Dollar Store Frame Upstyle

Printing out vintage botanicals on watercolor paper is a wonderful way to create beautiful art for your home.  I LOVE how much beauty they can add to a room.  In fact, my entire dining room is filled with botanical drawings and big plants and it makes me VERY happy!  These works of art started out as dollar store frames and with a little decoupage and hot glue, you can have something AMAZING to show off. Check out the video below to see how it's done and then get out there and

MAKE YOUR MARK!  xo

Dollar store frames and hot glue...Yup! 

Crumpled tissue paper glued to almost anything always looks amazing!

Everything I used for this project:

Surebonder Glue Guns & Products: https://amzn.to/3bOpfiZ Clearly Aligned Decor Stamps in Linear Floral: https://bit.ly/3A3Epfv Decor Mould in Regal Trimming: https://bit.ly/3xjXeJE Decor Ink Pad in white: https://bit.ly/3yoC8LE Watercolor Confections in Terrain: https://bit.ly/3A2eFA3 Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Carbon Black: https://amzn.to/3yk1w4V

Watch how I made this here OR

watch tons of other videos on my YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/MarkMontanoDesigner/featured

It is wonderfully relaxing adding watercolor to black and white botanicals!

Creativity is the key, my wonderful friends!

See you soon! x

Scrappy Happy Wreath DIY

Ok, I'm finally in my new home and when people told me it would take a year to unpack and feel settled, I didn't believe them. Well, it's been a year and I'm finally feeling like I'm at home!

Today I'm sharing my scrappy happy wreath diy. I had soooo many little pieces of fabric and trim and it was time to just use them for something. I think creative people always have a box of "stuff" that just keeps getting bigger. Am I right? Use up those scraps my craft friends!  Sending out all the love today from my new home!

I used a pool noodle base for this. It's so easy and cheap, cheap, cheap!

Watch how to make this here!

Nothing but a glue gun and a ton of scraps!

I hope this DIY makes you as happy as it does me!

xo, Mark!

 

Striped Glassware - So Easy!

Nothing makes me happier than beautiful dishes. I was the weird kid (for many reasons) who collected funky thrift store dishes in high school in preparation for my eventual fancy dinner parties.  Guess what, I still use dishes I collected in high school for my dinner parties.   I made these for a fun outdoor summer gathering and WOW do they look fun on the table.  A little dollar store glassware and some glass paints and you've got a gorgeous table setting!  Since we eat 3 times a day (well, more like 5 for me) I say why not use dishes that make you happy?!  Now get out there and Make Your Mark!

I bought an old record player for this project and it makes the most beautifuls stripes 

on everything from plates to bowls!

Mix ALL the colors!

Experiment on a piece of paper first to find out what works for you.

Watch how to make them here or watch the video (and many more) on my YouTube channel

here: https://youtu.be/QWaagdWDT3k

I used DecoArt Glass Paint for this project: https://bit.ly/2xCVoul

I only want to eat sherbet on these dishes!

Stripe it RICH, baby!

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!

Dollar Store Happy Mail

I try to send a piece of happy mail every day.  I'm obsessed with sending colorful art through the mail in hopes of causing some excitement when a friend finds a colorful letter from me in their mailbox.    Since I've been stuck at home, I've been sending even more happy mail and finding experimenting with new techniques to jazz up inexpensive envelopes and paper from the 99c store.  It's a terrific challenge, for sure.  This colorful stationery was made with leaves and art sprays and I just love the way it looks.  I made the sprays with Marabu Graphix Aqua Inks which you can also use with a calligraphy pen...How cool is that?!  Make art, sweet friends, and then send it through the mail!  It's a great way to Make Your Mark, too!

Write ON!

Leaves from the yard make the most amazing mask stencils!

Watch how I press leaves in the microwave!  It's so easy!

Watch how to make it here OR
Watch this video on my YouTube channel here:  https://youtu.be/BZe6FGiJkmU

Mix the colors and then blot...So easy!

Going postal!

Stained Glass with Plastic Folders

When I lived in the east village of NYC, my neighbor and I had windows about 3 feet apart.  We could clearly see everything in each other's apartments!  Since I wanted as much light as possible, I opted for a version of this faux stained glass which let in the light but allowed me to run around free and easy!  For this project I used my Xyron Creative Station which saved me quite a bit of time.  I also used plastic office folders which came in a stack of 40 for about $13 bucks.  So much less than a real stained glass window, right?!  I love that something as simple as an office folder can have another creative use.  Give things another life, sweet friends, and don't forget to

Make Your Mark!

In my kitchen window while they work on the roof next door!

A stack of folders for not much at all!  Here's the link:  https://amzn.to/2Ak5WzR

Links to everything I used for this project:

Xyron Creative Station: https://bit.ly/2yuW31n Colorful Plastic Folders: https://amzn.to/2Ak5WzR Permanent Adhesive Cartridge: https://amzn.to/2KaMzuC Repositionable Adhesive Cartridge: https://amzn.to/35PCBbZ Moroccan Pattern: https://bit.ly/2AdsH8o MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

I used 99c store certificate frames for this project,
but you could stick these right to the window!

Watch how to make this here!
OR
Watch how to make this on my YouTube channel here:  https://youtu.be/4QNHSxtLiSQ

Faux and fabulous!

Sacred Heart Shadow Box DIY

I just got back from Puerto Vallarta and loved every minute of my time in Mexico.  I adore everything about the Mexican culture...The color, the music, the food and the creativity.  It was such an inspiring trip!  These Mexico inspired sacred heart shadow boxes were made with ALL of the doodads in my craft box. I went nuts with color, buttons, glitter and whatever else I could find.  I love a project like that!   I used some simple dollar store frames to create the "box".  Just stack 2 together, glue on the back and you're ready to fill & decorate!  Use what you have, my creative friends, 

and always Make Your Mark!

 I'm wrapping these and giving them as gifts this year!

I used a wooden heart but you could put almost anything inside 

I copied Loteria pages to decoupage on the sides of the frame

Watch how to make them here!

 Tuck paper or ribbon flowers on the inside corners for even more texture & color

Shrine on, my friends!