Coastal Mix - Cottage Tours, Chalkboard, Cookie Cutters and more

I'm loving this chalkboard frame, hanging in a charming
Fernandina Beach Cottage featured at Refresh Restyle.



And a SC beach cottage tour at Architectural Digest.

Browse House Tours here on Completely Coastal!



Adorable nautical cookie cutters in a Garage Turned Sunroom.



I think Lighthouses make great centerpieces for round tables. Seen in a Nantucket Cottage at Lynn Morgan Design.



Check out this Map Garland! Lots of circles to cut out
which reminds me of the DIY Faux Capiz Chandeliers.



Have you met the sea bean yet, aka sea asparagus?
It grows along sea shores and in salt marshes.
Linda's Sea Bean Recipe includes a crowning pearl!



Lovely coastal cards and tags at Jonathan Wright.
Image via Victoria Magazine.



Earn up to 50% off any Iron Fish Coastal Sculpture Online!
Click link to find out how!



As most of you know, my stay here at Canyon Ranch Miami is coming to an end this Sunday. I can't believe how fast these two months went by! I will miss this view, being right by the beach, the warm ocean water & breeze, and swimming laps in the pool(s).

Then an unfortunate issue regarding a different kind of lap.

Do You Have Any Laptop Recommendations?

My laptop broke down Wednesday night. Good that I have posts pre-scheduled! I'll probably buy a new one next week when I'm back home. So if you have any recommendations, including anti virus programs, I would very much appreciate your input. Thanks! And to my dear blogging friends, you won't see me around much in the next few days since I have limited internet access.
Hope your computers all run smoothly!


Happy Weekend, Everyone!

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Fresh Strawberry Pie Recipe

Is the weather too hot for baking? This Fresh Strawberry Pie Recipe from Bakeaholic really got me excited. Made with healthy whole wheat and fresh strawberries and looking like sand dollars! Plus, these are mini strawberry pies. So they're very handy. Think of them as giant cookies! And of course the filling can be any fruit you like. I also love apricot..., and blueberries.


Yum!!

Browse everything in the category Fun with Food.

Related Post:
Pillsbury Cookie Recipe for Sand Dollars

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Photo Display Ideas for Beach Memory Keeping in Jars and Vases

Beach memory keeping in glass jars and vases with a little twist, not only showing off the pretty beach treasures, but including a photo display as well.
Carmella keeps her Beach Memory in a fish bowl! I think the round shape really adds great dimension. Love it.


Debbie spotted this Photo Display Idea in the coastal living section of an antique mall where vendors carry new decor as well.


A sweet Beach Memory Jar at The Country Chic Cottage.


Be as creative as you want to be! A memory keeping Photo Jar at Fiskars Craft. Photos dangle and a handmade paper starfish is used as a jar topper. Also see Ways to Decorate Bottles and Jars.


A Tybee Island beach memory keeping jar at The Lettered Cottage.


A lovely Photo Display Idea with homemade hurricanes.


Keeping a sweet Beach Memory in a small vase at Every Day is a Hollie-day.


And a creative Beach Memory Jar from Embellishing Life.

Where do you keep your beach memories?

Related Posts:
Painting Glass Jars
Seashell Collection in Jars
Pottery Barn Knock Off Mason Jars and more
Decorating with Seashells -Showcasing them behind Glass

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How to Monogram Initials on Totes

There is a great tutorial posted on Lil Blue Boo about How to Monogram Initials on Beach Totes, using Reynolds freezer paper. The same technique also works for any stencil craft on fabric -see the cute crab towels on Coastal Decorations and Crafts and the Wine Bags previously featured on Completely Coastal. And I finally know exactly what freezer paper is. It's typically used by butchers to wrap meat, because it has a waxy finish on the inside, Ashley explains. And that waxy side adheres to the fabric when heated without leaving any residue when you remove it.


How to monogram initials in short. Draw the initials onto the freezer paper (waxy side down), then cut out the letters with an exacto knife...


... and after ironing on the paper onto the tote, dab on your textile color. For the full tutorial and to learn about Ashely's second method, click Monogram Initials on Totes.


I'm filing these monogram totes also under Homemade Gift Ideas! They make great personal gifts, don't you think! And if I remember right, these canvas totes are sold in smaller sizes too, which could be really cute.

Browse all Fabric Crafts.

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Dogs on Furniture

If I had a dog, she or he would have to stay off the furniture, sorry. But dogs on furniture (couches mostly) do look darn cute -especially when they fit into the color scheme! And who knows, maybe they even appreciate the coastal touches! So just for the fun of it, dogs on furniture for our amusement. There is, of course, a little bit of decor inspiration in this too.

