DIY Gelli Printing – Monoprinting Without a Press (A Tutorial)

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

September 18, 2017 By

Add some pop to your home decor with this fresh and fun DIY Gelli Printing Tutorial! Not only is gelli printing super easy and rewarding, but the availability of all-in-one kits makes this project even easier to dig right into!

DIY Gelli Printing! Add some pop to your home decor with this fresh and fun DIY Gelli Printing Tutorial! Not only is gelli printing super easy and rewarding, but the availability of all-in-one kits makes this project even easier to dig right into!

My friend, Hillary Hardison, recently ventured into self-employment as a full time artist. In addition to creating her artwork, which includes a mix of encaustic paintings and mixed media collages, Hillary is also teaching art classes. DIY Gelli Printing was the first class she taught as the owner of Hardison Art LLC.

Hillary not only offers Saturday art workshops which enable you to learn a new skill but she also hosts Wine and Art Wednesdays on the second Wednesday of every month. (You can register for upcoming classes here.)

DIY Gelli Printing! Add some pop to your home decor with this fresh and fun DIY Gelli Printing Tutorial! Not only is gelli printing super easy and rewarding, but the availability of all-in-one kits makes this project even easier to dig right into!

Hillary’s first Wine and Art Wednesday was this past Wednesday. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend this event in which she taught DIY gelli printing. Everyone had an absolute blast. Not only was the process of learning how to create gelli prints an informative and rewarding experience, but Hillary’s bright and positive personality made this class a complete gem.

What is DIY Gelli Printing?

Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because Gelli Arts® Gel Printing Plate is made out of a gel, it’s extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with. So you can use materials such as bubble wrap, plastic grids, foam stamps, stencils, leaves and string to create unique and beautiful prints.

Explore DIY Gelli Printing with this awesome art tutorial that's fun for the whole family! This art project also is great for make and take events and gifting! Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because Gelli Arts® Gel Printing Plate is made out of a gel, it’s extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with giving you so many great options to explore.

Made using mineral oil and a hypoallergenic polymer material, this vegan monoprinting gelli plate is both vegan and latex free. As it’s not made using gelatin, which was the traditional method, there’s no shelf life so you are able to use your gelli plate over and over again.

DIY Gelli Printing! Add some pop to your home decor with this fresh and fun DIY Gelli Printing Tutorial! Not only is gelli printing super easy and rewarding, but the availability of all-in-one kits makes this project even easier to dig right into!

As I enjoyed Hillary’s class on DIY gelli printing so much, I thought it’d be fun to share the process with you all as well. Following is my step-by-step tutorial on DIY gelli printing using the Gelli Arts® Gel Printing Plate.

DIY Gelli Printing! Add some pop to your home decor with this fresh and fun DIY Gelli Printing Tutorial! Not only is gelli printing super easy and rewarding, but the availability of all-in-one kits makes this project even easier to dig right into!

DIY Gelli Printing with Hillary!

Explore DIY Gelli Printing with this awesome art tutorial that's fun for the whole family! This art project also is great for make and take events and gifting! Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because Gelli Arts® Gel Printing Plate is made out of a gel, it’s extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with giving you so many great options to explore.

Materials & Tools:

Golden Fluid Acrylics or similar
Gelli Arts® gel printing plate or a starter kit
non-shiny papers

Explore DIY Gelli Printing with this awesome art tutorial that's fun for the whole family! This art project also is great for make and take events and gifting! Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because Gelli Arts® Gel Printing Plate is made out of a gel, it’s extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with giving you so many great options to explore.

texture tools (such as stamps, leaves, bubble wrap etc.)
spray bottle with water (optional)
stencils
brayer

Instructions:

Begin by gathering all of your materials, then cover your work surface to protect it from paint.

DIY Gelli Printing Tutorial! Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because the gelli plate is made out of a gel, it's extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with. So you can use materials such as bubble wrap, plastic grids, foam stamps, stencils, leaves and string to create unique and beautiful prints.

Apply a few drops of acrylic paint to your gelli plate.

DIY Gelli Printing Tutorial! Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because the gelli plate is made out of a gel, it's extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with. So you can use materials such as bubble wrap, plastic grids, foam stamps, stencils, leaves and string to create unique and beautiful prints.

Then use a brayer to smooth the paint out across the surface of the entire plate.

