For the first time since very early March, I went thrifting. Now that we’ve moved to a state with stricter rules, I finally felt more comfortable to go inside a thrift store. So, I headed to Habitat ReStore, where I found a series of eyeball lights in their section of light fixtures. But as I stared at them, all I could see was an antique diving helmet!Read more ›
Starfish Decor from a Lighted Star Christmas Tree Topper
July 7, 2019 · By · 10 Comments
While working on my recent Thrift the Look: Beach Cottage blog post, one of the most challenging elements to find was a large starfish. I didn’t want to buy a real/dried one from a craft store, so upcycling one was my best bet. I just wasn’t sure what I’d find that could become the starfish decor that I needed.Read more ›
Fishing Floats from Thrift Store Vases
September 4, 2018 · By · 22 Comments
Many years ago, I published this project for glass fishing floats by upcycling some vases and bowls from the thrift store. But in the years since, the craft product I used to make these fishing floats went off the market. So, I decided to start from scratch with an even better craft paint to create a new set. Read more ›
Sand Collection Display in a Vintage Spice Rack
August 2, 2018 · By · 28 Comments
There I was in Goodwill, crawling through the housewares when I paused to check an alert on my phone. A friend’s photo of a gorgeous sunset on the beach popped up, and when I went back to thrift shelf scanning, there it was. A vintage spice rack that someone else had painted purple, using it to house her button collection. But with the beach photo still burning a hole in my mind and the spice rack in front of me, I had an idea. To create a sand collection display in the old spice rack!Read more ›
DIY Message in a Bottle
May 17, 2018 · By · 27 Comments
Ever since recycling glass stopped in my county, I’ve been trying to come up with fresh ways to repurpose the glass bottles I end up with. Now that summer is on the horizon, my head is already in the sand- beach sand, that is. So, this time around, I had an idea for DIY message in a bottle that I wanted to try.Read more ›
Coastal Farmhouse Decor
July 20, 2017 · By · 89 Comments
I don’t know about your neck of the woods, but it is just wickedly hot here. So much so that I long to stay inside where the A/C blows cold and I can daydream about the elusive cool summer day spent on the coast. And with that idea in mind, I decided it was time to create some beach themed decor. But this time, I’m taking it a step further as coastal farmhouse decor. Read more ›
Upcycling Ideas for Beach Home Decor and Coastal Crafts
July 31, 2016 · By · 41 Comments
Beach home decor or coastal decor, whether it be for a lake or an ocean, is near and dear to my heart, despite the fact that I am currently landlocked. I just LOVE the color palettes associated with it; the soothing combination of blues, greens, neutrals, and white. Even though I don’t have much nautical decor in my home, I love it just the same, as well. And there are SO many upcycling ideas for beach theme decor, that I decided to gather a few of them to share with you.
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Sea Glass Bottles from the Recycling Bin
June 30, 2016 · By · 202 Comments
Earlier this year, our county stopped recycling glass of any kind. So, not only did I become a more mindful consumer at the store, but I started thinking of ways to upcycle our glass bottles. And transforming some of our empty wine bottles into sea glass bottles seemed like a GREAT place to start. Read more ›
Beach in a Jar
May 29, 2014 · By · 68 Comments
Over the years, I’ve procured several blue ball mason jars, particularly those with air bubbles inside the glass. I’m such a sucker for old aqua jars with their vibrant color and crusty zinc lids. So, I decided to upcycle a few of my own into coastal decor or “Beach in a Jar” with seashells and beach treasures I had collected over the years.
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Driftwood Wreath for Coastal Decor this Summer
April 8, 2014 · By · 32 Comments
Up until 2009, I’d always lived near a shoreline- half my life along the shores of Lake Michigan, and half my life bouncing between the Gulf and the Atlantic in Florida. My fondest beach memories are those of the windswept, deserted beaches in Southwest Michigan that were filled with beach glass and pieces of driftwood. And to celebrate those memories, I decided to make a driftwood wreath for our front door this summer.
