Saturday, January 31, 2015

Valentine's Day Candles

I love Valentine's Day but not for the reasons you might think. Ok, maybe it is for the reasons you think..... I LOVE CHOCOLATES! Every year my dad would buy my mom a HUGE heart filled with at least 100 chocolates. It was always beautifully decorated with satin, huge bows and tons of glitter. For years she saved every one of them in her memory closet.... until the divorce. That's when they were burned. But, I digress. When she got that box she would carefully cut each chocolate in half so that my brothers and I could find the ones we liked best.  
It will always be one of my favorite Valentine's Day memories. This year I'm making glittery pink and red candles to celebrate the holiday...... and eating tons of chocolates.
Happy Valentine's Day!  
Valentine's Day candles for your special night!
Mix all different sizes and patterns
Watch the short video tutorial here!
YOU'LL NEED
Tapered and/or regular candles
Fine gold glitter
White glue
Self stick labels
Hole punch
Scissors 
Paintbrush
Paint the candles with chalky finish and let dry
Trace and cut hearts from the self stick labels
Glue them face down to the candles and let dry
Peel off the protective backing to expose the label adhesive
Roll in glitter and brush off excess 
For polka dots, use a hole punch
Glue the dots face down to the candles and let dry
Peel off the backing
Roll in glitter and brush off excess
For the tapers, paint stripes with white glue and sprinkle with glitter




Thursday, January 29, 2015

Happy #ThursDIY!

Hearts, hearts and more hearts and
lots of lovely things to get you inspired this weekend!  
Happy #ThursDIY!

Reminder!  You have until February 7th to get your ATCs to me for the swap!
I can't wait to start sending them out.  Contact me at
MarkMontanoNYC@aol.com if you need more info. 
Margot Potter stamps on hearts! I love a good Valentine's day ornament, don't you! 
Cathy Attix dyes a sheepskin rug....a Valentine's day gift for your bootie!  http://ilovetocreateblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/diy-dyed-sheepskins.html 
Cathie Filian makes super cute rose rings....A terrific little gift for the holiday!
http://youtu.be/i6Ek5ZS5krA 
Painted and stuffed Valentine's Day ornaments!  
See how I made them on the DecoArt site!
Aunt Peaches makes Yummy Yarn Hearts that look good enough to eat!
 Dimensional Fabric Bracelets are a terrific way to use up those
leftover bits that you don't want to toss!  Embellish them with 
Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint from E-6000! 
Make colorful striped vases on an old record player!  

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Allure-ing Fabric Bracelet DIY

This is the perfect project to use those amazing fabric scraps that you just can't seem to toss!  Why not turn them into beautiful accessories and then add dimension to them with the new Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint from E-6000!  This is also a terrific way to add new life to some accessories that you're not wearing anymore.
Danielle wearing her new Allure-ing dimensional fabric bracelets!
Paint the inside of your bangles with colors that match the fabric
Stack them up!
Watch the short video tutorial here
YOU'LL NEED
Fabric
Wood and metal bangles
Paintbrush
Scissors
 Wrap paper around the bangle to create a pattern
Trace the shape and then cut
Cut in fabric
Add Minwax Polycrylic to the bangle 
Adhere the fabric
Coat again with the Minwax Polycrylic
 Paint the wood bangles with Americana Multi Surface Satin
*Paint the edge and inside in different colors for some oomph!
Add Minwax Polycrylic to the outside of the cuff and adhere the fabric
Add more Minwax to protect
When the Polycrylic is dry, embellish with Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint and let dry
Love the mix of patterns and color here!

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Simple Striped Spring Vases

A few years ago I found an old record player and decided to use it in my art.  It quickly became one of my favorite tools.  Recently I used it to recycle some plain glass vases I've been collecting (you know, the ones you get with delivered flowers).  Well, the results were fantastic! I decided to use Americana Gloss Enamels because they are dishwasher safe glass paints that and I wanted them to last.  The beautiful thing is that you can leave the vases translucent or add more coats for an opaque look.  Personally, I couldn't decide and made several.  Now get out there and find an old record player and have some fun, OK!  Try thrift stores and yard sales.
Striped and ready for spring!


Watch the video tutorial here!
YOU'LL NEED
An old record player
Cardboard
Tape
Glass vases
Rubbing alcohol
Paintbrushes
 Make a stack of cardboard disks the size of a vinyl record
Cut a hole in the center of one side to fit over the spindle
Clean your vases with rubbing alcohol
Tape a vase to the center of the cardboard
Pick your favorite colors of Americana Gloss Enamels 
Turn on the record player and start painting stripes
For an opaque look, wait about 30 minutes and give it a second coat of paint

For a translucent look, only use one coat of paint
Bake twice for 30 minutes at 325˚ letting the oven cool in between
Decorate!

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Happy #ThursDIY!

We're back with eleven colorful projects to spark your creativity!  Robert shares a photo transfer post-card, Cathy rocks a 2015 agenda and Margot stamps up a storm on a new bracelet.  To top it off we have Aunt Peaches rocking a gift back with some art that could be in a museum.....Go Peaches!
Happy #ThursDIY

 Heather Mann shares coffee filter roses..... Just beautiful!
 Margot Potter makes a terrific hand stamped bracelet perfect for a man or woman:
 Cathie and Steve make the perfect glitter storage rack..... So much more fun than spices!  
Cathy Attix rocks a 2015 agenda DIY...... LOVE IT!  
 Stephenie Hamen shows us how to make delicate heart hand-stamped earrings here:  
 Aunt Peaches makes painted gift bags worthy of an art exhibition!  
Robert Mahar shows us how to do image transfers on wood to make beautiful post cards: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWSuOKZ0mfs
Make gorgeous ginger jars with just a few simple supplies and recycled pasta jars!
 Make fun Abstract Art Dishes (inspired by Martinich & Carran) and add some color to your dining table or dresser. The perfect trinket tray!
 Make a fab Sugar Skull Tee with 
E-6000 Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint!
Show off your favorite photos with these colorful Instagram Pop Blocks: 

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Ginger Jars DIY

I have never been able to toss out a glass jar. NEVER!  I'm a glass jar addict.  It's probably because I love challenging myself with new ways to recycle them.  This ginger jar DIY is quickly becoming one of my favorite things to make with my old jars.  Paint them in any color to match your decor and then use them for trinkets, loose teas, coffees or creamers.  When I have a cabin in the mountains, you can bet I will have a wall filled with these!
My first trio photographed in the backyard

Watch the quick video tutorial
YOU'LL NEED
Glass Jars
Krylon Spray Paint in Metallic Gold and other colors
Printout of flowers
Glass marbles
Minwax Polycrylic Clear Coat
White glue

Flowers images I used for my jars
 Spray paint the jars in your favorite colors and let dry
Carefully cut out the flowers
Evenly spread white glue on the back of your cutouts
Position them on the painted jars
Coat them with Minwax Polycrylic to protect them
With E-6000, glue marbles to the center of the lids and let dry
*You could use a large bead
Spray paint the lids metallic gold
Outline the flowers with Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint in Gold Leaf
Let dry and add the lids