Kids Crafts -Shell Learning Games

Jennifer of Write Start (title of her blog and first book) sure knows how to play right with her kids. She comes up with kids crafts that are learning games at the same time. First, the Nature Table on the porch. It changes with the season and in the summer it is the sorting station of all the beach booty.


Lots of beach booty!


Here's a fun kids craft and Shell Game. Little hands like to find everyone's name, line up the shells in size and numeric order, set them out as place cards before dinner, Jennifer says. To learn more just click on link.


More shells put to good use with this Shell Game. It's a memory game made with sea life stickers. Or in other words, the best memory game ever! The kids pressed a double set of each critter inside the shells.


And Stepping Stones made with a kit, adding shells found on the beach to the cement. This project reminds me of the recently featured Beach Craft with Sand Plaster Mold.

Browse everything in the subcategory Kids.

Related Post:
Kids Crafts -Painted Shells in Wild Colors

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Summer Front Door Decorations

If you do front door decorations I assume you already switched to a summer theme. Here are some great examples. The Front Door at Personal Pizazz says hello with a homemade flip flop summer sign.


To have a beach bucket as Summer Door Decoration is such a fun idea. Click link to see how it's put together. I'm thinking of those charming Vintage Beach Pails & Buckets!


And the most lovely Daisy basket at Simple Daisy. Click link to see more of Heather's entry and visit her brand new Simple Daisy Shop -gorgeous handstamped perfectly beachy jewelry!

Then take a look at all the wonderful Nantucket Island Style Baskets. They are perfect for a New England summer. And there's a super cute Nantucket Wall Basket for sale at Caron's Beach House.


Then any kind of wreath that reflects the season of your locale will make a pretty summer front door decoration. Remember, every wreath can be a beachy wreath, just place a starfish in the center or attach a few shells here and there. Via Better Homes and Gardens.


And Simone made this rustic Shell Wreath, inspired by Homemade Wreath with Pinecone Flowers.


And for a splash of color The Single Nester attached a few ornament buoys to her Summer Wreath.

And have you seen all these wreaths?
Straw Hat Wreath at Straw Hats Decor
Shell Wreaths Handmade from Beach Finds
Green Simple Wreaths for Christmas and Year Round

Related Posts:
Exterior House Decor
Nautical Door Knockers by Michael Healy
Decorative Door Pull LL Bean

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Taiyaki Recipe for Fish Shaped Pancakes

Do you love pancakes? My husband makes them every other Sunday or so -whole wheat with banana, topped off with a little maple syrup, so delicious. Now I just learned about fish shaped pancakes -so cute!


All you need is a Taiyaki Maker. I explain. Taiyaki are the Japanese version of pancakes and they are shaped like fish. They are a common snack or street vendor item.


Just as you would make pancakes, you fill the batter into the form. Fill it half, add a filling of your choice, then batter on top. Get the detailed taiyaki recipe on the lovely blog Kirbie Cravings: Taiyaki and Taiyaki Revisited. I understand that it takes a little bit of practice to get these fish shaped pancakes right. So be prepared for some trials and errors.

Browse everything in the category Fun with Food.

Related Posts:
Pillsbury Cookie Recipe for Sand Dollars
Make Puff Pastry with Nautical Cookie Cutters
Sea Inspired Baking

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Shell Frame Tutorial by Nate Berkus

Shell frames, be it picture frames or mirror frames, you've seen them here on Completely Coastal (check out related posts on the bottom). Shari of Beach Grass Cottage gave us a glimpse into her process, see Decorative Custom Mirrors, and I'm sure you know designer Nate Berkus. Well, he's got a shell frame tutorial posted on his website! Here's how Nate does it in a nutshell. For the full tutorial go to How to Make a Shell Mirror.


First off, he's protecting the glass of the mirror with craft paper. Then Nate creates a nice even lining on the inside with small shells. He uses two-part epoxy glue sold at any hardware store.


After the lining is done, he places the larger shells along the outside of the mirror and allows for the glue to dry overnight. After that he fills the gaps with medium and small shells.


And the beautiful shell frame is complete.


Another great example of a shell frame, a mirror as well, is posted on HGTV here: Seashell Mirror Tutorial.


They also work from the inside out. But a glue gun is used for this shell frame. And there's another step that's different from the Nate Berkus tutorial. After filling the gaps, large, decorative shells are applied on top which makes this frame more elaborate. Their tip: A flat frame provides a smoother gluing surface for shells, but a decorative frame will give a fuller look.

I really want to make a couple of shell frames -I do have a bucket full of little shells from the beach waiting at home!

Browse all Shell Crafts.

Related Posts:
Shell Covered
Making the Oyster Shell Mirror from Wisteria
Craft Project Ideas with Shells, Sea Glass, Rocks and more -last picture.
Shell Frames and Hearts Made from Hand Collected Shell Pieces

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Coastal Mix -Summer Decorations & Inspirations

What does summer mean to you? Since I'm spending June and July in South Florida this year, summer to me means beach and warm ocean breezes...



