. -->
Showing posts with label coastal style. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coastal style. Show all posts

5.24.2024

easy summer decor: all bottled up!

summer,DIY,diy decorating,trash to treasure,re-purposed,up-cycling,fast cheap and easy,beach style,coastal style,home decor,red white and blue,Fourth of July,vintage,vintage finds,vintage style,vintage soda bottle vases.
Memorial Day Weekend is here (in the States, anyway)
and that means it's time for the big 'summer kickoff'...

the project i'm sharing today is a re-do and throw-back
to some of my patriotic red, white and blue summer decor from the past
(i've linked that below this post)
but the new version fits my current 'green era' obsession.
 it's another 'throw it together in a minute' decor trick
that can be replicated in SO many ways on a table, mantel, bookshelf, and more. 

'summerizing' your living spaces is an easy way to embrace the season...
quick additions of simple elements will change the feel of your home!

continue reading to see a few of the ways i've used glass bottles...

9.26.2023

fall glamping with Miss Dot!

pumpkins,beach style,fall,DIY,Sweet Sweater Pumpkins,glamping,vintage style,tropical style,colorful home,diy decorating,decorating Miss Dot,coastal style,yellow and mint green,yellow pumpkins,glamping decor for fall.
i'm at a vintage trailer rally at the beach this week,
so i thought i'd share photos of the 'glamping' decor that i created
for Miss Dot at a past rally (2021)...

you've seen a tropical decor theme (from 2022) in a recent post,
now here's a look at how switching out decor elements and a new color addition
creates a whole new vibe - this one's beachy!
(the rally is held in Newport Beach, CA and always has a 'surf' theme)

planning the decor theme for each glamping excursion
reminds me so much of how i played in my grandpa's Shasta trailer as a kid,
spending hours in their backyard decorating and dreaming...

continue reading to see how my yellow obsession extended to our Shasta trailer...

8.29.2023

NEW: beach towel pumpkins!

fall,summer,tropical style,vintage style,coastal style,pumpkins,beach towel pumpkins,DIY,diy decorating,re-purposed,up-cycling,beach style,colorful home,decorating,crafting,original designs,pumpkin decorating,fabric pumpkins,tutorial.
as August comes to a close in the weirdest way possible
(a hurricane in Southern California? AND an earthquake? okay....)
i am still stretching 'summer' to the very last moment
with this new original pumpkin design...
dare i say 'it's time for beach blanket bingo'??!!

i've noodled the idea of creating pumpkins using colorful beach towels for awhile... 
first i tried to make them the same way i do my famous sweater pumpkins
but towels just don't *squish* like sweaters do - even thin ones.
 i tried a kind of 'gathered' approach - nope. still too bulky.

then one day i was scrolling Instagram,
and right there in front of me was a fantastical, incredible, creative,
 ORIGINAL and colorful new form of art that just blew my mind -
AND solved my pumpkin problem!

continue reading to see what i saw, and how i translated that into pumpkins!

8.22.2023

TROPI-fall woven palm leaf pumpkins

fall,pumpkins,tropical style,boho style,farmhouse style,DIY,diy decorating,home decor,paper crafts,paper,thrifted,simple solutions,palm leaf pumpkins,paper bag pumpkin stems,tropi-fall decor,coastal style,tutorial.
this project is a bit different than my usual...
i'm not making something from scratch or giving a total makeover. 
this time, i'm simply adding one new detail to an existing item
and making it MUCH better than i found it!

i was at my local Habitat for Humanity ReStore looking for something else
when i came across a pile of fake fruit on a shelf...

...continue reading to see what these looked like when i found them
and what i did to them!

7.26.2023

'Christmas in July': SanTIKI mug

summer,tiki style,beach style,coastal style,painting,DIY,diy decorating,holiday,Christmas Decor,Christmas,trash to treasure,tutorial,up-cycling,re-purposed,vintage,santa mugs,vintage santa mugs,tiki mugs,
the summer heat must be getting to me,
because i'm jumping on the 'Christmas in July' theme. 
👀 WHAT???!!!! 

truth is i've been dealing with some.... stuff... and my creativity is ebbing.
i've run out of time and frankly the energy to complete the diy projects i started.

but as i was perusing photos of past projects,
i found one that i created + photographed back in late fall 2019, but never shared it.
since it just happens to fit the 'Christmas in July' theme that we're seeing everywhere,
i've decided that NOW is the time!

