A Sanibel Bench

I finally realized that I have never posted a picture of the bench that sits in our front entry.
Sooooo,here it is-------
These are close-ups of the paintings that are on the seat.The first is a painting of the sand dollars,Michael,the Elder,found when he joined me for a week on Sanibel,two years ago.I just placed them on the bench,traced around them,and painted away.

This is my salute to Gary and Tootie.Notice the orange scallops and pink tellon and coquina.

Sanibel Santa

I think this is may be one of the best things I have ever done.It 's what I think Santa would like if he took a shelling vacation to Sanibel Island,after the hectic days of the holiday season.
I originally made him when I was going thru a clay sculpting phase,and he was meant for Jon.He had held fishing gear,but now,he's holding a real jewel box shell with a pearl(it's fake) in it,and he has his golden shell bag,with mini "craft" shells.

For more Ruby Tuesday participants,clicky here.....

Wreaths

This first wreath has "craft" shells and fake(meaning plastic) starfish on it.I used plastic because it hangs outside,on our back door.Instead of ribbon,I used real rope.And the netted bow is meant to be reminiscent of a fish net(which I intend to use someday).
I got the idea for this second wreath from Tootie's blog.....I just hot glued all my beach treasures,broken Sand Dollars,"craft" shells,and bent up Starfish to a grape vine wreath.We have a yard full of Spanish Moss,so I just grabbed some out of our trees(if you should ever do that,either spray it with bug spray,or moisten it and microwave it for about one minute-you don't want any critters in your house!)

Two New Creations

I took old menu's we had saved from Sanibel and Captiva,sprayed them with cold coffee(to antique them),decoupaged them to a tray we already had.Voila'. A new TV/serving tray!I probably should have posted this under The Great Wall blog,as it's a planter,but....here ya go.
We replaced the toilet in our upstairs bathroom.It just screamed at me it didn't want to go in the trash.I filled the bowl with dirt(yes,that is dirt!).
Voila'-----a planter! The top is still waiting for something to be put in it.........
Will they be put back together as a proper toilet? Haven't figured that one out,yet.

Why I Collect White Shells....

This is why I have been collecting plain,bleached white shells.Why I bartered coquinas for white shells with Gina.Why I pick up even common Ark shells.And,of course,those notorious buttercups ("why do you build me up...").

And I don't have near enough,yet.I just wanted to get started on this project.

It's an old mirror,bought in Newport,Rhode Island, in 1969.One of those tacky old nautical type mirrors,that were supposed to look a ship's wheel.I took those ugly spoke things off.Primed it,painted it white,and started hot gluing(one of my favorite things to do!).

I still need more mini's,tho,to go around the outer edge.It's going to be continuous work in progress,I think.

Eventually,it will go in the upstairs guest bathroom(which is in the great plan to be worked on,in the future).

A Bench For the Cantina.....

I painted an old bench we had,with a "sun" theme. I'm thinking I need to paint a sand dollar on it,too.

Notice the yard-art shells and the bowl full of worm shells........There are also some oyster clusters to the side.Don't know if you can see them,tho.

Here's An Interesting Idea.......

Candle holderActually,quite simple to make.

All you will need is:

a clay flower pot and the drip tray that matches it

a glue gun(w00t!!!)

terra cotta colored craft paint

some white craft paint mixed with glazing medium

And tourist shells.

All available at a craft store,except for the shells,which you will have to go to a beach for.

Turn the flower pot upside down.Hot glue the tray(right side up) to the bottom(which has now become the top) of the pot.Hot glue the shells on to the pot,in any arrangement you prefer.Paint everything with the terra cotta craft paint.Let dry,thoroughly.And glaze it with the white craft paint mixed with the glazing medium,so it looks like aged terra cotta.
Fill the drip tray with sand and plop a candle in it!

You could also surround the candle with more shells( buttercups look especially nice--"Why do you build me up......" )

Voila' !!!!

Here's A Neat Idea

Take an old,broken,outdoor water tap and put an old Christmas ornament in it.
Voila!It spins in the breeze and looks like water coming out of it.I think it would be neat to have a blue tinted glass ornament coming out of it,too.

What You Can do With Shells(as in sea)

It's incredible what you can do with sea shells,a glue gun(you can do almost anything with a glue gun,I might add!),paint,and some creativity.

Mirrors!

Flower pots!

This project takes quite alot(and I'm not exaggerating when I say alot)of shells and glue sticks,but the result is well worth the effort.

What I like to call yard art.




Mulch!






Container for a bromeliad.

This is a wild bromeliad from our yard,and it seems to love being in this whelk.

Picture Frame

(Gawd!Isn't that a handsome couple ?!)

I must add,all of these projects took a lot of glue sticks.Thanks to Michael's Crafts for their 40% off coupons!