... and going on Shelling Trips.
Carol of Beautiful Details turned the shells she found at Cape Lookout (NC)
into adorable Shell Air Plants. This particular one just sold, but there's a purple one available and more to come soon.

I added this to Display Ideas for Tillandsia Air Plants.



After your summer beach vacation, you might want to organize your sea treasures.
Trips to the Bahamas accumulated into a big specimen box at Lemme Make It.



My summer experience also includes fabulous palm trees.
They're abundant here at Canyon Ranch Resort.



Lots of mantels are now displaying Summer Decorations such as this one at Domestically Speaking, and all the mantels recently featured here:
Mantel Decor Beach Style for Summer Time.



Straw Hats have come out of the storage. Some never leave the house and look pretty as summer decorations. Beachy Entry via Elle Decor.



Good for her! A cool Beach Sign with Blue Chalkboard Paint at Messy Mimi.

Also see Chalkboard Paint on Shells and Rocks and Make a Wooden Beach Sign.



Browse all the wonderful Coastal Theme Books here on Completely Coastal.



And whether you go to the beach or not, I think, to all of us summer means spending time Outdoors. Relaxing on the patio, porch or in the garden -coastal style with Chase Allen's Metal Fish Sculptures! Love them slightly tilted.


Happy Summer Weekend, Everyone!

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Beach Theme and Nautical Code Jewelry by Nicholas Landon

Mickey of Nicholas Landon Jewelry creates amazing Beach Theme and Nautical Code jewelry that includes bracelets, necklaces, anklets, ear rings as well as pieces for men. The love goes into every aspect of the making, featuring hand drilled genuine pearls, hand rolled durable leather cord that you can wear in the water, sparkling sterling silver and traditional old fashioned sailor's knots.


I bet you have a place that you treasure in your heart. You can have Mickey put it on sterling silver in longitude and latitude coordinates! Choose a medallion like the one in the first picture, a tag like this...


... or a disc.


"Working with my hands feeds my soul" Mickey says, and it shows in her beautiful nautical code jewelry...


... and beach theme jewelry.


So gorgeous! These are made with recycled glass and, of course, are inspired by seaglass.


Be it Beach Theme or Nautical Code, each jewelry piece is handmade from start to finish, and one-of-a-kind. Check out Mickey's entire collection at Nicholas Landon Jewelry! You can also join her on Facebook and on her Blog.

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Hand Knitting Patterns for Beach Wear

Attention knitters! Knitting in the Sun is a book that features 32 hand knitting patterns for warm weather. You could be sitting on the beach knitting a light shawl perhaps...


... or a sun hat?


And there’s even a hand knitting pattern for a beach chair!

Browse all Books.

Related Post:
Knitted Scarves Inspired by the Sea

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here she has different projects... in the bathroom. Bring them all together.

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Jennifer Nicholson's Shell Encrusted Home

The home of fashion designer Jennifer Nicholson, daughter of Jack, fits right into the group of shell loving dwellers that I've been accumulating here on Completely Coastal -see related posts at the end. I'm not sure whether she still lives in her Santa Monica home or not, all I know is that she was a surfer chick who has always loved the notion of the upscale beach vibe and that she likes to mix and match which shows in her decor. Above, the living room with a shell encrusted mantel, shelves and frames.


Shell encrusted pedestals in the sun room. Not to miss, the shell shaped chair and the faux bamboo chair with red coral. She also kept the original turquoise linoleum flooring to go with the theme of the romantic notion of Sailors Valentines.


A mix of Chinoiserie, leopard prints and and a fancy crystal ship chandelier. For more pics see Designer Jennifer Nicholson at Moodboard.


On the left you see Jennifer's wave dress, inspired by the Pacific Ocean.

Related Posts:
A Shell Chic Cottage in Austin
Christie Brinkley's Home and Shell Art
A Shell House Like No Other
Seashell Mosaic Vintage Mantel

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Straw Hats Decor -An Ode to Summer & Beach

This is Katie's Ode to the Summer. It includes lovely straw hats which for me definitely conjure up images of relaxing on the beach.


Straw hats decor in India Hicks' Island Home.


Decorative and practical. Straw hats ready for grabs on the front porch in a Fire Island Beach Cottage.


Or remind yourself to relax with a Straw Hat Wreath on the front door, available at Ocean Offerings.


Straw Hats as wall decor!


And if you have an Oar rack to Hang a Straw Hat like Cheryl of Beachcomber, even better.


Laurie also uses an oar rack to display her Straw Hats.
Speaking of oars, also see Decorating Nautical with Wooden Oars.


And here's a fun idea. Turn a straw hat into a wall clock. You can do this with a Clock Kit, seen at Country Living.

I hope you are all enjoying the summer!

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