(granted, it's got a summer vibe,
 but it's made out of something decidedly Christmassy... so it works!)
 
...continue reading to see how Santa became a tiki!

7.19.2023

tropical tiki transformation

beach style,coastal style,colorful home,DIY,diy decorating,home decor,on the porch,outdoors,summer,tiki style,tropical style,wreaths,painting,re-purposing,up-cycling, painted plastic tiki mask,outdoor tiki decor,outdoor decor.
our backyard in Southern California underwent a transformation back in 2020....
when the pandemic shutdown happened and we had to cancel our trip to Kauai, Hawaii,
we decided to bring Hawaii to us!
i shared some of those backyard diy projects here on the blog back then
(the bamboo tiki bar, the tiki totem pole, and others - all linked below this post).

the project i'm sharing today wasn't a planned one - 
i saw something in a store and thought 'hmnn. that COULD look really good if i....'
and so i bought the item, brought it home, and worked some magic on it with paint.

it couldn't have been easier to transform a really cheap looking tiki mask
into something with much more of our own tropical style.

continue reading to see how it started... and how it's going now!

7.12.2023

tropical front porch decor

summer,tropical style,coastal style,beach style,DIY,diy decorating,home decor,colorful home,wreaths,tiki style,outdoors,outdoor decor,summer front porch decor,tropical decor,tropical wreath,tiki culture,tiki mask,tiki decor.
i always tell people 'i see things differently'... 
that means i use elements & materials in ways they weren't intended to be used.
and i RE-use things i've created before in new ways.

this tropical look on our front porch is a perfect example!

in past posts, i've shared how i raided the garden shed for fall porch decor,
using items meant for the garden to decorate with. 
here i've used paper & bamboo party decorations...
continue reading to see what i used 'differently' to get this summer vibe...

7.05.2023

easy tropical-style light cover

tutorial,coastal style,beach style,DIY,decorating,re-purposed,diy decorating,summer,up-cycling,tiki style,lighting,tropical home decor,beach hat light cover,summer home decor.

the summer heat arrived here on June 30th,
so i've been busy completing some fun new EASY projects around our home
(which has a tropical, tiki vibe going on all year long!)
since these projects work perfectly well as 'summer' season decor content,
 i thought i'd share them here on the blog this month!
so... let's get tropical!

first up, a ridiculously EASY way to make a builder-grade light fixture
look a lot more fun for summer... in just two steps!

continue reading to see what i did!

6.21.2023

display seashells in a gumball machine!

summer,beach style,coastal style,seashells,painting,DIY,diy decorating,colorful home,decorating,re-purposing,up-cycling,thrifted,beach souvenirs,seashell collections,seashell displays, gumball machine.
if you're a beach lover like me,
collecting & displaying seashells is a top summertime activity!

i've share many ideas before (linked below this post)
and now i have a different way to show off your shells
by using an unconventional container...

...continue reading for this easy paint & display project!

6.14.2023

NEW! sweet sweater 'sandy' cake

summer,foofoo Faux Food,sweaters,Sweet Sweater Cake,diy decorating,DIY,home decor,re-purposed,up-cycling,trash to treasure,beach style,coastal style,neutrals,sweet sweater originals,seashells,summer home decor, fake sandcastle cake,seashell displays,tutorial.
a question i am often asked is 'where do you get your ideas from?'
i'm honestly inspired by everything! 
from the color combinations i see in nature to memories of my childhood
to objects i see that make me ask "can i make that out of a sweater?!"
i am never without ideas to investigate (which is why deb doesn't sleep....)

one of my long-time online friends from the 'way back' blogging days (early 90's)
is the most incredible cake decorator and baker i have ever seen.
Sasha (@saucybakes on IG) has a wild imagination and wicked talent,
and her creations never fail to make me
 A. hungry and B. intrigued about replicating them in my own style.

back in 2022 i was inspired by Sasha to create a cake
using sweaters, as my own 'birthday cake',
which then led to creating a faux holiday cake and a faux frosty wintery cake.

a recent post on her IG account showed a 'Little Mermaid' themed cake
with shells and sprinkle 'sand'...
so i started thinking about making a summery 'sand cake'
with a sweater and seashells and a few other elements. 

continue reading to see how i interpreted a beachy theme faux cake!

