Obsessed With My Bead Spinner!

Have you ever wondered how objects completely covered in seed beads are made? Well, I finally figured out how it's done! Recently John Bead sent me a bead spinner and I'm obsessed with it. You fill it with seed beads, spin it around and the beads magically slip onto your beading needle. It's so easy to use and you'll never spend hours finding the tiny holes in seed beads ever again!  Watch the video below to see how it works. Make beautiful things my friends and always Make Your Mark!

A few of the objects I covered in beads using my John Bead / Bead Spinner! 

Stringing the necklace took just a few minutes!

Just fill it with seed beads!

Dip in your needle and start spinning!

Watch how to use a bead spinner here! 

Here's a list of what I used:

John Bead Bead Spinner USA - https://amzn.to/42E5unD Canada - https://amzn.to/3CaEIsb John Bead Seed Beads - 500 gram bulk bag Size - 8/0 Canada - https://amzn.to/463sBuG USA - -https://amzn.to/3Ni5EMQ John Bead Curved Needle USA - https://amzn.to/45PrrTe Canada - https://amzn.to/45P2jfi SUPERTITE CRAFT GLUE WITH PRECISION TIP: https://bit.ly/46QQgii

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

Big Button Bracelet DIY

I LOVE big buttons - and I cannot lie!  I see bags of them at the thrift store and end up buying them, even though there are no plans for them other than to fill my button jars and to make me happy.  Fact is, I don't care because they really do make me happy.  Today we're covering some larger buttons with some of my favorite images to make this funky charm bracelet.  I'm sure you have a ton of images that float your boat so why not give this a try!  Hey, even photos of your family could be fun!  

Now get out there and Make Your Mark!

Frida, Debbie, Loteria...Just some of my favorite images!

Get off your BUTTon and make something cute!

Everything I used for this project:

DecoArt Americana Decoupage Matte: https://amzn.to/3loWG2Y 1" Circular Punch: https://amzn.to/3C86MLy DecoArt Triple Thick Gloss Glaze: https://shop.decoart.com/triple-thick-gloss-glaze John Bead Chains and Findings : https://amzn.to/3n8xCux Jump Rings - https://bit.ly/jumprings-mark Link to images I used: https://bit.ly/3ilkEtG

Watch how to make this funky charm bracelet here or 

watch it on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/QhqvVF0xzPw

     

Make a little noise when you walk into a room and get yourself noticed!

Almost any chain will do!

Don't sit on your BUTTons....Make something with them!

 

Birthstone Penny Charm Bracelets

My mom had a necklace with 5 gold little boys dangling on it...Me and my brother's names were engraved on the back of each one.  My gram had a beautiful gemstone ring with 12 birthstones all lined up representing each of her kids. Yup, 12 kids! Birthstone jewelry is a tradition in our family and I've always love it.  Any jewelry that has real meaning makes it even more special, but it can be expensive.  I remember me and my brothers saving forever to get my mom that necklace for Christmas and I'm sure my dad had to kick in most of it.  This penny charm bracelet is a fun way to get the same sentiment, well, for pennies!  It's still meaningful and just as fun to wear.  It's also really fun looking for the exact birthyear penny to go with each stone.  Make mom's day, sweet friends with this 

Make Your Mark charm bracelet!

A penny for your thoughts?

Contrary to popular belief, it's not illegal to drill a hole in a penny.

Just charming!

Everything I used:

Crystal Lane Flat Back Gems : https://amzn.to/3n8d5Gm John Bead Chains and Findings : https://amzn.to/3n8xCux E6000 Plus: https://amzn.to/30GJc4P

Watch how to make these charmers here OR

Watch how to make them on my YouTube channel here:  https://youtu.be/SCTBBrb4sJE

Be charming!

Marbled Leather Cuffs - Made from belts!

Have you ever opened an antique book and been obsessed by the beautiful marbled pages on the inside cover?  All the beautiful colors swirling around together inviting you in to an adventure.  I always wondered how those pages were made and after several YouTube videos and a few deep dives into the artsy corners of the web, I saw how difficult it was to get those effects.  Fortunately Marabu has something called EASY MARBLE and now you can get a very similar effect with a water-filled tub!  As much as I wanted to make paper, I thought marbling some leather cuffs might look amazing.  I'm so happy with them, too!  Get out there and try something new, sweet friends, and always

Make Your Mark!

I couldn't stop making them!

Using the Easy Marble Neon Colors!

STUFF I USED FOR THESE CUFFS

Marabu Easy Marble: http://amzn.to/2F2oT7t Easy Marble Color Shifts: https://bit.ly/3fOtN9E Metal Snap Kit: https://amzn.to/2TmQjOb

Drop the colors in, swirl and dip!

Watch how to make these marbled cuffs here OR 

watch the video on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/7AA3KVg1riM

So 80s!

Save your old belts!  They make amazing jewelry!

The only cuffs you want on your wrists!

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!

Feather Earrings

Now that we're wearing masks all the time, earrings need to be impactful and BIG!  These feather earrings are perfect for making a statement even if half of your face is covered up.  My sister-in-law loves them and gets compliments on them all the time, so I know this to be true.  Now, you could use denim, a heavy canvas fabric or vinyl like I did to make the shapes.  Whatever you have on hand. Once the paint is on and dry, you won't have a problem fringing the edges.  After all, vinyl is just paint on fabric!  Make exciting accessories, my fashionista friends....and always MAKE YOUR MARK!

Feathered and fabulous!

The chain and turquoise give it some terrific movement!

My vinyl sheets after they're painted...Time to add some gold flecks!

STUFF I USED

Awesome Gel Press Products: https://amzn.to/364hn95

Chain: https://amzn.to/2UOdqlV Earring wires: https://amzn.to/37xPQit

Turquoise Beads: https://amzn.to/3fpjvgy

Americana Decor Metallics in Vintage Brass: https://amzn.to/2UPX1h0

DecoArt Multi-Surface Satin Paints: https://amzn.to/2UNdiTQ

My favorite hole punch: https://amzn.to/2TCG34P

 Watch how to make them here or

watch the video on my Youtube channel here: https://youtu.be/4w59zALPJ-w

Cut out the shapes

Love the different patterns and textures!

Would look great with silver findings, too!

Ready to wear!