Marie Antionette Table Makeover

I found this table for $15 at my local thrift store and could not pass it up!  I'm sure it came from a recently closed,  Hollywood motel in my area because there were at least 10 of them!  At first glance I thought it was super tacky, but after taking a closer look and seeing all of the details, I quickly snapped it up for this makeover project.  Not exactly sure how Marie Antionette became the inspirations,  I just kept thinking of her when I was painting the base in pink and gold.  When that happens, you go with it!  If you have a better name, I'd love to know!  Remember to always look for the potential in things and always try to Make Your Mark!

 All this needs is a pink phone!

Looks so pretty on my faux lawn!

Pink with black and white stripes REALLY does it for me!

Watch how I did it here!

STUFF I USED

Thrift store table

Masking Tape

Americana Decor Satin Enamels in black and white

Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Reminisce

Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass

Sander

Gold metallic marker

HERE'S HOW

1.  Sand down the imperfections on the table top if there are any

2.  Paint the top in Americana Decor Satin Enamels in white and let dry

3.  Paint the base in Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Remenisce

4.  Create stripes with masking tape across the table top

*I used 1 1/2" wide tape and spaced it every 1 1/2" for even stripes across the table

5.  IMPORTANT!  Once the tape is down, add more white paint along both edges 

of each strip of tape

*The white paint will seep under the tape and create a barrier so the black does not seep under the tape and create fuzzy lines

6.  Carefully paint black in between the taped lines

7.  Carefully remove the tape when the paint is almost dry

8.  Paint the edge of the table with Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass

*This is hands down my favorite metallic paint!

9.  Edge the table with a paint marker so that you have a perfectly crisp metallic gold edge

10. & 11. Bring out the details by using a dry brush dipped in a tiny bit of gold and brushing it across the flourishes

12.  Ready to decorate!

Art Crayon Art Journals

I'm cuckoo for Marabu's Art Crayons and all of the beautiful art journal techniques you can create with them!  I was so excited about my pages I decided to bind them with fabulous marbled covers. What I've created are my initial pages which will eventually be rubber stamped, decoupaged and written on.  You know, like a real, organic art journal that just keeps on keepin'-on!  What I love most about the art crayons is that you can manipulate them with sponges and water and when you're finally satisfied, you can spray them with a fixative for further work with other mediums.  I had some scrap wood pieces from another project and they made perfect covers.  Turn your work into beautiful art journals and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

A few of my new journal pages

 The clear school glue technique is my favorite!

Bound for glory!

Watch how to make them here!

STUFF I USED

5 1/2" x 7" thin wood pieces

Marabu Art Crayons

Watercolor paper

Swing Arm Paper Cutter

Clear washable school glue

Pad/Book Compound

Stencils

Clamps

Black and white gesso

Marabu Easy Marble

HERE'S HOW TO MAKE THE PAGES

Technique One

1. Moisten a cosmetic sponge

2. Rub an Art Crayon on the end

3. Dab onto watercolor paper using different colors

4. Repeat with a stencil in a contrasting color

5. When dry lightly spray with a fixative

Technique Two

6.  Go crazy with Art Crayons on watercolor paper

7. Blend the colors with a lightly damp cosmetic sponge

8.  Stencil over the page with black gesso

9.  Lightly spray with a fixative

Technique Three

10.  Coat a piece of watercolor paper with white gesso and let dry

11. Use a generous amount of Art Crayon color

12.  Blend the colors with a dry cosmetic sponge

13. Stencil with white gesso or a fun paint

Technique Four

14.  Paint over a stencil with clear, washable school glue and let dry

15.  Go crazy with Art Crayons

16.  Blend the Art Crayons with a dry cosmetic sponge allowing the color to be removed 

from the dry glue

17.  Stencil over the pieces with black gesso or another color

Technique Five

18.  Stencil with black gesso on watercolor paper

19. Add a generous amount of Art Crayon over the top

20.  Paint over the Art Crayon with a brush and water for a beautiful watercolor effect

HERE'S HOW TO BIND YOUR JOURNALS

1. -4.  Make sure your art journal pages are the same size as your wood covers

*I cut my pages first and then filled them with different Art Crayon techniques

5. Fill a tub with water and sprinkle your favorite colors of Easy Marble on top

6.  Place paper face down on the Easy Marble to pick up the beautiful marbling

7. Let dry

8.  Moisten the marbled pages with a light spray of water to relax the paper

9.  Add glue or decoupage medium to the wood piece

10.  Center it on the marbled paper making sure it's completely flat

11.  Cut out the corners at a slight angle

12. & 13.  Add glue to the flaps and glue them to the other side

14.  Clamp your art journal pages between 2 covers making sure everything is 

completely even and flat and then spread Book/Pad Compound along the edge and let dry

15.  Cover up the binding with matching paper using more glue

Bound art journals ready to embellish even more!

