Trash to Treasure Padded Stools DIY

You can turn almost any old wood chair into a cute padded stool in no time with this little DIY!  Grab some outdoor fabric, padding and your staple gun and you're half way there.  I snagged a pair of wobbly-backed chairs for $5 and turned them into fabulous extra outdoor patio seating.  They're easy to move around, look great with my other furniture, too.  I went wild with color because, well, why not?!  It was a super fun little project that I will definitely do again and again.  Make our outdoor spaces just as beautiful as your indoor spaces and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

Too cool for stool!

 Be fearless with color!

This outdoor mandala fabric was just the ticket!

Watch how I made them here!

STUFF I USED

2 Thrift Store Chairs

2" Cushion Foam from Fairfield World

Cushion Wrap from Fairfield World

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

Americana Decor Outdoor Living Paint

Outdoor fabric *2 yards

Jigsaw, Staple Gun & Sander

Upholstery Gimp Trim

Electric Knife *You can also use a craft knife if you're careful

HERE'S HOW

1.  Using a jigsaw, cut the back off of the chair along the seat

2.  If you need to, sand everything smooth and smooth out the legs if they're nicked or scratched

3.  Flip the stool on the 2" foam and trace around the seat

4.  Cut the 2" foam with an electric knife

*An electric knife is amazing for cutting foam but you can use a craft knife if you're careful

5.  Paint the legs of each stool in bright colors

6.  Add E-6000 Fabri-Fuse to the seat and glue on the 2" foam

7.  Flip the stool on the cushion wrap and cut a piece that will fold around the 

cushion and under the seat

*Usually adding about 4" will do the trick

8.  Staple the to the underside of the stool all the way around

9.  Trim the excess

10. Center and pin the fabric on top of the stool

11. & 12. Staple all the way around (over the cushion wrap) and then trim the excess

13.  Using Fabri-Fuse and pins, glue the gimp trim all the way around the base of the stool and pin in place while it dries

14.  Measure up 4" on each chair leg

15.  Wrap masking tape around the 4" mark and paint the edge of the masking tape the same color as the chair leg

*This is a painter's trick to prevent bleeding when you use the contrasting color!  Also great tip for painting stripes

16.  Paint the bottom 4" of each leg a contrasting color

Can't wait to use these!

Have a seat!

Cardboard Mosaic Tile Trays

I have a huge collection of mosaic trays from the 1950s thru the 1970s.  When I was in high school, going to thrift stores was my thing!  Still is actually.  Since I've been on a cardboard tile kick this past year I thought I'd try my hand at making some tile trays.  Wow do I love the way these look. I made one for my eyeglasses and another for my watches and rings.  They are the perfect catchall.  Make them in the colors you like to match your house and put them everywhere!  Tray the force be with you!  Oh, and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

 Just a few of my new pieces

 Got the oval metal tray at Dollar Tree!

Pizza tins are perfect for this project!

Watch how to make them here!

STUFF I USED

Americana Decor Outdoor Living paints

Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass

Splatter Brush (you could use an old toothbrush)

Dollar Store Metal Trays

E-6000 Glue

Famowood Glaze Coat 2 Part Epoxy Resin

Cardboard

Rust-Oleum Metallic Gold Spray Paint

HERE'S HOW

1. Paint the cardboard pieces in your favorite colors

2.  Splatter them with Vintage Brass

*I used a splatter tool, but you could use your thumb and an old toothbrush

3. & 4.  Draw a 1/2" grid on the back of the painted cardboard pieces and 

cut along the grid for 1/2" tiles

5.  Spray the metal trays in metallic gold and let dry

6.  Glue the tiles to the inside of the tray with E-6000 Glue

7. & 8.  Mix the Glaze Coat according to directions and pour inside

the tiled trays making sure not to get it on the edges

*Only pour on the tile and let it run to the sides

9.  Gently distribute the Glaze Coat with a sponge brush making sure

that it's even around the edges

10. Pop the bubbles with a small torch or long arm lighter

11.  Cover and let cure overnight

12. Display!  I use mine for my eyeglasses and watches

 Tray chic!

Make something, OK!

