Fabulous Fabric Tape

 I have EVERY kind of tape you can imagine!  Not kidding. Boxes and boxes of it and when washi tape became popular I went NUTS. When going through my tape the other day I realized there was one tape I didn't have and that was fabric tape....so I made some with my Xyron Creative Station. If you ever need to tape something together, come on over....I've got your back!  Check out how I made it in the video below and don't forget to MAKE YOUR MARK!

Love the way this looks on practically everything!

My Xyron Creative Station turns anything into a sticker...even fabric! 

I used smaller pieces in my art journals.

Watch how to make fabric tape here!

OR watch it on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/l1TtmNoVVNQ

Xyron Creative Station: https://bit.ly/2yuW31n Awesome Gel Press Products: https://amzn.to/364hn95

What can I say? You're stuck with me!

Have a wonderful day, everyone! xo, Mark!

Geometric Embroidered Cuffs - Upcycled, too!

I seem to have a plethora of plastic jugs every month and I finally decided to cut them up and see what I could make with them. It's been an adventure for sure! Since I love making jewelry it was the perfect place for me to start and the cuff base I made could be used for 100 different jewelry making projects!  For my first use I paired it with some colorful Sulky threads and went all out with embroidery. You don't have to be particularly skilled to embroider these, just repeat the same stitches around the cuff, change the color and keep going!  Happy upcycling my amazing friends! Now get out there

and MAKE YOUR MARK!

Who da thunk these started as plastic jugs!

Sulky Petites come in awesome colors....you can buy them separately, too!

Here's how it starts. Watch the video to see how I make the cuff base. It's easy, once you know the secret!

Watch how to make these top to bottom here!

Follow me on Instagram if you're there...I'm at TheMarkMontano

Use any combination of stitches and colors!

There's something about making something from nothing...

Sending you all sew much love!  XO, Mark

Extra Summer Seating - Thrift Store Steal

Painted or stenciled, you can have some extra summer seating for a song with a few thrift store finds. I grabbed these for $5 each and I love how they gave life to my back patio. Love it!  I used my Cricut and permanent vinyl to make the designs BUT you could just paint and stencil, it's up to you.  Just have fun, use lots of color and MAKE YOUR MARK! 

Watch how to make them here! 

This Ryobi sander saves my life EVERY day! Make sure to give your seats a good sanding before you begin. Trust me on this!

I mixed two colors together for the seat, but one is fine, too! 

Love you all!  x, Mark

 

Kid Friendly Art Prompt Cards

I have nieces who look perpetually bored. Come on! I have a craft room filled with literally everything you can imagine and they still want to stare at their phones. Drives me nuts! I made these art prompt cards and for an hour or two, they actually come to life for a little while.  Art prompts inspire you to jump into a blank page without hesitation. No more "what do I draw?" or "I don't know what to do!"  I even love using them when I de-stress in my art journals.  Check out the video below and the links to my digital downloads, too!  Have fun and Make Your Mark!

Watch how I use my art prompt cards here!

Link to my digital download set:  https://etsy.me/3OTbsxI

A few of the pages I created using the cards! I promise, they are really 

fun to use!

Have fun and MAKE YOUR MARK!

 

When I was a kid I got wallet kits for Christmas almost every year.  When you come from a very large family in southeastern Colorado, leather tooling is a thing and apparently I was supposed to learn it.  I never did. Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I got another wallet kit and was stumped again. Fortunately there is leather paint and stencils and colorful synthetic sinew to make your leather projects amazing! This wallet has the perfect mix of boho, cowboy and me!  Check out the colorful waxed sinew from John Bead...I mean this stuff comes in NEON colors! Now get out there, my amazing friends, and MAKE YOUR MARK!

I love that I didn't have to learn how to tool to get this effect!  I call it my dollar hauler!

Watch how to make this gorgeous, boho/western wallet here without tooling and only leather paints and colorful sinew!