 Go crazy with color and stencils!

If you don't have wood, you could use a sturdy cardboard OR chipboard

No-Sew Rag Rug Ottoman Makeover

I've been obsessed with 99c store rag rugs since my first day of kindergarten when we had to bring one to school for nap time.  I have a picture (somewhere) of me holding one under my arm and a HUGE box of 64 Crayons in my pudgy little hands.  It was a glorious day for sure.  Now I like to use them to spice up my patio and cover outdoor pieces that have been rained on and left in the sun just a little too long.  This no-sew project will spice up some outdoor seating in a flash.  The best part, this cost about $6 to make!  Have fun and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

Ready for my first outdoor party!

Never underestimate the power of a yarn pompom!

Toss in some lanterns from Home Goods and you're golden!

 Watch how to makeover the ottoman here!

STUFF I USED

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

Rag Rugs (make sure to find a size you can use so you don't have to cut them too much)

Old ottoman in need of some love (and color)

Fringe, wood beads and cotton ribbon

Yarn pompoms

Needle and thread

HERE'S HOW

1.  Cut the rag rugs to fit the sides of the ottoman

2. & 3.  Glue them on with E-6000 Fabri-Fuse and let them dry

*You can pin them in place while they dry, too

4.  Cut one rag rug so that the fringed ends hang over the side of the ottoman about 5" or so

*This is to cover the top raw edge of the side pieces

5.  Glue the top "flaps" on with a generous amount of Fabri-Fuse

6.  Glue an entire rug over the top to cover the rest of the top of the ottoman

7.  Pull about 10" of cotton ribbon through a large wood bead (using a bent 

wire as a needle) and not the loop so that it doesn't slide back through the bead

8.  Wrap an 8" piece of fringe around the cotton ribbon at the base of the bead and then stitch through the top of the fringe (through the cotton ribbon) to create a tassel

9.  Stitch 2 tassels on each corner of the ottoman

Optional:  Stitch colorful pompoms on each corner for some more fun!

 You're invited to my next party!

Try it on a round ottoman.  Just as easy!

Wood Slice Table Ikea Hack

Have you noticed the wood slice trend?  It's everywhere and I just love it!  I decided it was time to give it a shot and see if I could incorporate it into something funky and fun for my summer patio decor.  The base is a cheap-o Ikea Lack table which I purchased for $5 on sale.  The little bits of color peeking out between the slices mixed with the natural wood is REALLY doing it for me!  I feel like Todd Oldham might really like this table.  It's almost spring so start thinking about your outdoor summer spaces and don't forget to Make Your Mark when you do!

 Boxy and beautiful

A little slice of heaven (for my patio)

Watch how to make it here!

STUFF I USED

Americana Decor Outdoor Living Paint

Ikea Lack Table

Basswood Country Rounds from Walnut Hollow

Jigsaw

Amazing Goop II Max Glue

Four 1/4" wood panels cut to 17 1/2" x 21 1/2"

 HERE'S HOW

1.  Assemble the Ikea table

2.  Make sure your pieces fit perfectly on each side

3. & 4.  Paint each panel (and the table top) in a different color of Outdoor Living

5.  Arrange your wood slices on the painted panels

6.  Glue them on with the Goop Max II

7.  When the pieces are dry, careful saw off the extended wood slices with a jigsaw to create square panels

8.  Add glue along each side of the table and apply your wood slice panels

Done!

This needs a cocktail!

Baroque Candles

On a recent vacation, I saw a version of this candle in a fancy little shop in France.  It was too heavy to carry around all day (and it was a small fortune) so I passed it up and have been kicking myself ever since!  Last month when Iron Orchid Designs sent me their silicone moulds, that candle popped into my head once again!  I decided to make a version of it in clay, and you know what?!  I love it even MORE than the one I remember seeing!  It's amazing what sticks in your mind and how they morph into other ideas later on when you least expect it.  Remember to buy it when you see it (so you don't kick yourself later) and always Make Your Mark! 

3 wicks for extra light at night!

I love the details sooooo much!