DIY Gelli Printing Tutorial! Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because the gelli plate is made out of a gel, it's extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with. So you can use materials such as bubble wrap, plastic grids, foam stamps, stencils, leaves and string to create unique and beautiful prints.

Press paper (or fabric) firmly onto the gelli plate with the paint side up.

DIY Gelli Printing Tutorial! Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because the gelli plate is made out of a gel, it's extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with. So you can use materials such as bubble wrap, plastic grids, foam stamps, stencils, leaves and string to create unique and beautiful prints.

Then remove the paper. You’ve now created the background for your first gelli print!

Explore DIY Gelli Printing with this awesome art tutorial that's fun for the whole family! This art project also is great for make and take events and gifting! Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because Gelli Arts® Gel Printing Plate is made out of a gel, it’s extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with giving you so many great options to explore.

For the next step I used a stencil. Once again add a few drops of paint to the gelli plate, then spread the paint over the surface using a brayer.

Explore DIY Gelli Printing with this awesome art tutorial that's fun for the whole family! This art project also is great for make and take events and gifting! Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because Gelli Arts® Gel Printing Plate is made out of a gel, it’s extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with giving you so many great options to explore.

Place the stencil on top of the gelli plate with the paint side up.

Explore DIY Gelli Printing with this awesome art tutorial that's fun for the whole family! This art project also is great for make and take events and gifting! Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because Gelli Arts® Gel Printing Plate is made out of a gel, it’s extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with giving you so many great options to explore.

Now press the paper you just printed, image side down, firmly on top of the gelli plate and stencil. (The paint dries quickly so there’s not a lot of waiting.)

DIY Gelli Printing Tutorial! Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because the gelli plate is made out of a gel, it's extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with. So you can use materials such as bubble wrap, plastic grids, foam stamps, stencils, leaves and string to create unique and beautiful prints.

Remove the paper from the gelli plate. You’ve now successfully created a second layer to your print.

DIY Gelli Printing Tutorial! Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because the gelli plate is made out of a gel, it's extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with. So you can use materials such as bubble wrap, plastic grids, foam stamps, stencils, leaves and string to create unique and beautiful prints.

Your gelli plate will retain the portion of the stencil not printed.

Explore DIY Gelli Printing with this awesome art tutorial that's fun for the whole family! This art project also is great for make and take events and gifting! Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because Gelli Arts® Gel Printing Plate is made out of a gel, it’s extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with giving you so many great options to explore.

So you can also press a fresh piece of paper on top of the remaining paint on the gelli plate to create a ghost image.

DIY Gelli Printing Tutorial! Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because the gelli plate is made out of a gel, it's extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with. So you can use materials such as bubble wrap, plastic grids, foam stamps, stencils, leaves and string to create unique and beautiful prints.

Continue creating your print by repeating the previous steps with different stencils and materials. Alternately, you can also roll paint onto a stamp to add to your work.

DIY Gelli Printing! Add some pop to your home decor with this fresh and fun DIY Gelli Printing Tutorial! Not only is gelli printing super easy and rewarding, but the availability of all-in-one kits makes this project even easier to dig right into!

Or try adding additional details by painting free hand using a paint brush.

Explore DIY Gelli Printing with this awesome art tutorial that's fun for the whole family! This art project also is great for make and take events and gifting! Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because Gelli Arts® Gel Printing Plate is made out of a gel, it’s extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with giving you so many great options to explore.

Here’s a shot of me with my first ever gelli print! These are so quick and easy to create that I made several different prints.

Explore DIY Gelli Printing with this awesome art tutorial that's fun for the whole family! This art project also is great for make and take events and gifting! Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because Gelli Arts® Gel Printing Plate is made out of a gel, it’s extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with giving you so many great options to explore.

Here is an example of some other gelli prints that Hillary made, including the one she is holding, to demonstrate the process.

Another fun thing to try with your gelli plate is to apply rubber combs, stamps and brushes to the painted gelli plate to remove paint before printing. You can also use a spray bottle with water to spray the paint loaded gelli plate prior to printing for a neat effect.

DIY Gelli Printing Tutorial! Gelli printing is monoprinting using a gel printing plate. Because the gelli plate is made out of a gel, it's extra sensitive surface will imprint any texture that it is sitting upon or covered with. So you can use materials such as bubble wrap, plastic grids, foam stamps, stencils, leaves and string to create unique and beautiful prints.