A lovely ocean blue porch seen at Connecticut Cottages and Gardens. And a Straw Hat purposely (?) placed to complete the beachy summer look.


To good thing about Glass Floats with netting is, they stay put. Or make rope coils to keep them in place, see More Decor Ideas for Glass Floats. Image via Traditional Home.


Here's the pooch that got me started on this dogs on furniture post. Adorable! I think doggy and coral are the same size. But guess what the theme is here - Wall Stencils. And have you seen the post Artificial / Faux Corals for Decor?


Snuggling up to Nautical Pillows. See Thomas Paul Collection.


The green palms are a very nice touch in this blue and seagrass colored living room. Source again Traditional Home.


Dog and bed spread look perfect together in this previously featured NYC Seashell Lovers Apartment.


And to dress up your four legged companion nautical style, head over to the Pet Section of Ocean Offerings for sailor's knot collars...


... and browse Collars and Leashes at Our Boat House.

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Coastal Mix -A Summer Porch, DIY Letters, Oars, Giveaway and more

Tour this coastal Summer Porch.
Complete with a mantel and a fabulous DIY Scallop Shell Mirror!



A cute DIY photo bag at Sweet Paul.



Another great Simple Daisy Craft -Yarn Wrapped Letters.
And lots of new gorgeous designs at Simple Daisy Etsy!



Beautifully Painted Oars at Frugal Farmhouse Design.

And a lot more oar decor here:
Painted Oars DIY or Buy
Decorating Nautical with Wooden Oars



Free Printable Tags at The House of Smiths.
Attach them to beach bags or travel bags.



One of Beautiful Detail's Air Plant Shells has found a home at Love of the Sea.



I added These Lovelies from With a Dash of Color
to Ways to Decorate Jars and Bottles Beach Style.



Chic Flamingo Wall Decals.



Colorful Fish at Hurricane Rita.



I think acting dogs love their job!
Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson in Marley and Me.



The real voyage of discovery
consists not in seeking new landscapes,
but in having new eyes.

A Wisdom Clipboard from Papaya Art.
See how you can get organized with clipboards on This Coastal Mix.



My favorite hangout spot at Canyon Ranch Miami!



And best for last!
A Pillow Giveaway by Caron's Beach House on her blog Everything Coastal!
These pillows sell for $68.95 each, and not only are they designed, handprinted and fabricated in the USA, but a portion of every sale goes towards Sea Turtle Conservation.
Enter Now for a chance to win!

Happy Summer Weekend, Everyone!

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Acrylic Plastic Display Boxes

Do you remember the Glass Display Boxes and how they are not the easiest thing to come by. Well, I thought I'd show you this alternative I just saw at Real Simple, acrylic plastic display boxes, available at The Container Store.


You can get the acrylic plastic boxes in different shapes and sizes and I think they're most commonly used to display sports memorabilia and toys. But they can also keep your sea treasures free of dust and give them a safe harbor! What do you think -good alternative or not?

Note: I just updated Glass Display Boxes with a link to Pottery Barn. They have re-stocked some of the glass display boxes!

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Easy Fabric Wreath with a Summer Feeling

I saw this Fabric Wreath with a Summer Feeling on Tatertots and Jello. I think it is so charming and easy to pull off too. You might already have all the materials needed -a starfish or a large shell would look nice also, a wreath, two big buttons...


... and fabric that says summer to you... to cut long stripes and wrap the wreath with, and to make the pretty fabric flowers -click on the link above to see how they're put together!


And there it is, Jen's fabric wreath, completing her beachy summer mantel theme.

How is your summer so far?

Browse everything in the subcategory Wreaths and category Fabric Crafts, and check out all the great Summer Mantels if you haven't already seen them.

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Unique Shell Mosaic Mailboxes

This is artist Barbara Kaplan's unique Shell Mosaic Mailbox in Rowayton, CT, photographed by Susan of T-Cozy. Susan lives in the same town and has passed this mailbox many times. She says it keeps changing and new things have been added over the years. The mermaid was originally a bottle opener.


In this picture you can see the detail work of the Mailbox. It's encrusted with shards of china, buttons, beach glass, shells, beads, and sea faring knickknacks.


Then Susan discovered yet another shell mosaic mailbox in the neighborhood. It's not made by Barbara, but sure looks like it was inspired by hers.


Now we're in Florida where Pam of I Love Shelling captured a few awesome Shell Mosaic Mailboxes on the streets of Sanibel and Captiva.


I love the way these are mounted too.


Pretty awesome, don't you think!

Browse everything in the category Shell Covered, Shell Crafts and Curb Appeal.

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