Monday, October 31, 2011

Melted Bracelet from THE BIG ASS BOOK OF CRAFTS 2

Did I mention that FISKARS.COM rocks? They have featured another one of my projects from 
THE BIG ASS BOOK OF CRAFTS 2 and it's a good one!  Actually, one of my favorites.
Stop tossing bottles in the trash people and make something with them.
YOU’LL NEED
Heavy Duty Scissors
Needle nose pliers
Candle
Gold enamel paint
Small paint brush
1 thick plastic bottle (like Ocean Spray 64 oz. bottles)
Minwax Polycrylic Clear Coat and brush
Black faceted beads (bugle beads would work, too)

HERE’S HOW TO MAKE THE BRACELET
1. Cut a 1 1/2”- to 2”-wide ring of plastic from your bottle.
2. Cut an opening in the ring so you can slide your wrist into the cuff later.
3. Holding the plastic ring with some pliers over the candle flame, melt a little bit of the center section of the ring, observing how it reacts to the heat.
4. Continue melting and shaping the ring to form your bracelet.
5. Cut off the excess plastic at your cuff’s opening and melt the ends so they have a smooth edge and don’t scratch you when you put on your bracelet later.
6. Clean your cuff with soap and water to remove any soot, then dry it completely.
7. Paint the edges of your cuff with the gold paint.
8. When the paint is dry,  coat the outside of your cuff with the Minwax Polycrylic Clear Coat, and then dip it in a pile of loose beads, rolling it to get beads all over.
9. Let the first coat dry, then apply several additional layers of Minwax Polycrylic.  Be generous!
There are TONS of other jewelry projects in 
The Big Ass Book of Crafts 2!  Pick up your copy today.

    Saturday, October 29, 2011

    Saturday Contest!


     I've had over 40 winners since the book hit shelves and you could be one of them! Most of you have done everything already. Here are the rules to win a copy of my new book.
    1. Press SHARE on your FB page to let everyone know about the contest.
    2. Join my blog if you haven't:
    http://markmontanoblogs.blogspot.com/
    3. LIKE my Big Ass Book of Crafts 2 Page on Amazon.com
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451627807/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_g14_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0F5AGRF76AJ53PHPZ1TF&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
    4. Comment here that you've done it all.
    GOOD LUCK and Happy Saturday P'awesome's!

    Thursday, October 27, 2011

    WIGGING OUT from THE BIG ASS BOOK OF CRAFTS 2!

    WIGGING OUT!
    Just the word WIG makes me laugh.  Every Halloween I try to work out what I’m going to wear on my head.  It’s always a dilemma.  Last year I finally decided that if I can sew an entire costume from scratch then I can make a wig.  I got just a few supplies and rocked it! Pick colors that match your outfit and you’ll master this wig making technique in no time. Pretty soon Dolly Parton herself will be calling you for help!
    This project and 150 more are from 

    YOU’LL NEED
    2 large spools of curling ribbon
    1 knit hat that fits snugly on your head (match the colors of ribbon if you can)
    Hot glue gun and glue sticks
    Scissors
    Wig head or ball up some newspaper to make a head shape.

    HERE’S HOW
    1.    Cut about 30 strands of curling ribbon that are 15” long.
    2.    Glue about 1 1/2 inches of each end of the ribbon across the cap so it makes very long bangs.  Put one strand next to the other across the forehead.
    3.    Cut about 3 more strands of curling ribbon that are 20” long.
    4.    Fold them in 1/2 and at the fold dot a bit of hot glue and stick them to the top of the row of bangs.
    5.    Cut 15 strands of curling ribbon about 45” long and tie these strands in a knot in the middle.
    6.    Curl the ends of them a little with the scissors
    7.    Glue the knot on to the knit cap.
    8.    Repeat this process until you get the desired fullness of the wig.
    9.    Add more folded strands in different lengths to add even more fullness.
    10. Curl it with the scissors or leave it straight!
    FROM 


    Tuesday, October 25, 2011

    FISKARS.COM and THE BIG ASS BOOK OF CRAFTS 2......

    I've been a guest designer for Fiskars.com these past few weeks and I'm loving it!
    Fiskars.com.  Head over there and check out how to make your box of simple envelopes and some plain note cards into something amazing...
     Envelope liners are such a great surprise when you open a letter, don't you think?
    Krylon spray paint, some simple alphabet stencils and you're half way there!

