Gorgeous Happy Mail Ideas!

Ask anyone who knows me...I love to write letters.  I'll stick anything inside of an envelope and glue almost anything to the outside.  If it looks like an absolute crazy person put it together, well, then you'll know it's from me.  I'm obsessed with mail and how our postal system works and I love that you can slap a stamp on something and that it takes a journey across the sky to someone you love.  This particular project reminded me of Gustav Klimt, one of my favorite artists.  I love his use of gold leaf in his work and I thought these envelopes, with their metallic gold patterns, gave that Klimt-esque feeling.  Do you like to send Happy Mail? I'd love to hear about what you make in the comments!  Sending all of you big hugs and a nudge to get out there and MAKE YOUR MARK!

The bottom of a votive candle glass and some sprigs from my garden 

make the most beautiful faux wax seals!

I used my Gel Press to get all of these amazing colors and patterns!

Everything I used for this project:

Awesome Gel Press Products: https://amzn.to/364hn95 DecoArt Gold Paint: https://bit.ly/3dQbqmA & https://bit.ly/36kH8UY Surebonder Glue Guns & Products: https://amzn.to/3bOpfiZ Stencils I used: https://amzn.to/3jWwoUP

Watch the video here OR

watch how I make these envelopes on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/PxmkKffTuIU

Nothing like getting a beautiful, handmade card in the mail, right?!

Hot glue with my "M" seal...Just love that one!

This seal was made with a brass button attached to a small dowel!  

Write on, my crafty friends!

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!

Vintage Pins Made with Hot Glue

Last year I started working with Surebonder, the makers of amazing glue guns and wonderful glue sticks!  I've always loved their products, but I finally got to meet up with the powers that be and they challenged me to use their hot glue in unconventional ways.  Since January I've been hunkered away in my craft lab going nuts!  These hot glue brooches were really fun to figure out, and when I did I couldn't stop making them.  A smooth silicone mat & some favorite images and you're on your way to having a jacket full of funky pins!  Now, a lot of people ask me about wearing hot glue jewelry in the heat and my answer is always is, "Unless you live on the sun, you'll be just fine!"  Low temp glue melts at 250° and  high temp glue sticks melt at 400°.  That's pretty hot, baby!  Figure out different ways to use things you already have and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

Some of my favorite images!

A little ribbon bow looks amazing on these!

You can grab pearl trim almost anywhere!

A super smooth silicone mat is crucial to being able to see the images!

Here's what I used:
Smooth/Shiny Silicone Mat: https://amzn.to/2M2Q870 Surebonder: https://amzn.to/3bOpfiZ MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Watch how to make them here OR
Watch the video on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/VVoI7QmvQ3w

Even strips of scrap fabric make terrific little bows!

Pin it to WIN it!

Gorgeous Decorative Candles DIY

I originally made these candles for the holidays, but I love them so much they're going to stay out for the rest of the year or until they're gone!  I used real wax pillars for these, but honestly, the battery operated pillars would have been a better choice.  Still, I'm just super happy with them.  I painted the hot glue pieces with metallic silver and then added some Galaxy Glitter to make them sparkle even more.  If you haven't tried using hot glue in silicone molds, it's addicting!  Hot glue is also much more sturdy than most clays and you can shape it with a hair dryer!  

Be a mad scientist when you're creating and always

Make Your Mark!

 Nothing like a crystal ball to magnify the candle glow!

Clustered on a silver thrift store tray

Watch how to make them here!

LINK to my favorite molds: https://amzn.to/2tifkAM

Fill a mini cloche with your favorite souvenirs!

Decorate the way you want!  It's your home!