Recycled Mini Blind Bracelets

Every morning at 7:30 a.m. I head out for a run around Silverlake Reservoir while listening to a mix of Enrique Iglesias and Megan Trainer.  Before I get to the reservoir I hike through some serious residential hills.  On pick-up days, I see everything from furniture and scrap wood to clothing and closet doors.  At least once a week I see a set of broken mini blinds sticking out of a bin.....Tangled, dusty, a few bent slats and just plain sad for finally having been replaced by new blinds or even some fancy-schmancy curtains.  I decided it was time to take those sad little slats home and recycle them into some fun jewelry.  Remember......invent new uses for things, always try to add some color and do your best to Make Your Mark!

Wrapped with my scrap fabric twine which was originally shared
 in my 2011 book, The Big Ass Book of Crafts 2

Wrapped with scrap fabric bias binding

As usual, I went a little crazy!

Watch how I made them here!

STUFF I USED
Broken mini blind slats
E-6000 Glue
Scrap fabric
Tape
Bias maker
Decorative buttons
Iron
Clothespins

HERE'S HOW I MADE THEM
1.  Roll the slats into bangle shapes and tape them to the size you need.
2. & 3.  Measure and cut 2" wide strips of fabric cut on the exact diagonal of the fabric
4. & 5.  Iron the cut 2" fabric (bias strips) as you pull it through the bias maker
6. & 7.  Glue the end to the inside of a mini blind bangle and start wrapping at a diagonal
8.  Using a dot of glue at the end of the strip, use clothes pins to hold in place until dry.
9.  Use clothespins to hold your glued decorative buttons in place while they dry
ROPE WRAPPED VERSION
10.  Knot two 1/2" wide strips of fabric together and twist one clockwise and the other counter-clockwise as you twist them together
*Sounds confusing but you'll get the hang of it!
11.  Make different color combinations
12.  Using E-6000, glue the end to the inside of the mini blind base and wrap the bangle gluing the end of the fabric twine to the inside and securing it with a clothespin while it dries.

Some with buttons, some without

Jar Makeover with Coloring Books

If you're a bit of a hoarder like me, I'll bet you have a ton of pasta and jam jars in your cabinets just waiting for a fun weekend project, right?  Some days I can barely get to my coffee mug in the morning because they just keep piling up and I won't toss them out!  Well, grab your adult coloring books and let's make some snazzy pencil cups.  It's easy and they'll look amazing with all of your colorful writing tools.  Remember to recycle, stay organized and always

Make Your Mark!

Yup, I went a little nuts! 

Watch how I made them here!

 STUFF I USED

Jars
Coloring book pages *I copied mine on my home computer

Americana Decoupage Medium in Matte

Spray bottle with water

Krylon Paint Marker

 HERE'S HOW

1.  Measure the jar from top to base

2. Cut out the shape so it fits around the jar

3.  Cut slits every 1/2" or so along the top and bottom so that it can easily fit around the tapered ends of the jar when you decoupage

4.  Mist the paper on the front and back side to relax it

*This ensures you have no bubbles when you apply it

5.  Apply the decoupage to a section of the jar and keep adding it around the jar as
you adhere the paper

6.  Coat the entire jar with more decoupage

7.  When completely dry, scrape off the excess around the mouth with a craft knife for a clean edge

8.  Use a paint marker around the mouth edge to give it a nice finish

9.  Fill them with your writing tools

So pretty!

Easy Cactus Lanterns

Grab four dollar store frames and some E-6000 glue and make some amazing lanterns for your next dinner party!  I used vintage cactus images (LOVE) but you could use any set of images you want.  Why not use vintage photos of your grandparents for their next anniversary party?  They would love it!  Remember, have fun, have dinner parties and always 

Make Your Mark!

Put a tea light inside and you have instant ambiance!

Make a couple for more impact!

Watch how to make them here!

STUFF I USED

Vintage Cactus Images

Four 4" x 6" frames

E-6000 Glue

Americana Decor Crackle Medium

Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Enchanted

Americana Decoupage in Gloss

Large clamps

HERE'S HOW

1.  Remover the glass, backing and small metal stays

2.  Glue the frames in a box shape together with E-6000 Glue and let dry

3. & 4. Paint the frames with Americana Decor Crackle Medium

5.  When the Crackle Medium is dry paint over it with the Americana Decor Chalky Finish with broad strokes making sure not to overwork the paint

*One thick coat should do it

6.  Use the glass as a template to cut out the cactus images

7.  Mist the images with water, add decoupage to the glass and carefully place them on the glass

8.  Coat them with more Decoupage

9.  When the images are dry, glue them inside the frames with more E-6000 Glue

Done!

Add some plants in small glass vases and you're ready for a beautiful night!

Boho Rag Rug Floor Pouf

Not long ago I went a little nuts at the 99c store and bought a huge stack of colorful rag rugs.  I used them for several projects, but still had quite a few left over.  Finally, I remembered there was still one project I'd been dying to make and it would use up the remainder of my hoard......A rag rug floor pouf!  It took a little figuring out, but this pouf is sturdy as can be and is filled with everything you can imagine......Old towels, scrap fabrics, pillow stuffing and plastic bags.  Hey, I like to recycle!  BTW, you can't be in a bad mood and say the word "pouf", you just can't.  Remember to have fun, make poufs and always Make Your Mark!

Rag rugs never looked so fun!

A little boho outdoor space

I stenciled the pillow AND used the Boho Ribbon DIY for the edges!

See how I made it here!

