers on the red box to bring out the details

Done!

 Sweet hearts!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Card Catalog Ikea Hack

Like many of you, I'm obsessed with card catalogs.  When I see them on Pinterest my heart races and I'm filled with disappointment that I have never, ever found one for sale in my area that wasn't already snatched up!  I decided to take matters into my own hands and create the illusion of those endless yummy little drawers with the help of Walnut Hollow and some inexpensive Ikea dressers.  I even found a way to separate the drawers.....well sort of!  Remember, if you can find it, find a way to create it.  One more thing, always Make Your Mark!

 Already filled to the rim!

 I liked the vintage green over the hunter

Watch how I put them together here!

STUFF I USED

Ikea Rast Dresser (though any dresser will do)

Walnut Hollow Square Promo Plaques

DecoArt Vintage Effect Wash

Walnut Hollow Rustic Rectangle Boards

Amazing Goop II Max

Label holder drawer pulls

HERE'S HOW

1.  Assemble your Ikea Rast dresser

2.  & 3.  Paint and wipe the Walnut Hollow Square Promo Plaques & outer shell of the dresser with the Light Green Vintage Effects Wash

4. - 6.  Measure, cut and glue the rustic rectangle boards to create dividers inside of each drawer

7.  Paint the drawer front and sides with Vintage Effect Wash in Hunter Green

8. Measure and glue the square promo plaques on the drawer fronts, three on each drawer

9.  Screw on the label holders/pull handles on each square

Upholstered Bench Build From A-Z

As fluffy as my behind is, I still like a nice padded bench to sit on when I'm dining outside on my patio!  These benches are the perfect addition to my outdoor seating to make everyone feel like they're sitting on a cloud.  I picked up the outdoor fabric at JoAnn's and then picked the orange and vintage green paint to match once I could see it in the light.  Since my patio table is an odd size, it was easy to customize this bench design to fit perfectly.  Also, each bench only requires 4 pieces of 

1" x 12" pine board, so I decided to make two of them.  Remember, if you can't find it, 

figure out a way to make it.  Oh, and always MAKE YOUR MARK!

 I love mixing patterns

The ombre stencil on the sides added just the right touch

Now everyone is super comfy when we're eating outside!

Watch how to make it here!

STUFF I USED

Pine Board 

2 - 1''x12''x17''

1 - 1''x12''x44''

1 - 1''x12''x48''

Hammer & Nails

Staple Gun

Amazing Goop II Max

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

DecoArt Vintage Effect Wash

Americana Decor Mandala Stencil

Americana Decor Outdoor Living

Fairfield Cushion Foam

Poly-fil Hi-Loft Batting

HERE'S HOW (PART 1)

1. & 2. Using Amazing Goop II Max, glue a 17" board to the side of the 44" board

3. & 4.  Measure down the center of the 17" board (for nail placement) and nail to the 44" board

5. & 6.  Repeat on the other side to create the bench base

7. & 8.  Add more Goop II Max across the top of the bench and then center the 48" board on top

9. & 10.  Mark along the center of the board (for nail placement) and then 

nail the top of the bench in place

11. Paint the base of the bench (not the seat) with Vintage Effects in Orange

*Wipe away the excess to show off the grain of the wood

12.  Dry brush Vintage Effects in White on the base of the bench to give it a weathered look

13. -15.  Tape your stencil in place and with a cosmetic sponge, paint the outside of the stencil with Americana Outdoor Living in Adirondack and the inside of the stencil in Harvest

*Blend the colors where they meet to give an ombre effect

HERE'S HOW (PART 2)

16. & 17.  Place the bench face down on the batting, trace around it with a marker and then cut it with a craft knife

18. & 19.  Squirt E-6000 Fabri-Fuse on the top of the bench and then glue the foam in place

20.  Cut a piece of batting large enough to go over the foam and extend 1" on the underside all the way around

21. & 22.  Staple the batting in place around the foam on the underside of the bench seat

23.  Cut fabric so that it fits over the foam and extends on the underside about 2" and then pin it in place on the top of the bench so it doesn't shift

24. & 25.  Fold the raw edge of the fabric under and staple all the way around the 

underside of the bench

26.  Staple down the fabric along the base of the seat all the way around the bench

27. - 29.  Add a generous line of E-6000 Fabri-Fuse all along the base of the bench seat, then glue & pin the trim in place until it dries

30.  Done!

 Pretty and comfortable!

My new favorite place to sit and paint on the patio!

Moroccan Side Tables DIY

If you follow me on social media or watch my YouTube videos, you might have noticed that lately I've been on a Moroccan design binge.  Everything from the keyhole arches and geometric tiles to the jewel toned mosaic lanterns are really turning me on right now!  Fast forward to me whipping together some Moroccan inspired side tables to use on the back patio this summer.  I loved figuring out the easiest way to make these, too.  The trick to getting the perfect pointed keyhole cutouts on the base is to nail the base pieces together first and then cut them out.  I figured that out the hard way.  Remember to look for inspiration in every part of the world and always Make Your Mark!

So ready for the summer!

The perfect little Moroccan inspired side table!

I'm obsessed with nailhead trim

Watch how I put them together here!

STUFF I USED

1 piece of 20" x 20" x 3/4" Plywood

4 pieces of 1" x 12" x 22" Pine Board

DecoArt Vintage Effect Wash

Mandala Stencil

Americana Decor Outdoor Living Paint

Dritz Brass Nailhead Trim

Hammer and Nails

Jigsaw and Sander

 HERE'S HOW (PART 1)

1. & 2. Fold a sheet of 12" x 22" paper in half and sketch 1/2 of a pointed keyhole design on one side and cut it out

3.  Trace it on the 4 pieces of pine board

4.  On the 20" x 20" plywood, mark 5" from each corner on each side and connect to marks to make an octagon shape

5. Nail the pine boards together with 2" long nails 

6. - 8.  Cut out the 4 pointed keyhole shapes and cut off the corners of the 20" x 20" piece of plywood to make the octagon shape and then sand all of the edges

9.  Paint the outside of the base and the top of the table top with Vintage Effect Wash in Berry 

and let dry

HERE'S HOW (PART 2)

10. & 11.  Paint the pointed keyhole edge and table top edge with Americana Outdoor Living in Turquoise Sky

12.  On the top part of the base (above the tip of the keyhole design) stencil about 1/2 of the mandala on all 4 edges using a cosmetic sponge and more Turquoise Sky

13. & 14.  Center and trace a dinner plate in the center the table top and fill in with Americana Decor Outdoor Living in Sunset

15.  Stencil the mandala over the orange circle on the table top

16.  Paint the inside of the table base with more Outdoor Living in Sunset

17.  Apply nailhead trim to the outer edge of each keyhole cut out and around the edge of the table top

18. Center and nail the table top to the base

This table was washed in Vintage Effect Wash in Orange and the edges were painted in Outdoor Living in Adirondack Green.  The mandala was stenciled in Picket Fence.