Birthstone Penny Charm Bracelets

My mom had a necklace with 5 gold little boys dangling on it...Me and my brother's names were engraved on the back of each one.  My gram had a beautiful gemstone ring with 12 birthstones all lined up representing each of her kids. Yup, 12 kids! Birthstone jewelry is a tradition in our family and I've always love it.  Any jewelry that has real meaning makes it even more special, but it can be expensive.  I remember me and my brothers saving forever to get my mom that necklace for Christmas and I'm sure my dad had to kick in most of it.  This penny charm bracelet is a fun way to get the same sentiment, well, for pennies!  It's still meaningful and just as fun to wear.  It's also really fun looking for the exact birthyear penny to go with each stone.  Make mom's day, sweet friends with this 

Make Your Mark charm bracelet!

A penny for your thoughts?

Contrary to popular belief, it's not illegal to drill a hole in a penny.

Just charming!

Everything I used:

Crystal Lane Flat Back Gems : https://amzn.to/3n8d5Gm John Bead Chains and Findings : https://amzn.to/3n8xCux E6000 Plus: https://amzn.to/30GJc4P

Watch how to make these charmers here OR

Watch how to make them on my YouTube channel here:  https://youtu.be/SCTBBrb4sJE

Be charming!

Embossed Metal Vases and Wood Boxes

I'm truly obsessed with metal tape and XFasten makes copper tape that's super easy to emboss.  I've used it for everything from jewelry making to these fancy copper candle holders.  Transform everything from jars to wood boxes with this technique.  Add some glass gems and you have the perfect home accessory.  Any embossing folder will work, too.  Just give the tape some texture and you're halfway there.  Try something new, my sweet crafty friends!  Now get out there and 

Make Your Mark!

Use a little green or black acrylic paint to bring out the texture and give a patina!

Try embossing aluminum tape, too!

STUFF I USED FOR THIS PROJECT

XFasten Copper Foil Tape: https://amzn.to/35BO5kW XFasten Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil Reflective Tape: https://amzn.to/3crs2zq E6000 Glue: https://amzn.to/2VfF248 Walnut Hollow Wood Boxes: https://bit.ly/36KCvmR MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Watch how to make these here OR

watch how to make them on my YouTube channel here:  https://youtu.be/Bu3ednayNQw

I have an old Cuttlebug that works beautifully!

My mini treasure chests!

Embossed and beautiful!

Marbled Leather Cuffs - Made from belts!

Have you ever opened an antique book and been obsessed by the beautiful marbled pages on the inside cover?  All the beautiful colors swirling around together inviting you in to an adventure.  I always wondered how those pages were made and after several YouTube videos and a few deep dives into the artsy corners of the web, I saw how difficult it was to get those effects.  Fortunately Marabu has something called EASY MARBLE and now you can get a very similar effect with a water-filled tub!  As much as I wanted to make paper, I thought marbling some leather cuffs might look amazing.  I'm so happy with them, too!  Get out there and try something new, sweet friends, and always

Make Your Mark!

I couldn't stop making them!

Using the Easy Marble Neon Colors!

STUFF I USED FOR THESE CUFFS

Marabu Easy Marble: http://amzn.to/2F2oT7t Easy Marble Color Shifts: https://bit.ly/3fOtN9E Metal Snap Kit: https://amzn.to/2TmQjOb

Drop the colors in, swirl and dip!

Watch how to make these marbled cuffs here OR 

watch the video on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/7AA3KVg1riM

So 80s!

Save your old belts!  They make amazing jewelry!

The only cuffs you want on your wrists!

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!

New Year's Eve Statement Necklace

I miss being a fashion designer.  It was everything I ever wanted since I was 13 years old, and my time in NYC making clothes was magical.  One of the best parts of putting together my runway shows was creating the jewelry pieces.  For my shows, it was the bigger the better!  This piece is an homage to that time in my life.  It's big, bold and perfect for a party!  Can you believe that hot glue was used to make the roese? It's such a great way to make jewelry components and it's much quicker than you think.  I may just wear this piece around the house with my bathrobe.  Wear what you want, my fabulous friends, and always Make Your Mark!

Big, bold and beautiful!

It reminds me of Victorian mourning jewelry

I learned how to hammer aluminum wire for this piece.  So much fun!

Everything I used for this project:

Surebonder Glue Guns & Products: https://amzn.to/3bOpfiZ John Bead Aluminum Wire: https://bit.ly/2J6TqYN John Bead Faceted Glass Beads: https://bit.ly/rondellestrands John Bead / Crystal Lane Faceted Teardrops: https://bit.ly/33iKXJ9 John Bead / Crystal Lane Faceted Oval: https://bit.ly/2JaiGh1 John Bead Jump Rings: https://bit.ly/3o1syst DecoArt Metallic Lustre in Silver Spark: https://bit.ly/3q14nMy Redesign With Prima Silicone Molds: https://amzn.to/3mZn01h & https://bit.ly/37NHkwb MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Watch how to make this necklace here OR

watch how to make it on my  YouTube channel here:  https://youtu.be/qWEJSlPI3bc

DecoArt's Metallic Lustre is amazing stuff!  A great way to bring out the details of a molded piece.

Happy New Year!

Hot Glue Geodes

Have you ever gone geode hunting?  It's basically looking for rocks, but it can be quite exciting if you put wine in your water bottle!  That said, once you find what you think is a goede, you may never know until you get it open.  To break open that rock is impossible.  Cut to me finding a way to make my own geodes in the kitchen with my hot glue gun and crushed fish tank glass.  So much easier and you can make them any color you want.  Imagine what you want, my sweet friends, and then make it, I say!  Now get out there and MAKE YOUR MARK!

My first set of faux geodes

Add a little glitter to make them sparkle even more!

Everything I used for this project:

Surebonder Glue Guns & Products: https://amzn.to/3bOpfiZ Crushed Glass: https://amzn.to/3jvtFhg Silicone Bowls: https://amzn.to/2TljQYu www.DecoArt.com MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Watch how to make them here OR 

catch the video on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/61sgybdFxtM

I dipped mine in sand to give them a more rock like outer shell

My nephews and nieces are obsessed with these!

Heavenly hot glue geodes!