Looking back.... outside.

Sometimes I have to and sometimes it's good, to look back at where I  started and where I've gotten to so far.  Then I can see I have accomplished something and encouraged to keep on plugging away.

 

There was basically nothing growing but weeds and they grew very well!   The hitch that should have come off within 5 days of sitting it there, was such an eye sore...rusted and peeling.  Anything I did try to plant there either didn't grow or the man from the park that mowed, mowed or weed whacked the flowers down.

Finally the front turned into this:

You can read about it here:  My Beach Front.  More changes have been made.

I love shells! I love the beach!!

I'm building my own beach!!
 

I have been posting allot about what to do with shells lately...maybe forever!  I hope you check out my Facebook page because I keep finding  more things to do with shells.  I am enjoying finding more to do with shells but especially what else can I do to make my home as beachy as possible without living on the beach.

Above picture is from the fall of 2009 when I first moved in.  Sometimes I wonder if I should have left well enough alone!  But that isn't me, and so slowly but surely, I keep trying to get something done.

You don't have to live on the beach, although there is nothing like it, but love to have that beach feeling.  I am lucky enough to live in Florida where the seasons are adaptable for growing almost year 'round.  I have done pretty well without totally losing most of my plants and most came back.  But if you're not living in an area that stays warm most of the time, get what will grow and/or put plants in pots that you can bring inside for a harsh winter.  My sister has a green thumb and has such luck with beach grasses on Long Island.  They just keep on growing!

I so wish I could get my front to grow and look like that!  But I still try.

As I try to get plants to grow, there are other ways that I keep trying to bring the beach home, and you can too!  I've shown you some of these pictures before:   making my beach front

But making my beach front has been a long time coming.  It has been so hot and humid that I haven't spent much time outside at all.  I go out, basically, only when I had to and did as little as possible.  That's just reality.  When you go out and pull weeds and all you hear is your joints cracking, it isn't a good sound...then my legs got so wobbly.  It does look so nice after weeding but it takes me so darn long.  

I was so excited that ACE Hardware in Titusville started selling bags of shells but it has been slow getting the front ready.  My bags of shells are still in the back of my truck!

So, a little at a time, I've been going out to pull weeds.. try to wrap a vine that's growing around the hitch; clean up pine needles and pine cones; and trying to figure out if I should move what mulch is there and move some stone I put down.  But I have decided to worry about it when I get to that point.

It's getting there.... came out in the morning with the dog.  The only way I can describe her is that she was walking slow and on tippy toes towards the front.  It wound up that a woman that lives behind  me decided to pull some weeds for me!  OK by me.

I spray painted the slats at the bottom with blue... that's my water.  I started getting my 'dune fence' as close to the house and used tie wraps to secure it.  I started at the right corner and ready to attach at the back corner at the hitch.  The left above still needs to be racked out.

I just pray for breaks in the humidity to  get it done and finished soon.  I am looking forward to it being done.

what a difference!

 
Saturday, my brother-in-law participated and finished the NYC Iron Man.  After the swim and during the bike ride portion, I felt bad that he was doing all of this in New York's humidity and I was just watching.  So, being nicer than it's been, I went out to do what I could and got all the shells down except for one bag...I just couldn't lift and hold it anymore.  I'll put the other bag down tomorrow and hopefully have a better idea of how many more bags I'll need.  I really like it allot!

 This (above) is 5 bags of the medium Conquina shells and I have one bag of small shells left in the car.  I know I need at least 6 more bags ...maybe even 10-12 more for coverage and depth.

I was going to use black trash bags as a barrier, but it was suggested it may be too dark.  I had a clear plastic role of tarp and that covered most of the front.  As you can see, for the most part I used it doubled.  I then used white trash bags to the left.

Just for your information:

Each bag is 100% nature recycled landscape shell; alternative to mulching.  No additives, no chemicals, won't float away, doesn't fade, natural source of calcium and other minerals; Only 1" of depth needed.  1/2 Cubic Foot;  6 square feet coverage area for each bag @ 1" deep.  30 pounds each bag.

Great way to beautify your:

gardens, walkways, planters and more.

There you have it, until I pick up more shells this week.  I am liking it a lot! Besides that, I am motivated to do things outside again.  

Stay tuned for the journey to my beach and have a flip flop day!! 

Easy to-do from Nate's show

I am always looking for easy inexpensive ways to change things up.  I seem to want to tackle things that are harder, which is where I get frustrated because I usually don't have the tools I need.