Tribal Chair Makeover

I decided to go a little nuts with this project just to see if the new DecoArt Patent Leather Paints were up to the test of a pleather chair!  Guess what?  They worked perfectly!  Many people have this style of chair and these paints are perfect for adding a little color without cracking, peeling or scratching.  I even show you how to add trim to vinyl with hot glue so that it doesn't fall off!  Remember to add spice to everything, rethink boring objects and always Make Your Mark!

From plain Jane

To tribal inspired!

Watch the video here!

STUFF I USED

Pleather dining chairs

Americana Decor Stencil and Satin Enamels

DecoArt Patent Leather Paint

Cosmetic sponges

Fringe and Ribbon

Hot glue gun

 HERE'S HOW

1. After you secure your stencil in place with tape, dab some Patent leather on a cosmetic sponge

2. Carefully and lightly add coats of the paint over the stencil to insure clean lines

3. Tape around the leather/pleather part of the chair to protect it while you paint the legs

4. Paint the legs with Americana Decor Satin Enamels in the color of your choice

5. Pencil on the chair where you would like to add ribbon and trim

*I penciled along the back of the chair and around the seat to insure the trim was evenly glued

6.  Using sandpaper, scratch the area where you will be gluing the trim

*Make sure you're certain where you will be applying the trim and rough it up!

7. Hot glue the trim along the lines on the rough areas moving quickly

8. & 9.  Glue the fringe first (below the line) and then the ribbon over the top of the fringe

Nuts but I love them!

Paper Vases DIY

I've been a HUGE fan of paper mâché since I was a kid.  Even as I write this I have a new project drying on the kitchen counter.  What is it about covering cardboard structures, balloons and tin cans in strips of newspaper dipped in flour and water?  It's just so relaxing.  A few weeks back I told you I found a hoarder's stash of glass flower vases in my pantry.....Before I toss the lot, I'm going nuts with them in whatever way I can. The best thing about these vases is that you can actually fill them with water if you're careful.  Remember to recycle, cover things in paper 

and always Make Your Mark!

 Don't leave these outside.....The critters will smell the flour and chew on them!

Watch how I mad them here!

STUFF I USED

Newspaper, cardboard and masking tape

Americana Decor Metallics and Multi-Surface Satin Paints

Flour and water

Patterned papers

Americana Decoupage in Gloss

Glass vases and wine bottles

HERE'S HOW

1.  Cut 1 1/2" wide strips of cardboard

2.  Curl the cardboard on the edge of a table and tape it to the glass vase or bottle like a handle

3.  Roll a 12" x 12" square of newspaper into a tube and tape it along the handle to give it some dimension using masking tape

4.  5. & 6.  Mix water and flour, rip strips of newspaper and dip them in the mixture

7. & 8.  Cover the bottles and handles completely and allow them to dry

9.  Paint a some of the vases with Americana Multi Surface Satins in colors you like

10.  Choose some pretty patterned paper to match the paint

11.  Decoupage elements of the paper over the paint or cover the entire vase with the paper

*I like Americana Decoupage in Gloss for this

12.  Finally, paint the handles with the Americana Decor Metallics

 The black vase is painted and the wine bottles are decoupaged completely with patterned paper

Scrap Wood Christmas Stars!

Yup, I'm that guy who will grab something right out of your trashcan......Toss some decent scrap wood from your last home repair project and I'll grab it before you change your mind and run back outside to get it!  I made these stars with just a few feet of scrap wood and WOW do I love them.  They work with my Christmas decor and I'll be able to use the gold and white star throughout the year.  Remember.......make messes, dumpster dive and always Make Your Mark!

Turn it into a centerpiece!

 Put your candles in a glass container to keep the wax from dripping on the wood!

Watch how easy they are to make here!

STUFF I USED

Scrap wood

5-Point star pattern

Jigsaw & sander

E-6000 Glue

Large Americana Decor Stencils

Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Everlasting and New Life

Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass

Cosmetic sponges

 HERE'S HOW

1. & 2.  Trace the pattern 5 times side by side (sharing a side to reduce cuts) and then cut them out with a jigsaw

3. & 4.  Paint each diamond shape with Chalky Finish in a color of your choice

5.  When dry sand the edges and corners

6.  Glue the pieces together to create the star

*If your pieces don't fit together perfectly you can glue a small scrap of 1/4" thick plywood on the base......Nobody will see it!

