News to share!

 Hey friends! I've been absent for a while, but I have the BEST excuse.  I've been filming a new craft show! It's been a very hectic/exciting/wonderful time and as soon as I'm done with the season I'll be back here on the regular, I promise! In the meantime I wanted to share this press release just put out by Discover Plus! 

Earth Day Tree & 6 Earth Day Ornaments

April 22nd is Earth Day!  It's a day to raise awareness about pollution and to celebrate the environment of our blue planet!  Personally, I try to celebrate the earth EVERY day and more importantly I try my darndest to use upcycled and recycled materials in my art.  I know it's hard, but truly every little bit helps.  Did you know that 8 million tons of plastic go into the ocean every year?  Our oceans are so important and we're just destroying them.  In honor of Earth Day 2021 I'm making an Earth Day Tree using upcycled materials and things that fall off of my tree in the backyard!  Use what you have sweet friends and always Make Your Mark!I used a tomato cage as the base and it worked perfectly!  The plaster ornaments are my favorite!

Everything I used for this project:

Royal Talens Amsterdam Acrylic Markers: https://bit.ly/3sgqFtw

Royal Talens Amsterdam Acrylic Inks: https://bit.ly/3wSLCy7 AND https://bit.ly/2QgiqAyMY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Watch how to make my Earth Day Tree here or watch how to make it on Youtube here:  https://youtu.be/HNa0LiDRgMc

A close-up of my earth day ornaments using plastic lids and salad clams, twigs and seashells

Don't have a sketch pad to doodle in?  Try colorizing some fallen leaves!

Dripping ink on plastic lids is mesmerizing AND they make beautiful ornaments!

This project reminds me of mycelia which impact 90% of the growing plants on our planet.

I love seashells and have always thought they are the true jewels of the sea!

Happy Earth Day!

Paper Lanterns with Gel Press

Summer is almost here and you're going to want to make your outdoor space as magical as possible.  I used my favorite Gel Press printed works of art for this lantern project!  If you have a favorite piece, photocopy it several times OR use all different patterns and colors!  Just a little glue and some long coffee stirrers is all you'll need!  Check out the video below.  Now get out there and Make Your Mark sweet friends!

Glowing and gorgeous!

All along the pathway in my backyard!

Working on my Gel Press

Everything I used for this project:

Awesome Gel Press Products: https://amzn.to/364hn95 Americana Acrylics: https://amzn.to/2UFQwgQ MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Long coffee stirrers: https://amzn.to/31sKByw

Watch how to make them here OR

Watch how to make them on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/C37Ph_ABkRU

I love the geometry!

Happy Summer, possums!

Perfectly Marbled Eggs DIY

I used to see marbled eggs on the internet and always wondered how they got them so perfect...Mine were never that perfect until I discovered the trick!  It's all about wiping away your colorant BEFORE you pull them from the water.  Check it out in the video below.  Marble away, sweet friends, and always Make Your Mark!

Love the vintage color combos!  Reminds me of the marbled balloons at the summer fair.

So much prettier than the plain colored plastic eggs!

Everything I used for this project:

Marabu Easy Marble: https://amzn.to/2NCEsMZ Plastic Easter Eggs: https://amzn.to/2YmmlfF

Watch how to make them here OR

Watch how to make them on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/OsZYeOuHey0

I used the plastic craft eggs because I want to display these for Easter!

Egg-cellent!

Happy Easter everyone!

Gorgeous Decorative Eggs

When Easter season comes along I stock up on plastic eggs, fake grass in every color and a ridiculous amount of malted eggs.  When I get home from said Easter shopping trip, I realize that I have more plastic eggs than I can ever use, tons of fake grass from the year before and my big butt doesn't need any more malted eggs.  Still, it's a yearly tradition!  This year I decided to decorate some of my extra large plastic eggs for a coffee table Easter display.  I think they're so fancy and nobody knows they're just plastic eggs and hot glue!  Check out the video below for instructions.  Now get out there and Make Your Mark!

Toss them in a silver bowl with branches from your yard!

My happy trio!

Everything I used for this project:

My silicone molds: https://amzn.to/2wNM06M & https://amzn.to/2wubCVZ Large Easter Eggs: https://amzn.to/3dOq7Yt Americana Acrylics: https://amzn.to/2UFQwgQ Surebonder Glue Guns & Products: https://amzn.to/3bOpfiZ My favorite glue sticks: https://bit.ly/3dNqVwm Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass: https://amzn.to/2UPX1h0

Watch how to make them here OR watch how I make them

on my YouTube channel here:  https://youtu.be/HOANM0nQwOI

I used my Americana Acrylics for the base color.

Happy Easter!

Faux Marble Pendant Lamp DIY

When I go to a hardware or dollar store I get a fluttery feeling in my stomach thinking of all the possibilities.  Gorgeous frames, funky glassware, weird hardware bits and pieces in plastic boxes all lined up on the display.  It makes me happy.  When I pick something up I never think about what it's for, but what it could be...A headboard, a side table, a diorama or in this case, a pendant lamp.   Frames, "L" brackets and spray paint made these gorgeous lamps and they look fabulous on my patio!  Consider the possibilities, sweet friends, and always Make Your Mark!

The perfect glow!

Faux marbling with spray paint on water...Watch the video to see how!

I used Grafix Craft Plastic to make my beautiful marble tiles!  

Here's a list of what I used for this project:

Grafix Craft Plastic: https://amzn.to/3bnG3Ol Grafix Artist-Tac: https://amzn.to/3s8u2mH E6000 Glue: https://amzn.to/2VfF248 Metallic Gold Spray Paint: https://amzn.to/2KBnkWm Light socket: https://amzn.to/3cjjY5w 2" Flat "L" brackets: https://amzn.to/3t3rO9n

Watch the video here or catch it on my Youtube channel here: https://youtu.be/LKD8nRFgvIg

Just hangin' around

Light up your life!

Dotted Boho Crosses

There are so many beautiful dotted object out there I had to give this painting technique a try.  At first I wasn't sure I had the patience, but after I got into the groove it was super relaxing.  The one thing I didn't want to do was invest in dotting tools since I wasn't quite sure this would be a long-term love for me.  I decided to make my own tools out of beads and bamboo skewers and they worked perfectly!  I will be dotting everything that doesn't move from now on.  Try new things, my sweet friends, and always Make Your Mark

Everything I used for this project here:

Americana Acrylics: https://amzn.to/2UFQwgQ Amazing Goop II Max: https://amzn.to/2ZptldN E6000 Plus: https://amzn.to/30GJc4P

Rhinestone Trim: https://amzn.to/3hgkqAW

Watch how to make my dotted crosses here OR

watch how to make them on my YouTube channel here:  https://youtu.be/j4wTfV5IC64

E6000 Plus is the perfect glue for acrylic gems!

Americana Acrylics are my favorite paints!

Cross my heart!