STUFF I USED

Pattern for the pouf

6 rag rugs

Heavy cotton fabrics *2 yards for the lining 1 yard for the stenciled circles

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

Americana Decor Mandala Stencil

DecoArt Dazzling Metallics

Sewing machine

Poly-fil, towels, scrap fabrics, plastic bags

HERE'S HOW

 1.  Stencil 2 mandala patterns in Dazzling Metallics on the dark heavy cotton fabric

2. & 3.  Cut them out and notch around the pattern

4.  Cut 6 side panels in the heavy cotton fabric

5.  Glue the panels to the rag rugs with E-6000 Fabri-Fuse 

*The fabric panels will stabilize the rag rug and keep them from fraying

6.  Cut the rag rugs in the shape of the side panels when the Fabri-Fuse is dry

7.  & 8.  Sew two of the panels together on one side (rugs facing each other) with 1/2" seam allowance

9.  Continue sewing all of the rugs in a circle leaving a 5" gap in the last seam

*This will be used to turn it right side out and for stuffing 

10.  This is what your pattern stitched panels will look like when they are sewn

11.  Pin the circle notches to the panel seams on both the top and bottom and stitch around using 1/2" seam allowance

12.  Stuff the pouf with everything you can find from old towels and recycled plastic bags to pillow stuffing and fabric scraps and then stitch closed

Pouf!

Why not make two for a funky, boho seating area!

Faux Stained Glass Mandalas

You might know that I'm a huge fan of stained glass and you might also know that sadly, it's the one craft I just can't seem to grasp.  Oh well!  When I really need a stained glass fix I grab my box of Americana Crystal Gloss Enamels and go to town.  So much easier than the real process and for me, just as gratifying. That's right friends, these are not stained glass at all, but permanently painted glass.  The part I like most about this project is that you don't have to be an artist.  Just grab your favorite adult coloring book pattern and use that as your guide.  How fun is that?!  Remember...make art, make messes and always Make Your Mark!

I can't decide where to put them!

They look wonderful sitting in my kitchen window!

Watch how to make them here!

Stuff I Used

Americana Crystal Gloss Enamels

Americana 3D Opaque Gloss Enamel

Adult Coloring Book pages

Frames

 Here's How

1.  Place your adult coloring book page under the glass of a frame

*Got my frames at the 99c store

2.  Trace the design with the 3D Opaque Gloss Enamels and let dry

3. & 4. Pick your color scheme and start filling in the designs

5. & 6. Carefully frame your pieces and place them where the sun can shine through

My favorite!

Anthropologie Dishes DIY

Lately every thrift store I hit has an entire shelf filled with white porcelain dishes for pennies.  Being the crazy hoarder that I am, I usually grab a box full and haul them home and wait for inspiration to visit.  Well, a few weeks back, after a trip to some hip home goods stores,  inspiration hit and I started making these Fornasetti inspired (dishwasher safe) dishes......and now I'm hooked.  I may just toss out all of my other dishes and use these from now on because they are rocking my world!  Remember to hit the thrift store, look everywhere for inspiration and always Make Your Mark!

Mug-a-licious!

Watch how easy they are to make here

STUFF I USED

White porcelain dishes

Americana Dishwasher Safe Decoupage

Water bottle

Gold paint marker

Americana Decor Metallics in Antique Brass

Vintage Images

 HERE'S HOW

1. - 3. Paint the handles with the Americana Decor Metallics and edge the plates with a gold paint pen

4. & 5.  Carefully cut out an image and mist it with water to relax the paper

*This prevent bubbles when you decoupage

6. & 7.  Coat the back of the image with the decoupage and adhere it to the mug

8. & 9.  Add a generous amount of decoupage around the image overlapping slightly onto the porcelain and fill in with more decoupage

10.  Coat the painted handle generous amount of decoupage

12.  Coat the gold edge and image on the plates with a thick layer of decoupage and let cure

Done!

So chic!

Two Easy Halloween Wreaths!

I'm just going to say it, Halloween is not my favorite holiday.  Before you scream "WHAAAAT!!!!" here's why.  I have a MAJOR SUGAR ADDICTION (as I write this I'm eating gummy bears) and this is the start of the season when I fight reaching into every bowl of candy and groping (without consent) every pie from here to New Year's Day.  I'm miserable because once I give into that tiny bag of Skittles, it's all over and I have to start wearing my big boy jeans.  NOT FUN AT ALL!  That said, I do like making wreaths so here are two that you can make for Halloween and Day of the Dead.  Remember, have fun, eat lots of candy and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

Day of the Dead Wreath

Watch how to make this (and a few other things) here!

STUFF I USED

Pool Noodle

Duct tape

Black fabric strips

Plastic skull

Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint

Ribbon

Black and colorful flowers

HERE'S HOW

1. & 2. Tape a pool noodle together to create a wreath

3.  Wrap it in fabric (like a mummy) and pin the ends in place

4. & 5.  Glue black flowers around the wreath with E-6000 and pin in place until they dry

6. Glue colorful flowers around the wreath with more E-6000

7.  Decorate a plastic skull with Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint

8. & 9.  Glue the skull and a bow to the inside of the wreath and let dry

Boo!

CREEPY SKULL WREATH

Watch how to make it here!

STUFF I USED

Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Carbon

10 plastic skulls

E-6000 Glue

Fake roses

Ribbon and glitter

Cardboard or foamcore

HERE'S HOW

1.  Make a thin donut (the size of your wreath) out of the cardboard or foamcore for a base

2. & 3.  Arrange and glue them to the base with E-6000

4. & 5.  Paint the skulls and base with the Americana Decor Chalky Finish

6. & 7.  Paint glue on the heads and glitterize them with black glitter

8. & 9.  Glue roses in between the skulls and a large bow on the top 

Creepy!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!