| I've had many requests for ideas on classy | | | | Allow the glue to dry then paint soft peach, cream or |
| decorating in a seaside theme. Make note of some of | | | | brown. Create a border of these on the wall or use |
| these great things you can do easily and | | | | as a plaster arrangement over doors and windows |
| inexpensively to bring the sea shore in to your home | | | | by applying an even layer of joint compound about |
| with elegance and style. | | | | ¼" thick to the back of the plaster starfish |
| Sometimes it's difficult to come up with decorating in | | | | then press to the wall and hold for 60 seconds. Fill |
| a theme that is classy and elegant. Many times, our | | | | any gap between the wall and the piece with joint |
| options seem to be rather cartoonish and childish. But | | | | compound on your finger. Wipe away any excess |
| these ideas will give you inspiration to create a room | | | | with a damp cloth. |
| of decadence with just a few simple tricks! | | | | Find or cut your own stencil of an anchor then stencil |
| The sea, despite it rushing waves, occasional storms | | | | randomly in gold (as a wallpaper effect) on one wall |
| and powerful presence can also create the most | | | | in the room. Use the same stencil to create area rugs |
| calming feeling within all of us and has been a popular | | | | by stenciling the design on to large carpet samples |
| decorating theme for decades. | | | | (available for super cheap in 3 foot by 4 foot sizes at |
| Its beautiful color variations, interesting underwater | | | | your local carpet store). |
| sea life and ever changing texture set it apart from | | | | Drapery tie backs can be created by tying with a |
| any other element offered by nature. | | | | length of high quality braided chord with a beautiful |
| Painting your walls in soft sea pastels instantly | | | | seashell glued to the front. (The same can be done |
| changes the way the room feels and beautifully | | | | to adorn towels in the kitchen or bath). |
| accepts the accessories you will later add. | | | | Fill a decorative bowl with various sea shells arranged |
| Keeping walls light in color and more neutral in tone | | | | with class balls. Your local craft store or on-line |
| will create a calm mood rather than walls of brilliant | | | | sources are often the best places to find shells. |
| blue or deep greens. Neutral blue/green (or what I call | | | | Choose varying colors and textures for your display |
| "Victorian Blue"), in a very light shade will give the | | | | for interest. |
| room a spacious feel and relaxing tone. | | | | Purchase a large ornate shell then display at one edge |
| Painting the woodwork and ceiling in soft cream will | | | | of a table or mantle. Gorgeous super large seashells |
| frame the wall color and seem to add more detail to | | | | can be found on line. |
| the room by making the woodwork a focal point | | | | Purchase a glass lamp base from the thrift store then |
| . | | | | cover with miniature shells and outfit with a new |
| Sofa or floor pillows that incorporate or coordinate | | | | shade. |
| with the wall color will draw the eye to the inner | | | | Make your own sea candles by sinking a glass down |
| portion of the room. Vary tones and texture to | | | | in to a box of sand. Stop just before you reach the |
| create a bit of drama. | | | | bottom of the container. Remove the glass which will |
| Add elegant accessories by framing seascape photos | | | | leave a perfect impression in the sand. |
| or starfish in gold frames and glue real seashells to | | | | Insert a candle wick in to the center of the |
| wide cream colored satin ribbon. Attach a bow to the | | | | impression then fill the impression with melted wax |
| top then hang from a decorative hook on the wall or | | | | and allow to harden. |
| on either side of your windows or doorways. | | | | Once the candle has been formed, remove it from |
| A great way to reproduce starfish is to make a sand | | | | the sand and dust off excess. |
| mold of them. Here's how: | | | | Apply a mixture of 1/2 white glue and 1/2 water to |
| Fill a container with sand. Sink your starfish face | | | | the bottom 1/2 of the candle and again insert in to |
| down in the sand then remove. Fill the starfish | | | | the sand to give you a sand coating. Lastly, glue small |
| impression with mixed plaster of paris and allow to | | | | seashells in to a central design in the middle of the |
| harden. Once hard, remove from the sand, dust off | | | | candle and display on a gold candle base. |
| the excess then paint the face only with a mixture | | | | You can create various sized and shaped candles |
| of ½ water and ½ white glue. Insert | | | | depending on the shape of the item you sink in to |
| face down in to the sand so that plenty of sand | | | | the sand. Try short highball glasses, tall 16 oz glasses |
| sticks to the glue. Dust off excess with a paint brush. | | | | and even fruit bowls to create various candle styles. |