Once you’ve finished making your prints, clean the gelli plate with hand sanitizer and a paper towel. Then place the gelli printing plate between two sheets of copy paper for storage.

You can use the DIY gelli printing method to make handmade cards, gift wrap, fabric patches and pretty much anything else you dream up!

My friend, Hillary Hardison, recently ventured into self-employment as a full time artist. In addition to creating her artwork, which includes a mix of encaustic paintings and mixed media collages, Hillary is also teaching art classes. DIY Gelli Printing was the first class she taught as the owner of Hardison Art LLC.

If you’d like to join in on the fun at Hillary’s next Wine and Art Wednesday, you can pre-register for the class here. The next Wine and Art Wednesday is October 11th, 2017 at 6:30pm. It’s a two hour event that is held in the basement classroom of the Aurora Studio Center in downtown Roanoke, VA. Hillary will be teaching everyone to make their own beaded wine charms at the next class! (This is a make and take event.)

Alternately, you can also sign up for her Intro to Encaustic Painting Workshop that is being held on September 23rd, 2017 at 1pm.

These easy DIY coasters are a great project for a DIY Girls Only Craft Night! Not only will you get in some awesome adult time making your own functional and fabulous custom DIY coasters that your husband will never remember to use!

If you liked this DIY gelli printing project, then you may also enjoy my tutorial for making DIY Coasters. Made using blank letterpress coasters, this DIY instructs you on how to make fun and functional coasters for your home and to give as gifts.

For more fun art projects and tutorials, be sure to follow my Art Class Pinterest board. You can also follow me on your favorite social media platforms including Pinterest, G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram. Alternately, you can also sign up to receive new posts from Soap Deli News blog to your email via FeedBurner so you never miss a post.

And don’t forget to share photos of the gelli prints you’ve made with the hashtag #soapdelishowoff on instagram! I’d love to see the prints that you come up with!

Filed Under: Art & Photography, DIY Craft Project Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kitchen Table Makeover (Or rather, how I brightened up my drab kitchen!)

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

August 28, 2017 By

Brighten up your drab kitchen with a bright, beautiful kitchen table makeover! The great part about updating your old furniture is that not only is it a lot a less expensive than buying new furniture, it’s also a great way to express your own personal style.

Kitchen Table Makeover! Brighten up your drab kitchen with a beautiful, bright kitchen table makeover! The great part about updating your old furniture is that not only is it a lot a less expensive than buying new, but it's also a great way to express your own personal style. So if you want to experiment beyond the traditional kitchen table makeover, repainting your kitchen table with actual art gives it a wonderfully fresh update!

So if you want to experiment beyond the traditional kitchen table makeover, repainting your kitchen table with actual art gives it a wonderfully fresh update!

As my current kitchen is rather small and dark, even with a picture window, I was able to brighten up the entire room by just painting the top of my kitchen table in bright and sunny colors. Keep reading to see the transformation and to learn more about my process!

The Story Behind the Table

So basically I was starting with my husband’s hand-me-down kitchen table. It’s a basic black dinette table with a set of four chairs that barely squeezes into our eat-in kitchen. When we got married in May and I moved back to Roanoke and into my husband’s house, the finish on the table was already damaged. It no longer shined like the chairs and the rest of table and the finish looked “patchy.”

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Having it in my head that I was going to paint the table top at some point anyway, I took advantage of the kitchen table as a craft table. Between one rather somewhat therapeutic craft night with my friend Bambi in which the start of repainting the top somehow turned into it looking like it was covered in mud, and then the spilling of fragrance oils and nail polish base on others, I ended up leaving it more wrecked than it started out. (You can see a somewhat frightening retelling of part of that saga here.)

So last Wednesday afternoon, being somewhat burnt out with bath and body projects, I dug out my collection of craft paints I keep on hand for DIY craft nights and went to town. In retrospect, I probably should have primed the table first. But once I had started I wasn’t going back. Luckily the paint seems to have stuck rather well. Following is a photo retelling of my kitchen table makeover.

My Kitchen Table Makeover

Before the Makeover.

