Don't overlook that clearance item because it's not quite your style. Here's how I gave a rustic farmhouse metal sign a makeover and turned it into casual coastal wall decor. Have you ever been shopping and discovered something on a super sale that caught your eye, but it wasn't just right for you? When that happens don't dismiss the item... look at it again to see if you can tweak it or paint it or personalize it in some way to make it just right. Not long ago I was in Hobby Lobby when they were marking all kinds of home decor items down and I came across this metal farmhouse … [Read more...]
The weather is beautiful and the beach is whispering, "Come!" Seize the moment with 9 EASY tips for a simple beach picnic that will be the perfect setting for fun and memories. While standing in line at the checkout counter I opened up a popular magazine. My eye was drawn to pictures of people picnicking in a meadow. There were heaps of food and beverages and pillows and lanterns and so much more. So much goodness that by the time the picnic was set up I'd be too exhausted to enjoy it. Summer is the time for a simple picnic on the beach. Don't become overwhelmed with trying to make it … [Read more...]
Are you faced with a small space in your home or apartment? These simple and do-able small space decorating tips will help you look at decorating your space in a fresh new way. Since getting married, I've been moving around the country. It's provided a great opportunity for learning to overcome space and decorating challenges which every home has. Our most recent move to a small two bedroom apartment has been the most challenging. In order to make my new small space feel spacious and inviting, I implemented a few easy small space decorating tips I've learned through my many … [Read more...]
Are you getting too serious with your home decor? That's an honest question. I know I'm guilty of being too serious... of working too hard at getting just the right furniture, window treatments, colors, style, texture, and art for our homes. It's pretty serious business just choosing the "right" paint color. Today I'm going to nudge you to put a bit of whimsy in your home and, at least for summer, have fun with your home decor. Since it's summer and we often dream of spending time at the lake or ocean... I'm going to show you how to add a whimsical coastal touch, and some fun … [Read more...]
What's your Christmas decorating style? I'm having so much fun trimming my home in coastal style that I decided to share with your some unique ways to decorate a nautical Christmas tree. Before we talk about the decorations... let's talk about the tree. Don't you LOVE the aroma of a fresh evergreen tree at Christmas time? It makes the house smell so fresh and festive. It's an aroma you just want to capture and bottle. The candle manufacturers try really hard to create a wonderful balsam fragrance... but it just doesn't compare. How do I know? Because I was asked if I would … [Read more...]
I've been having so much fun creating a coastal Christmas for my home this year. Thanks to a little gift of posies from my friends at FTD, I will show you how to make your Christmas tree elegant with fresh flowers. It's a fun twist on my handcrafted coastal Christmas corner tree. We spend a ton of time in this little corner, so I decided to let my creativity run wild with coastal-style ideas. It all started with making the wall-hanging, over the sofa, festive for the holidays with hanging mason jars and miniature Christmas trees and baubles. A short time later I joined in the Home … [Read more...]
Today I'm back with an idea for more easy to make coastal Christmas decor. Previously I shared my coastal styled poinsettia pillow which was beautiful and simple to make. When it comes to holiday decorating, I love handmade items, but I want to get them done in a snap and I want them to look fabulous. All the criteria were met with this whimsical art, plus it was inexpensive, too! Lucy from Craftberry Bush heard her friends ask for coastal styled art and she nailed it with this fun and FREE watercolor printable. I downloaded mine to a memory stick and drove over to Staples. … [Read more...]
Have you finished decorating your home? I haven't! Tomorrow we'll fill our window box with greens and winterberries. And then there are all those ornaments I still have to make for the tree. Yikes!! Where does the time go? Wherever you are in the realm of decorating... from just thinking about it to finished and gathering ideas for next year... we've got some truly fabulous and festive DIY Christmas decor ideas waiting here for you. If you're a cookie baker... you'll want to revisit this week's link party for inspiration. There are tons of cookie recipes waiting for … [Read more...]