    Monday, October 24, 2011

    CASASUGAR.COM and Yours Truly!

    It's Monday and the start of another amazing week!  The awesome website CASASUGAR.COM interviewed me and is sharing some photos from my house and I thought I'd share a few of them here and then give you the link so you can head over and take a little tour yourself.  
     Main living room
     Reading alcove
    My Eagle Lady from THE BIG ASS BOOK OF HOME DECOR 
    A view inside of my craft house
    The reason my house looks this way!

    Sunday, October 23, 2011

    TEASER!

    Happy Sunday everyone!  Tomorrow, the amazing CASASUGAR.COM is showing a little slide show of my house to celebrate the launch of THE BIG ASS BOOK OF CRAFTS 2.  I'll make sure to link and share photos with all of you here.  Just for fun, I'm teasing you with a photo of the outside of my craft house.  All the photos are by my old friend, Jimmy Cohrssen who also photographed the beauty shots for Big Ass Crafts 2!  He is an amazing photographer and you should check out his work.  He is  the official photographer for Louis Vuitton.
    In this little house is where my magic happens.  I hope you get a chance to look through 
    And tune in tomorrow.

    Friday, October 21, 2011

    KRYLON.COM ROCKS!

    Hey everyone, I'm OFFICIALLY with Krylon.com now as a spray paint guy/expert?/guru?  Ok, I'm really just a guy who loves a good spray paint and I like KRYLON! I can't help it! It's a great product and I can't seem to get through the day without it.  Periodically I'll be sharing a project with them that uses their product.  We have 2 simple projects up now and more to come. Go check it out!  
    http://www.krylon.com/expert-advice/mark-montano/
    This is a simple shoe makeover from THE BIG ASS BOOK OF CRAFTS 2.  REMEMBER, There are more than 150 projects in the new book so go out and grab it.........and if you see me, grab me too.  I like that!
    P.S.  I can't stop thinking of the GoGos when I see this shoe.

    Day 7 winners!

    WINNERS!
    I've been lame and only this morning was able to draw the winners from Day 7 of 7 Days of Giveaways:  Kate Tucker, you won the big box of stuff!  Congratulations!  Angie Rodriquez, you were the runner up and won a book.  Very happy for you both!  Now get out there and let everyone know that you're a winner!

    Wednesday, October 19, 2011

    Day 7 of 7 Days of Giveaways is here and you can be a winner!

    IT'S BIG! Day 7 is here of my 7 Days of Giveaways! Please repost & comment. You win THE BIG ASS BOOK OF CRAFTS 2 ALONG WITH A COPY OF MY OTHER BOOKS! FISKARS LOOT (Rubber stamps, acrylic blocks, stamp pads, you name it) and SEVERAL tubes of one of my favorite product, E-6000 glue (best glue in town). Many of you have done most of the rules already so just repost and comment. The more you enter, the better your chances of winning! Rules are simple:
    1. REPOST this by pressing SHARE!
    2. Comment here that you've done it.
    3. Join my blog if you haven't.
    http://markmontanoblogs.blogspot.com/2011/10/7-days-of-giveaways-day-1-my-book-and.html
    4. Like my Big Ass Book of Crafts 2 page on Amazon.com
    http://www.amazon.com/Big-Ass-Book-Crafts-2/dp/1451627807/ref=pd_sim_b4
    THANK YOU ALL FOR ENTERING AND HELPING SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT The Big Ass Book of Crafts 2!
    Tons of great prized today!  Just enter!

    Winners from yesterday and stay tuned for Day 7........

    First time in a while both winners were from my blog!  Denise Foor you won the big prize for Day 6 of 7 Days of Giveaways......and the runner up is Kaitlin Jones AKA Not Your Average Hooker.  I'm pretty sure she means that she's a knitter......or else I'm reaching a "working girl" demographic that likes to craft?  Congratulations to you both!  Day 7 is here so stay tuned Pawesomes!  

    Tuesday, October 18, 2011

    Day 6 of 7 Days of Giveaways!