7.  Try painting them in different colors

8. & 9.  Stencil over the stars with metallic gold or silver

Stenciled Chair DIY

I'm really enjoying the new DecoArt Americana Decor stencils.  They are huge and amazing and the designs are lovely.  My favorite is the 12" x 12" Indian Ikat stencil which I've used to "faux upholster" this plain cream chair.  A little multi-surface paint and it looks like it cost a fortune.  This is a terrific way to cover up a few stains or give a boring chair a brand new life.  My best advice for tackling something like this is to take your time, let the paint dry on the chair each time you paint on the design and keep your stencil clean.  Remember.......try something new, give furniture a new life with paint and always Make Your Mark!

Perfect to pair with my blue and white!

Watch the video here 

Things I Used

Cream chair (Wayfair.com)

Americana Decor Indian Ikat stencil

Kitchen sponges or cosmetic sponges

Double stick tape

Repositionable spray mount

Americana Multi-Surface Satin Paints in colors you like

Here's how

1.  Squeeze your paint out on some paper plates so that it's easy to pick up with your sponges

2. & 3. Before you start on your chair you want to test the stencil on a piece of plain fabric and see how you want to apply the paint

*I created an ombre effect by using white mixed with a darker blue and mixed the paints as I applied them to the stencil-darker on top and bottom and lighter shades in the middle

4.  Add double stick tape to the back of the stencil to help keep it in place on the back of the chair

*You can also lightly spray the back of the stencil with repositionable spray mount in between stenciling the design

5.  Starting in the exact center of the chair at the top, stencil your design down to the seat

*Put a rag on the seat to protect it from drips and splatters

6.  Carefully start applying paint

7. 8. & 9.  Position the stencil around the chair after each section has dried

10.  Keep cleaning the stencil in between applications of paint

11.  Use the spray mount when your stenciling around the arms or tape it in place so that it doesn't move

12.  Trim the stencil to get into hard to reach places AFTER you've stenciled all of the larger spots

Done!

Ready, Sit, Go!

Happy #ThursDIY! Ten fun projects to pull your gown down....

Shoe and t-shirt makeovers!  Glitter and giveaways!  Lace and buttons!  It's all in this week's #ThurDIY.  Hop around and make some friends and tell them I sent you, OK.  Now heat up that glue gun and get glittering.  xoxo, Mark

Aunt Peaches makes tassel napkin rings that, let's face it, could be worn as a fab piece of jewelry, too!  She rocks.  http://www.auntpeaches.com/2014/11/diy-tassel-napkin-rings.html 

Make this art deco inspired angle necklace with a simple item from the hardware store: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5W5REY6JhU

Stephanie makes beautiful gratitude jars......I LOVE these!  http://mycraftyadventures.com/2014/11/12/gratitude-jars/

Heather Mann makes very cute Glitter Deer Bookends perfect for the holidays:  http://blog.darice.com/home-decor/glitter-deer-diy-bookends/

Cathy Attix upstyles a basic tee with lace trim......Genius!  
http://www.trinketsinbloom.com/diy-t-shirt-lace-cuffs/

The marvelous Margot Potter rounds up her monthly favorites on her latest YouTube video.....She looks good, too!   http://diydoyenne.com/monthly-must-haves-video/

Make button lid jars with Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint and use up that cabinet full of jars you've been saving for a project!  Great for sewing supplies!  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh8HB_eSVqg

Cathie Filian has a delicious new book out called DecoDen Desserts

(and she's hosting a contest and giving away tons of stuff to celebrate!)  http://handmadehappyhour.com/2014/11/11/giveaway-decoden-desserts-and-mod-podge/

Gorgeous gold leaf planters make the perfect holiday gift! 

http://www.thehousethatlarsbuilt.com/2014/11/gold-leaf-planters.html

Love Meagan upstyles some basic black heels for the holidays here:  

http://www.lovemaegan.com/2014/11/diy-holiday-shoes-pretty-t-straps-with-ankle-bows.html