Embossed Iridescent Paper Ornaments

Hey friends, great to see you here!  This is an ornament making technique I've been using for years and there are a thousand different ways to make them. You can use photos, Loteria paper or different colors of cardstock. Whatever you have hanging around. It's like math, magic and origami all mixed together. For this particular version I embossed black watercolor paper and then used this incredible pearlescent acrylic ink from Royal Talens that shows up brilliantly on black surfaces. It worked like a charm!  I hope you make some of these fabulous Christmas ornaments - at least your own version!  

Love, Mark!

My trio of Christmas ornaments in 3 of my favorite iridescent colors!

Watch how to make them here or on my YouTube channel here:  https://youtu.be/JyXNLkIBH3A

Here's everything I used for this project:

Amsterdam Acrylic Iridescent Inks: https://www.dickblick.com/products/amsterdam-acrylic-ink/ SIZZIX Big Shot Embossing Machine: https://bit.ly/3Z5ILQS Van Gogh Black Watercolor Paper: https://bit.ly/3R4fVx1

I used a drinking straw inside for the structure but you could use a rolled paper straw

This stuff is magic!

Wiping it over the embossing and it just appears and the most beautiful way!

I'm obsessed with embossing anything and everything. I love my Big Shot from Sizzix and am thinking about getting a much larger version!

Merry Christmas!  Love, Mark!

 

Fun Art Journaling Techniques

Sometimes I'll take hours and hours on an art journal page and other times I like it to be impactful and fast. It depends on how much creative energy I have running through my body!  When I have the need for speed, there are a few techniques I always use and I'm sharing them with you today.  First I glue ripped book pages down with indoor spray adhesive.  Next, I apply color on every page with something that dries quickly like liquid watercolors. It's a great base and it's light enough to build on.  After that it's all about big foam stamps and paint markers.  That's it.  Just a few simple things and you can fill up a journal in no time and have beautiful pages to jot down your amazing thoughts.    Check out the video below to see just how I did it and make sure to check out Discount School Supply, Joggles and Artistro for some of my favorite art journal supplies!  

Now get out there and  Make Your Mark, my creative friends!

 I filled in the circle shapes with acrylic paint

Be fearless with color! 

Watch how I do it here!

 Work on a few journals at a time!

 Huge fan of Joggles Foam Stamps!  Big and BOLD!

Happy Journaling, my thoughtful friends!

Lacy Paper Hearts - Upcycled Magazines!

My first craft as a kid was quilling...I liked it, but I got bored quickly and moved on.  Many years later I started playing with magazine paper because there was always so much of it.  These hearts look like they might be made of quilling paper, but in fact, it's rolled up magazine pages.  Yup, the gossip rags I devour weekly are now beautiful Valentines!  Take them apart and you'll find out that Jen might be back with Brad and Scarlett was spotted with another man.  This upcycling project is a great way to help save the planet and show someone how much you love them!  

Happy Valentine's Day!

 Sprinkled with glitter and gems!

Light blue ribbon makes everything look fancy! 

 Watch how to make them here!

Spread the LOVE!

Stitched & Stuffed Paper Hearts

Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday, but not for reasons you might think.  Though I am fond of chocolate and flowers and romantic dinners, it's all about the simple shape of a heart.  To me, it's not just a shape, it's a statement and a feeling.  No other shape conveys a message like a heart.  Coupled with fiery reds and soft pinks.....Valentine's Day just makes me happy.  Whether I've been in a relationship (or not) when this holiday rolls around, the fact that we take time to celebrate love always fills my heart.  Celebrate love, my friends, and don't forget to 

Make Your Mark!

 Inspired by Rebecka Ryberg Skött

Stamped with Art Foamies

Use a blanket stitch around the edges with embroidery floss for a lovely

vintage look

Watch how to make them here!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Glowing Mermaid Lanterns DIY

Just like Ariel, I have gizmos and gadgets aplenty.  I'm talking beads, glass chips, rhinestones, seashells, pearls and sea glass in piles in drawers just waiting for a project.  These mermaid lanterns were the perfect project to make use of that stash of crafty treasure AND to give me a tiny taste of summer which is just a few months away!  Print out some mermaid images and grab a few 99c store frames and you're ready to get started.  I used a twinkly, battery operated tea light in the back to give it that magical, watery glow and they look absolutely beautiful when the sun goes down.  Create your own magical environment and don't forget to

Make Your Mark!

A trio of mermaid lanterns to light up the night

 They look just as pretty during the day

Watch how to make them here!

STUFF I USED

E6000 PLUS (no odor)

Americana Decoupage

Mermaid Images

Glass Candle Holders

Beads, Seashells, Pearls, Glass Chips, Tiny Glass Cabochons

Craft Twinkles in Crystal & Americana Acrylics in Sea Breeze

Fish Scale Stencil

 HERE'S HOW

1.  Remove the glass and stencil the frame with Americana Acrylics in Sea Breeze

2.  Add a layer of Craft Twinkles over the stenciled frame

3.  Decoupage a mermaid image on the back of the glass

4.  Glue the glass inside the frame with E6000 PLUS

5. - 6.  Glue seashells, pearls, rhinestones, glass cabochons & glass chips on the front

of the frame around the mermaid image

7.  Add a layer of Craft Twinkles in Crystal over the seashells

8.  Glue a small glass candle holder to the back of the frame

9.  Add a battery operated tea light inside the candle holder

Look at this stuff!  Isn't it neat?