 I usually watch The Nate Show on a daily basis.  It comes on CBS at 3 p.m. which is usually rest time.




Easy do-over ideas:

1. gift wrap over foam core boards cut to size for the back of bookcases, cabinets, drawers
2. ribbon around a lamp shade; I want to get about a 2 inch wide canvas ribbon to stencil on and update my living room shades
3. runner
4. paint...flat for walls and ceilings (Nate's pro) 2 coats
5. if redoing everything in a room: thrift wood furniture - easy to personalize and made to last.
6. no sew: wrap and tuck fabric, a sweater around a pillow and use a belt, ribbon, cord, rope to 'tie the package'
7. recover kitchen/dining room chair cushions with shower curtain; they are made to resist and clean up with damp cloth.

#1.  I didn't use foam core board on my bookcase but I like the idea and may just switch over, one of these days.  When I did this, I just laid the back on the floor, taped the maps and then nailed the back on.

#5.  I have found some great thrift finds as well as a couple of great dumpster finds.  They are made from wood and all have been sturdy enough, but wood can always be glued, nailed, reinforced, sanded and painted!

this wasn't more than $15 at SPCA Thrift; I covered it with maps of
Florida on the top, drawers and 2 sides. I wrapped the handles
with jute string.  Perfect storage in the bath room.

I had this.  It is now a stand for my printer.

I love how this turned out!
It's the drawer on printer table.

dumpster kitchen table
and thrift store chair $15







dumpster table



I had the lazy susan and painted it.

$1 at SPCA Thrift Store
It started off in the bathroom but now is
at home in the living room.

I will attempt to do this again and will follow the directions as I included in this post for you to follow:  Mistake...My attempt at decorative twine!    If you follow the directions, you can have the look of the first picture.  If one the other hand, you do what I did, you will wind up with something like the second picture!!

So there are some ideas to try, if you haven't already.  Most of all, have fun!  Have fun even when it doesn't turn out the way you expected!!

Making of a Mermaind sign!

I was going to do this free hand but opted to pull out the stencils instead.  Then I printed out this mermaid from The Graphics Fairy.  She's holding a cute little seal.  I hope it still looks like a seal when I'm done!

The top says: Mermaid Rest.  I think this is going on my bathroom door.  I'm still trying to figure out what I am doing to the door.

Anyway, I started with a 36 inch x 3 inch hobby wood (I think it's balsam wood?) I cut it almost in half with a razor.  Glued it together with E-6000 glue.  I used the stencils and a pencil to spell out "Mermaid Rest".  I then positioned the print out on the board and used painters tape to secure it; and just traced over the mermaid pushing firmly to leave a groove in the wood.

 I then use a black permanent marker to trace over everything to be able to see it.  (This may have been a mistake.)  I used a stencil to outline the stars, hoping they will look like starfish at the end.  (we'll see.)

I wrote inside the stars.

Again, using painters tape, I taped it roughly in thirds, but did no measuring.  I sanded the glue in the center.  I used a pickled white in the middle and driftwood for the two sides.  I did the same on the back.

NOTE TO SELF:  Self, the next time, bring it inside right away to dry.  Stain does not dry well in the heat and humidity! ~me

After a few hours outside and still getting stain on my fingers, I brought it in to hopefully help it dry. The black "permanent" ink seemed to run in the white stain. (that's what may have been my mistake.  Stain first, stencil and use marker after.)

 I got an idea from The Lord of the Things 's Mermaids.  He uses caulk... you have to go check his page out.  His work is unbelievable and inspiring!!  I love it. 

Anyway, I used caulk and a plastic fork to do her hair, scales on her body, the fins of the baby seal, his whiskers, and a little on his back.  Now, I have to be patient and let it all dry.

still need work on that seam.

OK Self, I think it was a BIG mistake to use E-6000 glue on this project. I think any other glue would have been a better but most probably should have used WOOD GLUE!! duh!!   

I now will be trying to scrape off as much as I can and possibly re-glue... we'll see.  Oh, it still feels like tacky glue and the stain along that line just comes off on my fingers when I touch it! darn!!

I sanded and scraped off the glue and with it came some stain but as I was working on it, I realized I probably should have stained last or had the patience to stain and let dry in a non-humid place, maybe a couple of days.  But that didn't happen so I'm working with what I have.


I used a green glitter pen to outline the seaweed above here hair; a gold glitter pen around the caulk of her hair. Then mixed a dark brown, white and yellow to pounce her hair.   I'm not sure my baby otter looks like an otter, so I may will be working on him.  After painting her body, I used another glittered aqua paint for depth and highlights, and started to use it to outline the stars and letters.


