Funky Chunky Postcards

Happy mail is one of THE BEST THINGS...I love it so much! I love sending it, getting it, making it and collecting it.  Mostly I love making it.  Now, like many of you I have a box filled with extra stuff from projects. It's my catch all box and I use it for everything from art journals & jewelry making to these FUNKY CHUNKY POSTCARDS.  The rule about making these postcards is that there are no rules. You just keep going until your content with the final result. Transfer, spray, decoupage, glue, glitterize, spray some more, embellish and then keep going. Check out the video below for my particular process.  Have fun and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

I can't wait to send these out!

This one even has fish tank rocks glued to the edges!

Watch how I make these here AND if you want more videos,

check out my Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/MarkMontanoDesigner/featured

EVERYTHING I USED FOR THIS PROJECT:

Marabu Art Sprays: https://bit.ly/3q2zj0A Surebonder Glue Guns & Products: https://amzn.to/3bOpfiZ Re-Design with Prima Royal Burgundy Decor Transfer: https://bit.ly/3Kl6UdO Re-Design with Prima Imperial Garden Decor Transfer: https://bit.ly/3CmZOT9 Re-Design with Prima Fragrant Roses Mould: https://bit.ly/3HzClQL Re-Design with Prima Wing and Locket Mould: https://bit.ly/3sn7aS3 Re-Design with Prima Everleigh Flourish Mould: https://bit.ly/3Ltw3Vd Re-Design with Prima Clearly Aligned Decor Stamps: https://bit.ly/3u2irZ8 Surebonder Glue Guns & Products: https://amzn.to/3bOpfiZ

I think it's time for another postcard swap!

These Decor Stamps from Re-Design with Prima are amazing!

Hot glue in silicone molds make wonderful embellishments. 

Just paint them in your favorite colors!

Embossing in gold is always a winner on my cards!

Send some happy mail!

Magical Resin Crystals DIY

Do you love crystals as much as I do? I'm obsessed with them...The stories behind them, the powers they possess and of course, the beauty they have.  I decided to make some of my own crystals (using this amazing silicone mold I found on the internet) and fill them with gold leaf flakes and good thoughts.  Now I have my own special crystals filled with just the things that are important to me.  You could even put a personal charm inside that might mean something special to you!  Heck, fill them with whatever you like!  Remember sweet friends, stay creative and always MAKE YOUR MARK!

Marabu Alcohol Inks give the perfect amount of color and work 

beautifully with resin!

Everything I used for this project:

Famowood Glaze Coat Resin: https://amzn.to/30GJc4P Marabu Alcohol Inks: https://bit.ly/3dcKlrR Gold Leaf: https://amzn.to/3wxmrzZ Crystal Silicone Molds: https://amzn.to/3ug0JRq Aquarium Glass: https://amzn.to/3ibwDd2

Watch how to make them here OR watch how to make them (and many more things)

on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/x-etxhOZdhA

Try different color combinations and fill them with things like special jewelry pieces, saint medals or small stones from your last amazing trip!

While you're pouring the resin, think about amazing things that have happened in your life OR think about the things you want to happen in your life!  Yes, I know, very hippy dippy, but I love having reminders that our lives can be what we make them!

Wishing you all good energy and love!

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!

Cardboard and Hot Glue Rusty Valentine Hearts

I went to a pumpkin carving party right before Halloween and on the fence in my friend's backyard were rusty tin birds that look like they had been there for 50 years.  They looked like they had weathered harsh winters, rain and scorching sun over and over again.  When I got home I started figuring out how to get that rusty look in a simplest of ways.  Finally, after studying a hundred photos of rust with a cup of instant coffee in my hand, it came to me...This is the perfect heart to give someone you've weathered the storm with.  Lead with love, my friends and don't forget to 

Make Your Mark!

 Cannot wait to give these away!

 It's like they've been waiting in the rain for 50 years!

Watch how to make them here!

STUFF I USED

99c Store Instant Coffee

Americana Acrylics in Dark Chocolate, Burnt Orange and Sea Aqua

Wire

Redesign With Prima Silicone Molds

Hot Glue

Cardboard

Wire Cutters

 HERE'S HOW

1.  Cut out cardboard hearts

2.  Fill silicone flower molds with hot glue

3.  Glue the molded pieces to the cardboard hearts with more hot glue

4.  Paint the centers of each heart with Sea Aqua

5.  Dab around the edges and on the flowers with Dark Chocolate

6.  Dip the brush in more Dark Chocolate and then instant coffee and 

then dab around the heart

*Use a decent amount and build the texture

7.  Dip your brush in Burnt Orange and instant coffee and keep dabbing

8.  When dry, add more Sea Aqua

9.  Punch holes at the top and base of the heart

10.  Bend wire to create a handle and attach at the top two holes

11.  Add a rust look to a tiny brass bell and attach to the base with a wire ring

12.  Add some paint to the wire handle and wire ring

I prefer a rusty heart!

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's Thurs-DIY!

This week you can learn everything from how to upstyle a basic chair to how to make BBQ sauce!  You can even make silicone molds with simple supplies from the hardware store!

Have fun!  xo, Mark

Make Key Lime Jello Shots with A Beautiful Mess!

http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2015/05/key-lime-pie-jello-shots.html

Mark rope and tassel bangles to fit any size wrist!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xlx2RmGMLbk

Pla upcycles some basic chairs in pink and white!

http://bit.ly/1SE4IPh 

Cathy Attix makes rocks some leather bracelets this week and I want to wear them!  

http://bit.ly/1Ks8zsV

See how I made reusable molds with hardware store silicone and conrstarch!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50AkrE1s9Iw

Check out Tarun Upadhyaya's awesome lamp DIY here!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Trash-Bin-to-Designer-Lamp/

Unbelievably Human transforms her slip on Vans and they're awesome!

http://bit.ly/1SE6uzT

Vicki O'Dell makes some delish BBQ Sauce!

http://vickiodell.com/homemade-barbecue-sauce/#sthash.na18m54R.dpbs