6.07.2023

sandy castles

summer,seashells,DIY,diy decorating,decorating,seasonal,beach style,coastal style,painting,just for fun,neutrals,tutorial,painted sand castles,summer mantel decor,seashell displays.
long gone are the days when i hauled four kids and a carload of toys to the beach...
the chaos was worth it to spend long summer days
on the shores of Lake Tahoe or Puget Sound,
walking the waterline searching for beautiful seashells
and building sand castles (IF there was sand and not broken seashell grapple!).
those memories live on, especially in summertime,
and i've come up with an easy way to add a fun beachy touch to summer decor.

you can create these 'sandy castles' , too -
and it might just be as relaxing as making the real thing!

continue reading to see my sneaky trick...

5.31.2023

inflatable ring summer wreath

summer, wreaths, beach style, coastal style, colorful home, DIY, diy decorating, home decor, Sweet Sweater Sandbabies, re-purposing, up-cycling, tutorial, pool inner tube wreath, inflatable ring wreath, summer home decor, diy summer decor, summer door decor, summer wreath
it's finally time for some summer fun,
and i have a fun way to set the mood right at your front door - 
display a welcoming wreath made from an inflatable pool ring!

i've added one of my own Original Sweet Sweater Sandbabies TM and a sign,
but this idea lends itself to so many interpretations
i know you can round up some beach toys, pool toys, flip flops, 
and other accessories to make a one-of-a-kind wreath for your home!

continue reading for my easy tutorial...

10.25.2022

happy MAHALOween!

i read that term - happy MAHALOween - on a tiki bar's website.
when this fun phrase gave me a way to incorporate my love of
tropicana decor and tiki culture into October celebrations, i was IN!

(truth is, i'm not really into Halloween anymore - fall, yes. pumpkins, YES!
the 'scary horror bloody zombie creepy clowns and witches' kinda' decor? nah.)

since i have NO intention of dressing up in costume, 
 i simply decided to give a pumpkin a costume. with a tiki mask!

continue reading for the details and an easy paint tutorial...

10.18.2022

coco fiber planter liner pumpkins

fall,pumpkins,DIY,diy decorating,seasonal,tropical style,boho style,beach style,coastal style,rustic style,re-purposed,up-cycling,coco fiber planter liner pumpkins,natural material diy pumpkins,tropical pumpkins,boho pumpkins,crafting with natural materials, tutorial
i spied this item one day at Lowes - do you know what it is?
in my endless search for things i can turn into tropical decor for our home,
i'm always looking at textures and colors that work - on the cheap - 
and this looked for all the world like a giant coconut to me!

turning it into a pumpkin was easy-peasy - 
so much so that creating the tutorial for this post took me MUCH longer
than actually MAKING the pumpkin!

have you figured out what i used yet??
continue reading to see the answer... plus a few variations!

9.27.2022

NEW! faux painted bamboo pumpkins

fall,pumpkins,painting,faux finish,DIY,diy decorating,tutorial,neutrals,tiki style,coastal style,beach style,Halloween,boho style,re-purposed,home decor,fall home decor,autumn home decor,painted pumpkins,pumpkin decorating,faux bamboo,bamboo decor,bamboo pumpkins.
my penchant for tropical decor and tiki culture inspired this new pumpkin project...

our So Cal home is filled with tikis and bamboo and leafy palm fabrics,
because during the pandemic lockdown we had to cancel our trip to Hawaii
and decided to just make HOME feel as much like Hawaii as we could.
and we love it!
so, i like to create seasonal decor for us that coordinates with that theme.
pumpkins that look like they are made from bamboo are a perfect fit!

continue reading for my paint tutorial...

9.06.2022

NEW! faux 'sand' painted pumpkins

coastal grandmother,fall,pumpkins,painting,faux finish,tutorial,home decor,decorating,diy decorating,DIY,re-purposing,beach style,coastal style,boho style,pumpkin decor,painted pumpkins,no carve pumpkin decor,coastal fall home decor,beachy fall home decor,autumn decor,fall decor,paint tips.
let's just jump right in to pumpkin season, shall we?
during my summer break, i let my creativity + imagination run wild,
which resulted in a bunch of fun new pumpkin decor projects for 2022.

first up, a new idea that is the perfect transition from summer to fall:
faux 'sand' painted pumpkins

if you're a beach lover like me, or a tropical / tiki culture lover like me,
or perhaps a 'coastal grandmother' like me??! ha!
this idea may be the perfect way to bring some beach vibes home...

continue reading for my easy paint tutorial!