    I've been running to the post office like crazy this week. Sending out tons of books and loot and I love it!
    ‎7 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS! Day 6 is here! Everyone has to repost & comment today. You win THE BIG ASS BOOK OF HOME DECOR, FISKARS LOOT (Rubber stamps, acrylic blocks, stamp pads, you name it) PULP FICTION: PERFECT PAPER PROJECTS and one of my favorite products E-6000 glue (best glue in town). Many of you have done most of the rules already so just repost and comment. The more you enter, the better your chances of winning! Rules are simple:
    1. REPOST this by pressing SHARE!
    2. Comment here that you've done it.
    3. Join my blog if you haven't.
    http://markmontanoblogs.blogspot.com/2011/10/7-days-of-giveaways-day-1-my-book-and.html
    4. Like my Big Ass Book of Crafts 2 page on Amazon.com
    http://www.amazon.com/Big-Ass-Book-Crafts-2/dp/1451627807/ref=pd_sim_b4

    Winner will be announced on my FB page either at the end of the day or first thing the next morning. Good luck!




    Day 5 winners! Gina Boyce Sandoval is our Grand Prize Winner! I decided to pick 2 runners up last night because I have books to get out to the world p'awesome's! Marsha Lyn and Joe Morgan both get a copy of the book! Congratulations to all 3 of you!

    Monday, October 17, 2011

    DAY 5 of 7 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS is here!

    7 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS! Day 5 is here! Everyone has to repost & comment today. You win THE BIG ASS BOOK OF HOME DECOR, FISKARS LOOT (Rubber stamps, acrylic blocks, scissors, stamp pads, you name it) PULP FICTION: PERFECT PAPER PROJECTS and one of my favorite products, MINWAX POLYCRYLIC (which I've used on tons of my projects in this book) and E-6000 glue (best glue in town).  Many of you have done most of the rules already so just repost and comment. The more you enter, the better your chances of winning! Rules are simple:
    1. REPOST this by pressing SHARE! 
    2. Comment here that you've done it.
    3. Join my blog if you haven't.
    http://markmontanoblogs.blogspot.com/2011/10/7-days-of-giveaways-day-1-my-book-and.html
    4. Like my Big Ass Book of Crafts 2 page on Amazon.com
    http://www.amazon.com/Big-Ass-Book-Crafts-2/dp/1451627807/ref=pd_sim_b4
    5.  LIKE Minwax on FB.
    http://www.facebook.com/minwax?ref=ts
    Winner will be announced on my FB page either at the end of the day or first thing the next morning.  Good luck!

    You don't want to miss out today!

    Saturday, October 15, 2011

    DAY 4 OF 7 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS! And the prizes are even bigger!


    AND THE PRIZES KEEP GETTING BIGGER! 7 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS! Day 4 is here! Everyone has to repost to enter today. You win ALL 3 BIG ASS BOOKS, SET OF GLITTER BLAST FROM KYRLON AND AMAZING FISKARS LOOT! Rubber stamps, acrylic blocks, scissors, stamp pads, you name it! Many of you have done most of the rules, so most of you just have to SHARE and COMMENT. The more you enter, the better your chances of winning! Rules are simple:
    1. REPOST this by pressing SHARE!
    2. Comment here that you've done it.
    3. Join my blog if you haven't.
    http://markmontanoblogs.blogspot.com/2011/10/7-days-of-giveaways-day-1-my-book-and.html
    4. Like my Big Ass Book of Crafts 2 page on Amazon.com
    http://www.amazon.com/Big-Ass-Book-Crafts-2/dp/1451627807/ref=pd_sim_b4
    Winner will be announced on my FB page at the end of each day so keep an eye out for your name.
    Day 3 winners are Mandy Seago and Lilith MacRoberts!



    You can win it all!  Just enter!

    Friday, October 14, 2011

    DAY 3 of 7 Days of Giveaways! FISKARS SWAG


    ‎7 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS! Day 3 is here! Today, along with my new book you'll get FISKARS SWAG THAT WILL BLOW YOUR SOCKS OFF! Rubber stamps, acrylic blocks, scissors, jewelry tools, stamp pads, you name it! Many of you have done most of the rules, so most of you just have to SHARE and COMMENT. The more you enter, the better your chances of winning! Rules are simple:
    1. REPOST this by pressing SHARE! 
    2. Comment here that you've done it.
    3. Join my blog if you haven't.
    http://markmontanoblogs.blogspot.com/2011/10/7-days-of-giveaways-day-1-my-book-and.html
    4. Like my Big Ass Book of Crafts 2 page on Amazon.com
    http://www.amazon.com/Big-Ass-Book-Crafts-2/dp/1451627807/ref=pd_sim_b4
    Winner will be announced on my FB page at the end of each day so keep an eye out for your name.


    Plus a whole lot more!