Kitchen Table Makeover! Brighten up your drab kitchen with a beautiful, bright kitchen table makeover! The great part about updating your old furniture is that not only is it a lot a less expensive than buying new, but it's also a great way to express your own personal style. So if you want to experiment beyond the traditional kitchen table makeover, repainting your kitchen table with actual art gives it a wonderfully fresh update!

During the Makeover.

Kitchen Table Makeover! Brighten up your drab kitchen with a beautiful, bright kitchen table makeover! The great part about updating your old furniture is that not only is it a lot a less expensive than buying new, but it's also a great way to express your own personal style. So if you want to experiment beyond the traditional kitchen table makeover, repainting your kitchen table with actual art gives it a wonderfully fresh update!

Kitchen Table Makeover! Brighten up your drab kitchen with a beautiful, bright kitchen table makeover! The great part about updating your old furniture is that not only is it a lot a less expensive than buying new, but it's also a great way to express your own personal style. So if you want to experiment beyond the traditional kitchen table makeover, repainting your kitchen table with actual art gives it a wonderfully fresh update!

Kitchen Table Makeover! Brighten up your drab kitchen with a beautiful, bright kitchen table makeover! The great part about updating your old furniture is that not only is it a lot a less expensive than buying new, but it's also a great way to express your own personal style. So if you want to experiment beyond the traditional kitchen table makeover, repainting your kitchen table with actual art gives it a wonderfully fresh update!

Kitchen Table Makeover! Brighten up your drab kitchen with a beautiful, bright kitchen table makeover! The great part about updating your old furniture is that not only is it a lot a less expensive than buying new, but it's also a great way to express your own personal style. So if you want to experiment beyond the traditional kitchen table makeover, repainting your kitchen table with actual art gives it a wonderfully fresh update!

Kitchen Table Makeover! Brighten up your drab kitchen with a beautiful, bright kitchen table makeover! The great part about updating your old furniture is that not only is it a lot a less expensive than buying new, but it's also a great way to express your own personal style. So if you want to experiment beyond the traditional kitchen table makeover, repainting your kitchen table with actual art gives it a wonderfully fresh update!

Kitchen Table Makeover! Brighten up your drab kitchen with a beautiful, bright kitchen table makeover! The great part about updating your old furniture is that not only is it a lot a less expensive than buying new, but it's also a great way to express your own personal style. So if you want to experiment beyond the traditional kitchen table makeover, repainting your kitchen table with actual art gives it a wonderfully fresh update!

Kitchen Table Makeover! Brighten up your drab kitchen with a beautiful, bright kitchen table makeover! The great part about updating your old furniture is that not only is it a lot a less expensive than buying new, but it's also a great way to express your own personal style. So if you want to experiment beyond the traditional kitchen table makeover, repainting your kitchen table with actual art gives it a wonderfully fresh update!

After the Kitchen Table Makeover.

Kitchen Table Makeover! Brighten up your drab kitchen with a beautiful, bright kitchen table makeover! The great part about updating your old furniture is that not only is it a lot a less expensive than buying new, but it's also a great way to express your own personal style. So if you want to experiment beyond the traditional kitchen table makeover, repainting your kitchen table with actual art gives it a wonderfully fresh update!

Kitchen Table Makeover! Brighten up your drab kitchen with a beautiful, bright kitchen table makeover! The great part about updating your old furniture is that not only is it a lot a less expensive than buying new, but it's also a great way to express your own personal style. So if you want to experiment beyond the traditional kitchen table makeover, repainting your kitchen table with actual art gives it a wonderfully fresh update!

Kitchen Table Makeover! Brighten up your drab kitchen with a beautiful, bright kitchen table makeover! The great part about updating your old furniture is that not only is it a lot a less expensive than buying new, but it's also a great way to express your own personal style. So if you want to experiment beyond the traditional kitchen table makeover, repainting your kitchen table with actual art gives it a wonderfully fresh update!

Once I finished painting my table, I sealed it with multiple thin coats of a Devine Color by Valspar Clear Sealer Topcoat that I picked up at Target. (They do also sell a paint and primer that bonds to wood, metal, glass, plastic and other surfaces.) Its luxe glossy finish both seals and protects and I felt it also gave my finished kitchen table that extra pop.

My bright and sunny kitchen table makeover was inspired by the work of artist, Hillary Hardison!