You can also watch it on YouTube here (and see some of my other videos)

https://youtu.be/hayZMfj7Q3w

Links to everything I used for this project:

John Bead Synthetic Sinew: Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/41fyPob Amazon.ca - https://amzn.to/3KMbSC6 Wallet Kit: https://amzn.to/3Nsb4Fs Leather Paints: https://bit.ly/2N9O7W2 MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Have an awesome day!  xo, Mark!

I save everything...envelopes, newspaper, cardboard tubes, plastic & glass containers and burned out light bulbs. I boarder on hoarder BUT I do try to use everything I save in my craft projects.  These pears were my desperate attempt to use up a few of the bulbs I have been saving over the years and I'm so happy with they way they turned out.  When I was finished I thought of 100 other ways to decorate them, but that's for another day.  Upcycle, recycle and reuse as much as you can my awesome friends!  Now get out there and Make Your Mark!  xo

I used decorative paper but book pages would look beautiful, too!

Some of my decorative papers

The foil helps smooth out the screw thread area but it's not 100% necessary!

Watch how I make them here!  I used a Xyron Creative Station which turns everything into a sticker, but regular white glue would work, too.  I find my Xyron makes it easier and less messy!

Aren't we a pear!  Love you all!

Mark

 

Art Prompt Cards

 When I stare at a blank canvas or blank page in my art journal, sometimes I have no idea where to start. NONE!  About a year ago I decided to start writing down my favorite techniques for mixed media, painting and collage, and before I knew it I had a set of 189 prompts to help me get started.  For fun I added dice to make it a real game of chance.  All you have to do is print them out on cardstock (or stick them to a deck of cards) and you'll never run out of ideas and combinations to create art.  Have fun and MAKE YOUR MARK!

The Frida page I created using a few art prompts!

Watch how to make them and use them here!

LINK TO MY ART PROMPT PRINTOUTS HERE: https://etsy.me/3kuXwgv

HAVE FUN AND MAKE ART!

Decorative Books For Your Guest Room

I finally have 2 guest rooms to decorate and I'm going nuts with fun projects so that my friends are comfortable and happy while they visit!  For my friends who love to read before bed, I grabbed a stack of thrillers from the thrift store and turned them into something beautiful.  I will use decor transfers on almost anything and WOW did I love figuring out how to put them on these book spines.  I'll leave links to everything I used for this project right under the video below.  Happy decorating and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

Put the covers on the inside so they know what they're reading and they can use it as a bookmark!

A scented candle is always nice, too!  Don't forget to have a piece of paper with the wifi password, too!

Watch how to make these beautiful books here OR watch this and other videos on my

Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj9NgQKJwyc

Everything I used for this project:

Re-Design with Prima Royal Burgundy Decor Transfer: https://bit.ly/3Kl6UdO Re-Design with Prima Imperial Garden Decor Transfer: https://bit.ly/3CmZOT9 Harlequin Stencils: https://amzn.to/3ZoaUTe Re-Design with Prima Script Stencil: https://bit.ly/3GrIHlQ MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Either upright or side by side, this stack of books looks beautiful and serves a purpose!

Happy creating everyone! 

Love, Mark

 

Beaded Wire Christmas Ornaments

I know it's a little late for this but still had to post it because Valentine's day is around the corner and these would make beautiful hearts!  Happy New Year everyone!  I swear I'm going to try to blog a bit more this year. It's been hectic moving into this new house but I'm almost ready to show it.

A little wire and some leftover beads (from John Bead of course) and you can make the most amazing ornaments, or hearts!  Love you all!  

MAKE YOUR MARK!

Aluminum wire is one of my favorite things to work with!

        Watch how to make them here OR watch how to make them on you YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj9NgQKJwyc
Here's everything I used to make them with links:
Czech Glass Beads: https://bit.ly/3n1axNG
John Bead Aluminum Wire: https://amzn.to/36kZXuF
Large Czech Bead Mixes: https://bit.ly/2WRRH09
MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

So easy! Just create your shape with large wire and then add beads to thinner wire and wrap!

Love the way they catch the lights on the tree, too!

Sending you all the love today!