DIY Starfish Art

Since Summer is quickly approaching, this project would be a great way to add a beachy feel to your decor. A really easy technique that can be accomplished with any variety of starfish and of course any size frame. Also, I chose burlap for the background, but you could use any cloth you like.

This frame was a steal at the thrift store and I grabbed it up because 1.) It is a great size, 2.) Came with matting, and 3.) Has a great paintable frame in a style I like.

I found this bad of starfish at TJ Maxx and I grabbed it up thinking I would use them for bowl fillers, but then this art project came to mind-luckily, they was enough left over to do both.

First, I spray painted the frame in a glossy black, then proceeded to do a dry run with the starfish. Keep in mind to use starfish close in size for a nice uniform look.

I decided to use burlap in the background, so after finding the perfect starfish, I used Mod Podge to adhere the burlap to the foam core that came with the frame. You can also use spray adhesive......

...just remember to cut your cloth bigger than the matting.

Finally, with a glue gun, glue down the starfish. It will depend on the size frame you find or have, but 6 is what I used and it wasn't too crowded. I tucked a couple of vintage postcards under the matting, but you can use pictures, or leave it without...since the glass isn't there, why not stick some extra memorabilia in there! Completely optional.

I figure I will use the glass in a different project, the glass that came in the frame isn't used with this project-unless you use a shadow box style frame, which would look great too.

Such an easy project! You can have this done under an hour...depending on the spray paint you use. ;)

I am getting chemo this morning, so I will talk to you much later. Hope you will give this project a try! Happy Summer!

Painted Doily Tee

Have you all met Rachel at Maybe Matilda? She has mad crocheting talent, and has fun projects like her Floral 'Love' Tee, Scrappy Floral Skirt and Painted Doily Tee, which is the project I tried. I don't usually do any re-fashions, but this was so easy, right up my alley, I just had to try. I did do mine a little different, she used colored paint on a white tee and I used white paint on a colored tee. Either way you do it, I think it looks so cute and fun for summer.

I had everything on hand except for the textile medium that was a little hard to find. Not at Walmart, not at Michael's, finally found it at Hobby Lobby. If any execs of the two former named stores are reading, if you carry craft paint, you should carry textile medium. Thanks.

So here's what you will need: Craft paint, textile medium, paint brush, paper doilies, inexpensive tee shirt.

My tee shirt is from Walmart ( 5$), they have tanks (4$) that I think would look cute too. You might have a plain tee already. I found the sunflower paper doilies at the Dollar Tree, but the regular paper doilies (which Rachel used) are available all over if you prefer that shape.
Wash your tee (without fabric softener), and lay out the paper doilies in a pleasing manner.

Put a piece of cardboard in the shirt to prevent bleeding to the back, I used a pizza box top. Mix the textile medium into the craft paint, be brave and begin painting, concentrating on the little openings and the outer edge. Basically use the doily like a stencil.


I made sure to let the pattern go off of the shirt, I did that on the bottom and around the neck.



Let the paint dry then heat set it by ironing wrong side with a pressing cloth or towel. That's it! It is ready to wear! Is that easy or what?


Doesn't it kinda look like tie dye? Thank you Rachel for a fun idea! Be sure to visit Maybe Matilda and see all of Rachel's projects.

Summer Mantle

Happy Independence Day! I hope everyone is having a fantastic holiday weekend! Since the kiddies were at the Grands, I was doing some much needed cleaning and a little foo-fooing too, usually one follows the other, doesn't it? :)

I love a good mantlescape, so I hit there first. I like to change mine seasonally and since it's officially summer, seashells and flowers were the main players. With the new suzani curtain panels, all kinds of different decorating opportunities have arisen arise come up. I am able to use a lot of different colors and textures, which I am really loving.

The mirror never changes...I keep thinking that I am going to do some abstract art and hang over the mantle in lieu of the mirror, but I really like the black and white contrast, you probably know this from seeing the kitchen.

For an asymmetrical mantle, I like using two good size "anchors" on each end. I love using florals on one side and typically candle holders on the other. That's kinda the formula I stick with. The living room is not big at all, but because of the vaulted ceilings, I can go pretty tall, big and chunky. I like using over sized objects and then fill in around them.




I also like leaning one or two pieces of artwork or pictures too, here I used just one and a collection of starfish and shells







At first, I did a floral arrangement with primarily orchids, but it was looking a little too tropical than I wanted so I went out in search of some lillies. I found them in beautiful rusty orange, however, they look a little more red in the photos. They are blooming everywhere in nature, so they were exactly what I wanted.






The original with just orchids, I like both of them, but I wanted lillies!

I've tried using that vase a trillion times before the curtains, but with them, now I can use a lot of earthy textures on the mantle that just didn't seem right before.

Some other details going on around the room....everything here thrifted (ginger jars spray painted, check out how they looked before HERE :) I love that little dish.

I found a fantastic bowl at TJ Maxx this weekend (I love a good bowl). This bowl could work everywhere! I rarely find orange accessories, so when I do I snag them up. Right now, because Logan is on a building kick, I filled it with wooden blocks.





This is the bowl I found thrifting a couple of weekends ago, I filled it with various shell balls. I told you I love a good bowl!

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you are inspired to create a summer mantlescape!





Need more ideas? Take a peek at the Pre-Spring and Spring mantlescapes. Click HERE and HERE.

Monaco Breeze Tablescape

So I have been on a small sewing kick lately, or I should say, I've been on a: I just bought another yard of fabric kick, so I think I'll make something....and since my sewing skills don't go much beyond a straight stitch, I've been making table runners. So for someone like me with a fetish for dishes and playing pretty with them, that's a good thing.

I found this fabric and just fell in love. I don't usually go for true/navy blues, I'm more of a turquoise gal, but combined with the brown and green, it is great. Later, it dawned on me that it reminded me of THIS duvet cover at West Elm, that's probably why I bought it.

I kept the centerpiece really simple because the fabric is super busy.
I found these candle holders at Big Lots (you might have read that yesterday) and took too many pictures of them used them. White pillar candles and moss not only for interest, but I love that green.

Some milk glass vases with hydrangeas complete the simple centerpiece, I love how the ribbing on the candles are repeated in the ribbing of the vases. Cool.

I used a couple different styles of charger plates, isn't that the fun of setting a table? Mixing it up? I found two dark expresso colored wooden chargers at the Goodwill and combined then with some inexpensive plastic ones that I spray painted green. Ivy Leaf Green? Yep. Krylon? Yep.
Here's the expresso ones, the green are pictured further down.

I love these plates, I found them at Dollar Tree last year. They've got a neat starburst slash ribbing effect and a little age around the edge. They look very Summer-tiki to me, I'm not sure why. I pulled in the ottoman to seat six, I won't have to worry about that anymore since my chair score this past weekend!

Did I show you the candle holders yet? :)

The napkins are from World Market. They have a fantastic array of colors and come in a set of six. This color is called Lagoon Blue, so pretty.




The glassware I've had for some time, from Nell Hill's.

I used a starfish at each placesetting for even more summer details.

Some evening photos.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you're inspired!



Joining Susan

*Edited*
In case any of you guys want to know where I bought the fabric......it's from fabric.com. Name and item number: UJ-231, Magnolia Home Fashions. Color: Monaco Breeze