If to do it over, after tracing everything in pencil, I would have started painting.  I was anxious to see the difference between the two stains on bare wood; to get an idea of what I'd like to use on new plank floors (in the future).  I still don't know. 

I think I might also paint over the writing in the stars and work on it to be more starfish-like...and use the caulk for depth and texture.  For now, I have to let everything dry again!

I did the stars over...caulk and paint...

It's these little kind of crafts I love on hot days or days after I've pushed to much physically.  If I were to do this over, I'd do it differently  but every time I go back to work on it, I try to make it better.  But I like it and I love the sitting and creating...and it's mine!  My next sign is "Paradise Found" with palm trees for my bedroom door...if I ever finish this one!

I worked a bit on the baby seal and I think he is looking better.  I used the aqua glitter paint to add a water and wave look. I added some silver glitter to the starfish for some glistening look.

 I am going to trim with rope and give it an easy hanger... and of course add shells.  I'm just not sure about it's finishing!

 I trimmed the sign with rope, gave a quick coat on and off of the pickled white stain (I wouldn't do that again), repainted letters. glued on shells with caulk and painted the white caulk with dabs of aqua glitter paint, tied a knot with rope and the scissors is kinda holding it in place to dry.

almost done

I think I want to do some more...

What I did learn:

• Do all the staining FIRST!
• Then use pencil only to use tracing stencils and cut outs; don't use the marker or actually use stencil and paint;
• Use the caulk to outline and embellish;
• Use real star fish instead of star stencils; 
• DON'T use stain over the paint and glitter; it takes away the vibrancy of the colors and looks kinda dull; 
• Do better with lining up the middle (knot off centered).

Either way you do it... HAVE FUN!  It's one of a kind and made by you!!

hung on the bathroom door

Still want to do something to the door, but I don't know what yet!

I love this paint!

I love this paint!  I keep looking for anything I might be able to spray! It comes in other colors but this one looks like beach sand!

cap color!

I recently used it for these remakes:

I first used it on the bottom shelf of this table.

It was the perfect background for the shells on this drawer.

Worked well on the plastic jar lid for a shell top.

I also want to spray and piece of cement to see if it sticks and makes it look like a pile of sand; spray some bottles and add shells for flowers... who knows.

What would you use it for?

What would you do with a 30# bag of Coquina shells?

Hi!  What would you do with a 30 pound bag of small Coquina shells?  ACE Hardware in Titusville is waiting for delivery!!  They are on Facebook for more information.  They have the best store!!

The limits are only limited to your imagination.  If you like and want to add to your vacation finds, create your own beach feeling whether inside or outside, create your own stay-cation oasis,  landscaping, around ponds, DIY, crafts.... I wanted to put together some ideas for you just in case you were wondering.

My first project will be cleaning out my front area and putting down the shells instead of using  mulch.  I live in Florida.  I love everything about it.  Although I do not live on the water, I can get that feel by landscaping with shells.  I can't wait to show you how it comes out!

ACE Hardware Titusville

Next,  some things I have done are below, just to give you an idea:

shell framed mirror in the Bath Room

I never quite finished but you get the idea.  It is actually my medicine cabinet doors and I used some shells from North Capitva Island, rocks and some beach glass.

shells in containers, just on top of my map covered dresser in my Bath Room

And that is a NASA ash tray!  

I love this drawer!

I repaint a small table, spray painted the drawer with a sand textured paint, glued on shells and topped the knob with a LandShark beer bottle cap!

Just some shells on my coffee table and more in the basket.

I did a window with fish nets and there are shells tied to the netting with jute...starfish bundle, sand dollar, small shells and some drift wood sit on top of the air conditioner.

I recently used shells glued to cover "Marie's" on the jar lids and 2 are in the bathroom with q-tips and cotton balls.

ta-da!

I'm big on glass jars, vases... with shells.  Such an easy way to display a natural element to your home.  See this:

I did that for fun with a Landshark and Corona bottle in it.

That's just a sample but there are so many more ideas that I want to try.  Shell wreaths, shell encrusted little treasure chest, shells glued on sheers, shell wind chimes... I have a palm tree with lights outside on the patio that I want to refill the pot with shells. 

 So that's what I'm thinking about for a 30# bag, or two or three.... allot!  So what do you think?  What would you do??  What did I miss???