Incidentally, the colors for my kitchen table makeover were inspired by a wax painting titled, Wanderer 2, that I purchased from my friend Hillary Hardison. Previously employed by our local art museum, the Taubman Museum of Art, Hillary has since ventured into self employment as a full time artist.

Additionally, she has plans for a once monthly paint night in the works for about half the price of established paint nights. The focus is less on structure and more about interacting and having fun while creating. (Kind of like my DIY crafts nights!) She will also be teaching structured three-hour art workshops on weekends if you’d like to learn a new skill.

If you like Hillary’s artwork you can discover more via her booth at the Aurora Studio Center on Campbell Avenue in downtown Roanoke, VA. Alternately, you can view and sign up for Hillary’s workshops here.

Anyhow, if you’re thinking of repainting some of furniture in your home, be sure to check out this tutorial on how to paint furniture (the right way and not how Rebecca did it) at Centsational Style blog here before getting started. Not only does it cover proper priming, but there’s also information on sanding, filling holes and gouges, and choosing the right paint brush for the job.

And, if you do decide to makeover a piece of furniture in your home, I’d LOVE to see it! Simply share it with the hashtag #soapdelishowoff on instagram so I don’t miss it!

For more of my posts, including my many, many, many homemade bath, body, beauty and soap recipes, be sure to follow me via your favorite social media platforms. You can find me on Pinterest, G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram. Alternately, you can also sign up to receive new posts from Soap Deli News blog to your email via FeedBurner so you never miss a post.

Filed Under: Art & Photography, DIY Craft Project, Handmade Home Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The Photographer Behind the Imagery of MKMoore Photography

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

November 20, 2013 By

Band Photography by MKMoore Photography

The older I’ve gotten, the more creative people I’ve been lucky enough to discover. From farmer’s markets to art shows there is talent in every city. However, not every great artist is always easy to find. There are many talented artists within my hometown of Roanoke, VA that I’m sure I have yet to discover. There are also a few great artists that I only discovered by chance. Once of those artists is photographer, Kent Moore of MKMoore Photography.

Busted Television in Abandoned Home by MKMoore Photography

I was first introduced to Kent Moore’s photography via Facebook while browsing the fan page of a the local band I had just discovered called Another Roadside Attraction. I then followed Kent’s photographs online of and on. Eventually I met him when he messaged me about buying some handmade soaps from me as a birthday gift for one his friends.

In person Kent is shy and quiet. However, his photographs speak volumes through their vivid imagery, colors and mood. His live band photographs are always exciting, taken from interesting perspectives and angles, while his still life photos of abandoned buildings and houses are filled with a quiet foreboding.

Barb Wire Dolls Photograph by MKMoore Photography

Being a fan of Kent’s work, I really wanted to learn more about him and his own insight into his photography. Since he’s more of a behind the scenes kind of guy whose usually behind the camera rather in front of it, I requested an interview with Kent which he was happy to give. Following is Kent’s commentary about his work, influences and dreams.

Bastards of Fate Live Photograph by MKMoore Photography

Q. How long have you been shooting photographs?
A. I started in jr. high when my brother showed me the basics when he was home on leave from the Navy. I didn’t get serious about it until 10-12 years later though.

Q. Did you always have an affinity for the arts or did you think you’d go into a completely different field when you were young?
A. I started out wanting to do music recording and production. I went to school for that and found out I wasn’t really into it at all. I just didn’t have the patience for it.

Q. How would you describe your style of art for the majority of your works?
A. Not really sure what the style would be called but in a lot of my color photos I like to exaggerate or shift a few colors to something that’s just a touch outside of reality so you have to look at it twice to decide if it’s something is out of the ordinary or not.

Mounted Deer Photograph by MKMoore Photography

Q. Has your focus always been on digital photography or did you start with the basics in a dark room?
A. I started out with film. I shot for about 20 years doing my own darkroom work before making the switch to digital. When I made the switch it was almost like having to relearn everything. The digital sensors saw the world much differently than film did. I absolutely love working with digital though. I’m definitely not one of those old school types that sit around and whine about the death of film. I do miss Kodachrome though.

Q. What are some of your favorite subjects to photograph?
A. My favorite thing is live music and band portraits and I recently started getting into abandoned building and urban exploration photography thanks to my friend Daniel Overstreet at Abandoned Love Photography.

