One year ago, I had gathered up the materials I’d need for this project. I had a couple of weaving shuttles and clear vision for transforming them into decorative sailboats. But right as I was getting started, an email appeared in my inbox.Read more ›
Antique Diving Helmet from Recessed Light Housing

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 for a Beach House by Upcycling a Christmas Tree Topper

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 ›
Glass Fishing Floats from Thrift Store Vases for Coastal Home Decor

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

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 ›
Upcycling Ideas for Beach Home Decor and Coastal Crafts

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.
Read more ›
Sea Glass Bottles from the Recycling Bin for Coastal Decor

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 ›
Coastal Decorating with Beach in a Jar

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.
Read more ›