Roadside Rescue Side Table Makeover

A few weeks ago my awesome friend Nikki (from the YouTube channel AtHomeWithNikki) challenged me to a thrift store/roadside rescue furniture makeover.  I'm all for a challenge, but Nikki doesn't play fair....She's basically a triple threat!  A designer, DIY'er and chef.  Still, I took the challenge!  The very next day I found a hideous side table by the trashcans in my neighborhood and dragged it up 3 flights of stairs to my house and stared at it for a week.  Hey, it was there and I was just too exhausted to go looking for furniture at the thrift store.  This would have to do!  Ultimately, I ended up really liking this piece when it was done.  But, my assistant, Julie, liked it more! So, now it's cozy in her apartment.  One man's trash truly is another man's treasure!  Enjoy and be creative. 

 xoxo, Mark

I love the mix of stripes and bold color!

Adding fabric to the sides of the drawer was the perfect touch!

I will hang a tassel from any knob!  Knobs beware!

Watch the fun video tutorial here

Stuff You'll Need

Black and white striped cotton fabric (1 1/2 yards)

Americana Decou-Page

Americana Decor Chalky Finish in White, Treasure and Romance

Krylon Short Cuts paint pen in Metallic Gold

Americana Multi-Surface Satin Metallic Gold

Drill

Drawer knob

Scissors

Paintbrushes

Paint the sides and interior of the side table (and drawer front) with the chalky finish in treasure

Paint the top of the table and sides of the drawer in white chalky finish

Paint the inside of the drawer with the red (Romance) chalky finish

Paint the front trim with the Americana Metallic Gold

Place the ironed stripe fabric on the table top and line up the stripes

With the palm of your hand, press a crease around the edges of the fabric

*Use the creases as your cut lines

Paint the Americana Decou-Page on the top and adhere the fabric

Add another layer of Decou-Page to the fabric after it's in place

Repeat the process with the fabric around the base and on the sides of the drawer

Edge the table with a Krylon Short Cuts metallic paint marker

Drill a hole in the center of the drawer and add a knob if there isn't one there already

Hang a tassel from the knob and you're done!

 Love the striped fabric peeking out from the sides of the drawer!

It's amazing what a little fabric and paint can do to something!

My version of "Put a bird on it."

HAPPY SKULLOWEEN! 5 Skull DIYs

It's officially SKULLOWEEN and I'm going nuts making all different kinds of skulls to decorate my house for Halloween!  Today I'm sharing 5 of my favorites.  BTW, most of these skulls I got at the 99c store and used them as a canvas for some of my favorite techniques.  Have fun and, if you have a moment, let me know which one of these is your favorite!  I'd love to hear from you.

xoxo, Mark

1. SUGAR SKULL VASE

The perfect little vase!

2. COACHELLA SKULL!

So BOHO, don't you think?

3. PLANTER SKULL!  

Why not fill it with succulents or cactus!

4. TATTOO SKULL

Try this with all kinds of images!

5. SKULL CANDLE HOLDER

Nothing says elegant dinner party like skull candle holders!

See how I made them here!

1. SUGAR SKULL VASE

Cut a hole in the top of your plastic skull

Paint it black with Americana Acrylic paint

When dry, paint designs with white Americana Acrylic

Decorate with Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint (puff paint)

Fill with flowers

2. COACHELLA SKULL

Cut and arrange faux flowers to create a headband

Starting in the center, glue it around the forehead of the skull

Add extra leaves and petals to fill it in

3. PLANTER SKULL

Cut a large hole in the top of your skull

Paint the entire skull white with Americana Decor Chalky Finish

When dry, coat it with Americana Decor Crème Wax 

*Immediately wipe most of it away with a wet cloth

Protect it with Americana Decor Light Satin Varnish

Fill with potting soil and succulents or catcus

4. TATTOO SKULL

Print and cut butterflies and flowers

Cut small slits on the edges so that the images adhere flat to the curved surfaces

Using Americana Decou-page, apply the images to the skull until it's completely covered

5. SKULL CANDLE HOLDER

Glue a small metal candle holder to the top of a plastic skull

*You can use a copper coupling piece for this from any hardware store

Paint the skull with black Americana Acrylic paint

Add a precision top to the top of the paint bottle

Drip the red paint from the top to create faux blood

HAPPY SKULLOWEEN!

Skele-Tee DIY

I love this time of year because I get to wear a SKELE-TEE to the supermarket and the only thing people say to me is "Happy Halloween".  No crazy looks, just Halloween love!  For years I would wear the most elaborate costumes this time of year, but lately I've toned it down.  This SKELE-TEE is perfect for someone who wants to celebrate without wearing a huge chicken suit.  Pair it with black jeans and you're good to go!

Happy Halloween.  xoxo, Mark

I added a little glitter to give it a reflective quality, but you could also use

glow-in-the-dark paint!

See how I made it here!

Stuff You'll Need

Iron

Freezer Paper

Americana Multi-Surface Satin in White

Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint

Black tee

Paintbrushes

Craft knife

Scissors

Skeleton template (below)

Cardboard

Print out the skeleton template as large as you can

Fold a large piece of freezer paper in half and draw the design on the fold

Carefully cut it out with scissors and a craft knife

Iron the shiny side of the freezer paper to the front of the tee

Create bones for the arms, too!