I can't wait for summer!

Fabric Jewelry DIY

I've always loved making fabric jewelry and lately I've been inspired by the work of Lillibulle.  She's a fabric jewelry artist who is absolutely amazing, although she hasn't made jewelry in many years.  I decided to give my version a try with an image from one of my favorite artists, Lisa Falzon.  Lisa was kind enough to let me use her painting of Frida Kahlo for this project.  It's a copyrighted work, so if you are going to make this project, it's best to get permission from the artist first.  However, there are many images on the web that you can use that are copyright free.

Have fun!  Make messes!  Don't forget to Make Your Mark!

The center image is the copyrighted work of Lisa Falzon

Watch how to make them here!

STUFF YOU'LL NEED

Sewing machine

E-6000 Glue

Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paints

Thin and thick cotton fabric

Heat transfer paper

Yarn

Thin strips of fabric

Seed beads, fabric & plastic roses

Glue gun

Iron

HERE'S HOW

1.  Copy your images onto the heat transfer paper

2. & 3.  Iron the images on thin cotton fabric,  cut it out and cut a matching piece of heavy cotton fabric

4.  Zigzag around the image in an oval shape

5.  Zigzag different colors & textures of yarn around the image to create a frame

6.  Create fabric twine (like I did in my 2011 book, The Big Ass Book of Crafts 2)

7.  Twist two thin strips of fabric together clockwise while twisting them together counterclockwise

*Jump in, you'll get the hang of it

8. & 9.  Hot glue the fabric twine around the image and embellish with fabric & plastic flowers

10. & 11. Embellish more images with E-6000 glue and seed beads and Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paints

12.  Add your pinbacks to the backs with more E-6000 Glue

Wear as a brooch, on a bracelet or as a necklace

Faux Malachite Obelisks (made from cardboard)

I'm a huge fan of malachite but unfortunately it's a little too expensive for my taste.  Tony Duquette, one of my favorite designers, used it like crazy in his home decor.  He also painted tons of furniture in a faux malachite pattern and it always looked amazing!  I thought I'd give it a try with some simple cardboard obelisks.  These are perfect for a desk or bookshelf and if done right, people will think you're rolling in dough!  Little do they know that they cost just pennies to make.

Enjoy!  xo, Mark

 My handsome pair

I love that they're just cardboard and newspaper!

Watch the short video tutorial here!

YOU'LL NEED

Newspaper

Cardboard

Americana Acrylics in Evergreen, Sea Breeze, White and Holly Green

Americana Glazing Medium

Ruler

White glue

Masking tape

Minwax Polycrylic

Craft knife

Paintbrush

Print out and use to create your pattern

Each square is 1/2" by 1/2"

Enlarge and make them any size

 Trace the obelisk pattern 4 times, side by side

*Clean up your lines with a ruler

Cut out the entire shape and score so it can be folded

Trace the base pattern, cut and score

Tape all pieces together with masking tape

 Water down some white glue to use as a decoupage medium

Cover the cardboard obelisk in at least one layer of newspaper

When dry, paint the entire obelisk in Sea Breeze and White Acrylic

*The paint doesn't have to be perfect, it can vary from light to dark

*Make sure to paint all surfaces

Cut jagged edges on a 2" x 2" piece of cardboard 

Mix equal parts of Evergreen and Glazing Medium

Paint one surface of the obelisk and immediately scrape the surface

with the jagged cardboard to create the malachite effect

*Try circles and scallops and overlap the patterns

 When all surfaces are dry, coat with at least two coats of Minwax Polycrylic

If you want, edge the base with a metallic paint marker by

running it along the edges

Fully Lined Ribbon Zipper Bag DIY

Everyone needs a zipper bag for change, cosmetics or pencils.  I make them for friends all the time and they love them.  Change the colors to your liking and experiment with different sizes.  For this project I used a regular sheet of copy paper for my pattern and a random long zipper just to add more color.  

Have fun and check out the video if you get stuck!

Ribbon Zipper Bags!

Here's the how-to video

You'll need

Scissors

1/4 yard lining

1/4 yard fabric

4 colors of 1" wide ribbon (about 12" of each color)

Sewing machine with zigzag stitch

Iron

10" zipper

Contrasting thread

Press your fabrics

Using a sheet of 8 1/2" x 11" paper as a pattern, cut out 1 piece of fabric and 1 piece of lining

 Cut your ribbons to size and pin them in place on your outer fabric

Zigzag stitch them to the fabric

 Place your zipper face down on the 8 1/2" edge of your fabric and stitch it in place

Take the other end of your fabric and stitch it to the other side of the zipper

Take your lining and place it on top of the zipper, lining it up with the fabric and stitch it across

*You are sandwiching the zipper in between the fabric and the lining

Stitch the other side of the lining on the other side of the zipper.

This is what it should look like

Cut of the END of the zipper only

Stitch across that side of your bag using 1/2" seam allowance

Unzip the zipper to the middle of the bag

Stitch across the other side leaving a 2" hole (so you can turn it right side out)

Turn your bag right side out through the hole and stitch your 2" hole closed

Tuck the lining inside the bag and then press the fabric around the zipper!

You're done!