This year I'm going coastal for Christmas. My focus is Simple to Make Coastal Christmas Decor. For this year's fabulous Home for the Holidays Blog Tour, hosted by my amazing friend, Sondra, I decided to focus on a little corner of my home where we spend a lot of time. It's filled with handmade Christmas items like this poinsettia pillow I created with a coastal flair. And I put together a super easy tutorial so you can make your own coastal Christmas poinsettia pillow, too. If this is your first time here... Welcome! Be sure to take a minute to introduce yourself and sign up to receive more … [Read more...]
My desire to make coastal Advent candles comes from some very sweet childhood memories. Every Christmas, my parents would take me to services at the Swedish Lutheran church. A highlight for me was observing the Advent candle lighting. The Advent candles hung near the altar in a large circle of evergreen. There were four red candles on the wreath with a large center white candle. And though I really enjoyed singing the Christmas carols, I was mesmerized with that wreath. Once I was an adult I realized many families had Advent wreaths and candles in their home. Many even participated in special … [Read more...]
There's no doubt about it. Lately I'm "into" mason jar lids. Within the past several weeks, I've added knobs to lids here and here. And I've even created Christmas ornaments with mason jar lids. So, it should be no surprise to you that I'm doing something fun with lids again. This time, I'm "hooked" on hanging my Ball mason jars. I have this fun wall art that hangs over my sofa. It kind of reminds me of a seaside fishing town... albeit a very simplified version. This year I decided to go with a coastal vibe for Christmas and pulled out my … [Read more...]
On these hot summer days, we're all looking for ways to feel cool and comfortable. One way to feel cool as a cucumber is to surround ourselves with cooler colors likes blues, whites, and greens. Last summer I had fun playing around with a tablescape in coastal blues. What blues are coastal blues? Just look at your favorite body of water. Notice the many, many shades of blue. Use them freely and you're off to feeling cooler and refreshed. Who knew it would be so easy. Now go check out my Casual Coastal Tablescape here. Can you believe that in a … [Read more...]
Since I couldn't go to the beach....I decided to bring the beach to my house this summer. It's amazing what you can do with some sand, shells, and stuff from the stash. Join me for a super simple seashell art DIY project. Who knows why I purchased this small square photo frame at The Dollar Tree some time ago. As I was trolling my stash, I was so excited to find it, and the wheels started turning. This post contains affiliate links. Then I remembered I had some scrapbook paper in coastal colors. Yay! Originally I purchased it for making some masculine … [Read more...]
As the days get shorter, we hang on to every breath of summer's sweet breezes. There's the "one last time" at the beach day. Or, if you live in the mountains, the desert, or in America's heartland, all of that may be just a dream. But, it doesn't stop us from creating our own little breath of fresh air and wind and waves....even on our supper table. Our own casual coastal tablescape....ah! Today, I used my everyday, Longaberger Classic Blue dinner plates and Woven Traditions Cereal Bowls. No...we won't be having cereal for supper. These generously sized bowls are perfect … [Read more...]
Want to bring the beach home or create a coastal or nautical feel in your decor? Create an Easy Nautical Life Ring Wreath. Hang it on a vintage window like I did here, on the wall, or even on your front door. It's a super quick and easy wreath to make. You need a few supplies and in less than an hour, you'll have yourself some classy coastal decor. Easy Nautical Life Ring Wreath Supplies: A foam wreath form; mine came from the Dollar Tree. Ruler Scissors Straight pins Cream or white fabric cut into two and one-half-inch strips. An … [Read more...]
There's nothing like a day at the beach. Living at least five hours from the beach, I decided to bring the beach to the mountains of Pennsylvania. At least to my dining area. Will you join me for a beachy brunch? The table is simply set with my Longaberger dinnerware and crystal goblets, and my vintage silverplate that we use everyday. We're having the yummiest blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup. Creamers sitting on saucers are perfect for serving the syrup. And cute too. An old vintage low bowl with a sea green interior is … [Read more...]
This was not the year for me to be spending time at the water's edge, wiggling my toes in the soft warm sand. Yet, my heart was yearning for the beach. What's a girl to do? Create a coastal vignette! It all started with my glam clam that had a makeover. She looked mighty fine on the sideboard sporting her new color combo along with a sea of shells and beach glass. There was one missing element, though. A seascape on the wall. My stash did not include a lovely painting of a lake, beach, or sea. But, my stash did include a picture that I picked … [Read more...]