Put a large piece of cardboard in the tee so the paint doesn't bleed to the back

*Also do this in the sleeves

Paint two coats of the Americana Multi-Surface Satin paint

When dry, remove the stencil and fill in with Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint in Silver

8O's Memphis Plates DIY

I LOVE 80s Memphis style....LOVE IT!  The colors, the mixed patterns, the COW PRINT mixed with yellow and stripes and dots and squiggles.  I guess you could say this is what the inside of my head looks like.  I'm glad to see this wonderful design movement is making a comeback.  What better way to add a little Memphis to your life than with some funky, painted (dishwasher safe) dishes?!  I had a terrific time painting these.  I could have painted them for weeks, BUT I have tons more fun projects in store for you that I have to get crackin' on!

  xoxo, Mark

A few of my new plates

You can get the perfect porcelain coffee mugs at the 99c store, too!

Watch the video tutorial here!

STUFF YOU'LL NEED

White porcelain plates *99c store

Painter's tape

Craft knife

Paintbrushes

Americana Gloss Enamels

Alcohol

Makeup sponges (triangles)

Black Krylon Short Cuts paint pen

DecoArt Glass Paint Marker in black

Contact paper

Minwax Polycrylic

Clean your plates with rubbing alcohol

Create your designs with contact paper and painter's tape

*I cut circles and taped triangles

Fill in the shapes with Americana Gloss Enamel using a makeup sponge

*Blow on the bubbles to pop them

Remove the tape when dry

*Create stripes with thin pieces of painter's tape

Make dots on folded contact paper using a hole punch

Try different designs using the DecoArt Glass Paint Markers

Bake in the oven twice at 325˚ for 30 minutes each time

*Let the oven cool in between baking times

To make them food save, coat them with Minwax Polycrylic

The best way to get REAL color on glass and porcelain!

Even works on dishes from the 99c store

The perfect morning coffee combo!

I call the one on the right Veins & Rice...Yup, weird, I know.

Mondays with Marlo (and me)

Last week I spent the afternoon with the wonderful Marlo Thomas in her fantastic 5th Avenue apartment making Halloween and Thanksgiving DIYs and answering questions from her fans.  What an absolute blast!  Watch the full video in the Huffington Post here!

MONDAYS WITH MARLO

She loves THE BIG ASS BOOK OF CRAFTS 

(and she loves saying it, too!)

Marlo's weekly show where she interviews everyone from Anderson Cooper to Jane Fonda!

Read and watch the entire episode!

 Marlo playing with Americana Acrylics and a pumkin

 A simple skeleton costume made with freezer paper!

 A bedazzled pumpkin, just for fun

 Yup, that book is STILL selling like hot cakes!

Halloween centerpiece with dollar store items

Polo Makeover and Little Fixes by Disney Powless

Recently I picked up a book by Disney Powless called Little Fixes and rocked one of my old polo shirts with one of the chapters!  A little fabric and a few simple stitches and you have something new to wear....I figured this one was headed to the thrift store so why not give it another life?  Little fixes is filled with super cute projects that will easily extend the life of your child's clothes.  Even if your sewing skills are limited, these projects are pretty easy to accomplish.

Have fun!  xoxo, Mark

Chubby cheeks strikes again!

See how to make this here!

STUFF YOU'LL NEED

Old Polo shirt

1 yard striped knit

Fabric pencil

Sewing machine

Matching thread

Scissors

Little Fixes by Disney Powless

 1. Cut the bands off of the sleeves of the polo.

2. Fold an 18" x 22" piece of fabric in half lengthwise.

3. Place the folded fabric under the polo sleeve so that the sleeve overlaps by 1".

4. Measure from your shoulder to your wrist.

5. Using that measurement, measure from the shoulder of the polo to the wrist 

(on the fabric) and mark.

6. Draw your sleeve extension pattern on the folded fabric adding 1/2" all the way
down for seam allowance.

7. Fold another piece of 18" x 22" fabric in half, place it under your drawn sleeve extension and then cut both at the same time.

8. Fold a 7" wide by (about 10" long) piece of fabric in half lengthwise and wrap it around your wrist.

9.  Add 1/2" and cut it out.  This will be your cuff. 

10.  Fold the 7" long ends together and stitch.

11.  Fold in half to create a tube and you have a cuff ready to be stitched on your sleeve.

*Stitch the other one

12.  Using 1/2" seam allowance, stitch along the length of your sleeve extension.

13.  Match the raw ends of the cuff to the wrist of the sleeve extension and stitch together.

14. Turn the polo inside out and stuff the sleeve extension inside the sleeve, 

matching right sides together.

15. Pin and stitch around the sleeve, stretching the fabric as you sew.

16.  Create your pocket pattern, add an extra 1" along the top and cut in fabric.

17. Fold and zigzag the 1" extension of the pocket.

18. Pin the pocket on the shirt and zigzag around the edges to create the pocket.