10.08.2021

white wire basket pumpkins

coastal style, beach style, decorating, diy decorating, re-purposing, white, DIY, vintage style, boho style, neutrals, metallics, vintage, thrifted, fall, pumpkins, fall decorating, pumpkin decor, decorating with pumpkins, diy pumpkins, wire pumpkins, fall home decor, farmhouse decor, boho chic home decor, boho chic fall decor, Dollar Tree crafts, Dollar Tree DIY.
i use a lot of containers in my studio (and home) to try to be organized.
wire baskets like these from the Dollar Tree help corral my copious stash
of craft & art supplies, and various small bits & pieces that i use and re-use in projects.

i was today years old when i looked at them and saw pumpkins instead!!!
similar to the gold wire basket pumpkins that i shared last month,
they are SO easy to make.

continue reading for the easy how-to...

9.17.2021

gold wire basket pumpkins

coastal style, beach style, decorating, diy decorating, re-purposing, white, DIY, vintage style, boho style, neutrals, metallics, vintage, thrifted, fall, pumpkins, fall decorating, pumpkin decor, decorating with pumpkins, diy pumpkins, wire pumpkins, fall home decor, farmhouse decor, boho chic home decor, boho chic fall decor, Dollar Tree crafts, Dollar Tree DIY.
 i just love finding something that can be turned into something else.
case in point: these gold metal wire baskets from Dollar Tree.
not only are they great for storage & organizing, they are also a 'raw element' for crafts.

i used four of them to create three different kinds of pumpkins,
and it was truly one of my trademark 'fast, cheap, & easy' efforts!
of course, you could do this with old galvanized wire baskets, as well.

continue reading for my easy new tutorial...

9.14.2021

faux 'kintsugi' pumpkins

coastal style,beach style,decorating,vintage style,farmhouse style,Glass Globe Pumpkins,thrifted,diy decorating,re-purposing,pumpkins,white,fall,DIY,vintage,boho style,neutrals,painting,faux finish, pumpkin decor, decorating with pumpkins, diy pumpkins,glass globe pumpkins,glass pumpkins,fall home decor,farmhouse decor,boho chic home decor,boho chic fall decor
i am always amazed by how my creative muses get my attention!
after bumping a vase and having it crash to the floor (ending up in tiny pieces),
an ancient art form came to my mind.

the 15th-Century practice of kintsugi, meaning ' to join with gold ',
is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by re-joining broken parts
with lacquer that has been mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum.
the result is an elegant art form,
making the vessel stronger and more valuable than it was before breaking.

here at homewardFOUND, re-purposing and upcycling old, used, cast-off items 
is my way of embracing the same philosophy - and applying it to home decor.
giving things a second chance, a new purpose, is not only budget-friendly and 'green',
but immensely satisfying from a creative standpoint.

i've applied the kintsugi aesthetic to these pumpkins for fall decorating,
and i love the way an age-old art can look so fresh and contemporary!

continue reading to see how easily you can achieve this look, too...

8.31.2021

boho chic: glass globe pumpkins

coastal style,beach style,decorating,diy decorating,re-purposing,white,DIY,vintage style,boho style,neutrals,vintage,thrifted,fall,pumpkins,fall decorating, pumpkin decor, decorating with pumpkins, diy pumpkins,glass globe pumpkins,glass pumpkins,fall home decor,farmhouse decor,boho chic home decor,boho chic fall decor
a decade ago, i created pumpkins using glass lamp globes.
i searched the innerwebs and found that nothing like them existed then,
so they are the 'originals' as far as i can tell...
i've made a few more of them over the last ten years,
and many other people have made their own versions, too! 

last month when i stumbled upon four matching white glass lamp globes at ReStore,
i decided to re-visit this project...
then paid a crazy-cheap price of just 2.00 each and brought them home.

as i looked around my studio for  various objects to become stems,
i also found a few more elements that became 'toppers' for a chic finishing touch.
all in all, i came up with five different styles of pumpkins - using the same glass globes!

continue reading to see how truly easy this diy fall decor project is!