Record Player Photograph by MKMoore Photography

Q. Who are some of your favorite artists and influences (and what medium do they work in)?
A. My favorite photographer is Lee Miller. She was pretty big in the  Surrealist movement in the late 1920s early 1930s and during World War 2 was one of the first female combat photographers. Her pre-war photos are a huge influence on me, just absolutely brilliant photos. I love the surrealist movement in general but her work is my favorite.

For contemporary photographers I really love Sebastião Salgado’s photos. I’m also influenced pretty heavily by music. Bands like Sigur Rós, Godspeed! You Black Emperor, and Mono (Japan) put me in a certain mindset that makes me much more creative and can completely change the look of a photo.

Q. If you were gifted with a limitless income, where do you see your art leading you?
A. I’ve been trying to figure out how to finance a trip to Cambodia to photograph a recently discovered ancient city that’s 500 years older than Angkor Wat. I see that as the ultimate abandoned place photography. I would also love to travel to Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia to photograph the former Yugoslav war monuments. That’s definitely on the bucket list.

Women at Bazaar Consignments by MKMoore PhotographyQ. Where can people purchase your work?
A. Most all of the photos on my website, MKMoore Photography, are available for purchase either directly through the site or by emailing me and we can work out a purchase deal. Locally I have some prints for sale at Bazaar Consignments here in Roanoke.

Q. Tell me something quirky about yourself. (Or something that very few people realize about you.)
A. I briefly played bass in a Ramones cover band and was so bad at it I fired myself before our first show to avoid the embarrassment.

You can view more of Kent’s photographs by visiting his website, MKMoore Photography, or by following Kent on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and Pinterest. You can also contact via email through his website.

Photo Credit: All photos © Kent Moore/MKMoore Photography

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DIY Paper Mache Mounted Unicorn Head Wall Plaque

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

October 5, 2013 By

DIY Paper Mache Mounted Unicorn Head Wall Art

Looking for something to DIY this weekend? I’m partial to this DIY Paper Mache Unicorn Head Wall Plaque. Not only is it a great way to upcycle those newspapers, but it’s super cute! And hey, unicorns are also the official animal of Scotland! Learn how to make your own with a step by step photo tutorial at Lil Blue Boo. For more fab DIY project ideas, be sure to follow me on Pinterest.

Filed Under: Art & Photography, DIY Craft Project Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Pinterest Inspired DIY Artwork for Home & Office

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

July 20, 2013 By

DIY Crayon Canvas ArtworkMy co-worker Erica, who made me a set of lovely coasters last Christmas, has been getting her craft on recently to bring some new life to her office here at work. Inspired by projects she discovered on Pinterest, she created a lovely collection of new “attire” for her blank walls. (Please excuse the quality of these pics. I photographed them with my cell phone.)

Crayon Canvas Paintings - DIY Art Project for your walls that's both inexpensive and easyErica made these crayon “paintings” from a box of crayons – with back to school right around the corner you can pick these up for super cheap! – artist canvas, a hot glue gun and a hair dryer. Simply use a hot glue gun to glue crayons along the top of a blank canvas, then use a hair dryer to melt the crayons so the colors run down the canvas creating a one of kind work of art.

Mod Podge Scrapbook Paper Wall Covering Art DIYThese works of art were created using square canvases, scrapbook papers, mod podge and paint. Simply cut scrapbook papers to fit the canvas size and use mod podge to adhere the decorative papers to the front of the canvas. Once dry, paint around the sides of the canvas – based on Erica’s paper choices she used brown paint – and lightly brush paint around the edges of the papers on the front. Let dry and hang!

DIY Ruler Clip Board OrganizerErica also made a place to hold and organize her important notes and phone lists she uses on a daily basis. She purchased jumbo clothespins, painted them black then glued them to a yard stick. She initially tried to hot glue the clothespins but found that they didn’t hold with hot glue. I recommended E-6000 glue (craft adhesive) since it holds just about everything and it worked like a charm.

For more ideas for art projects, be sure to visit and follow my Art Class Board on Pinterest. For diy decorating ideas and inspiration, follow my For the Home Board on Pinterest. And finally, for home and office organizing tips and diy’s be sure to follow my Home & Office Organization Board on Pinterest.

Filed Under: Art & Photography, Decorating, DIY Craft Project Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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