Watch how to make them here!

HERE'S WHAT I USED

Air Hardening Clay

Iron Orchid Designs Mould

Corn Starch (I put mine in a salt shaker)

E-6000 Glue

Large glass vase

Americana Decor Clear Cream Wax

Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass

DecoArt Vintage Effects Wash in Patina

Putty knife

HERE'S HOW

1. Dust the silicone mould with corn starch

*This helps the clay release easily

2.  Fill the mold with the Light Weight Stone Clay

3.  Bend the silicone mould to release the molded clay

4. Lightly press the molded clay on the glass vase rim so it sticks in place

5.  Keep creating molded clay pieces and placing them on the glass vase to get your design

6.  & 7. When the pieces are dry, glue them to the vase with E-6000 Glue

8.  Paint the clay vase in Vintage Brass and let dry and then coat the vase with clear creme wax

9.  After the wax is dry, paint the Patina Vintage Effects Wash on top of the gold making sure to get it in the cracks and crevices

10.  While the Patina is wet, wipe if off with a wet rag to expose the gold details

11.  Fill the pan with water and very slowly melt three 99c store candles 

on very low heat on the stove

12.  Remove the wicks from the candles, hang them in the clay candle from chopsticks and then fill the candle with the melted wax

Voila!

Can't wait for a quiet night!

Valentine Heart Squishies

Nothing better than a Valentine that says "SQUEEZE ME!"  Grab your red & pink fabric scraps, some paint and big Art Foamies heart stamps and make these gorgeous, squeezable Valentines for your loved ones.  If you have a few extra, save them for the Christmas tree or your anniversary.  I have a feeling these would be a hit any time of year.  Remember to spread the LOVE 

and always Make Your Mark!

Squeeze me!

 A comfy pile of LOVE! 

Watch how to make them here!

STUFF I USED

Fairfield World Squishy Foam

Art Foamies heart stamps

DecoArt Americana Acrylics in Valentine's Day colors 

Trims

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

Red, white and cream cotton fabrics

Sewing machine

Pinking shears

HERE'S HOW

1. & 2.   Using Americana Acrylics in the colors of your choice, stamp the heart Art Foamies on pressed light cotton fabric

3. Cut out some of the hearts with pinking shears

4. Cut out 6" x 6" squares of decorative fabric

5.  Stitch the hearts and trim in the center of the squares

6.  Cut a larger heart from the square

7. Stitch the heart on another square leaving a 3" hole for stuffing and cut around 

the stitched heart

8. Cut the Fairfield World Squishy Foam into a heart shape and stuff it into the heart 

shaped pillow through the 3" hole

9.  Stitch the hole closed

10.  Add a ribbon loop to the top of the hear (if you want)

11. & 12. Add a line of Fabri-Fuse around the heart and glue on some sparkly sequins

Let dry and give your heart away!

Nothing like squeezing someone you love!

Vintage Heart Ornaments

Got some cardboard, beads and wire in your craft stash?  If so, why not make some vintage heart ornaments to give away this Valentine's Day!  This is the perfect project to use up that stack of Amazon Prime cardboard.  I used stencils to decorate my hearts, but you could hand paint them or decoupage images on them...Whatever you want!   Surprise your loved ones by hanging one from the rear view mirror in their car on Valentine's Day!  I have a feeling they would just love it. 

Enjoy the holiday of love and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

 YOU are the key to my heart...

Watch how to make them here!

STUFF I USED

Cardboard & book pages

Americana Decoupage

Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint in Gold Glitter

DecoArt Stencil

Wire & wire cutters

Keys, ribbon & beads

DecoArt Extreme Sheen & Americana Acrylics in Cadmium Red

Optional: Glitter & Glue

HERE'S HOW

1.  & 2. Cut out cardboard hearts & glue them together in layers of 3

3.  Cut out book pages about 1" larger than the hearts all the way around

4.  After misting the book page with water, spread decoupage on it and place your heart in the center

 *Clip the edges and fold them over the side of the heart and repeat on the other side until the

entire heart is covered in text

5. When the heart is dry, stencil it with red acrylic paint

6. - 8. Embellish with Gold Glitter Allure or glue and glitter

9.  Bend a loop on the end of a 6" piece of wire

10.  Pierce the heart from top to bottom and bend another loop on the end of the wire

11.  Hang beads and a key from more wire from the base and a ribbon for hanging from the top

12.  Glue on a printed banner

 Ready for Valentine's Day!