Creating A Welcoming Home -- Summer

Yay, it's SUMMERTIME!!!

Enjoy this Summer by paying attention to these "little joys" in your life! :)

Sight: A flag waving in the breeze, watching the kids fly a kite, pretty blue hydrangeas in bloom, a "Welcome" sign on the front door, switching your decor to light and bright, sunlight sparkling on the morning dew, fireflies blinking in the evening, kids blowing bubbles and drawing with sidewalk chalk, waving to a passing neighbor when you're outside!

Sound: Listening to local marching bands in the town parade, kids laughing in the backyard, the slam of a screen door, free local concerts, the crackle of a campfire, the splash of water in the pool, friends chatting while gathered around your patio table.

Smell: Flowers fresh from the garden in a pretty vase, a fruit pie fresh from the oven, the tropical scent of sunscreen, freshly mowed grass, charcoals cookin' up burgers & brats, the salty air by the ocean.


Taste: S'mores made by the campfire, veggies fresh from the garden, a popsicle made by sticking a popsicle stick in a dixie cup with juice & freezing, fresh squeezed lemonade made by kids at a lemonade stand, herbs from the windowsill, slices of watermelon, pizza every Friday night with the family.

Touch: A vintage tablecloth covering your outside table, a cool glass of sweet tea, the breeze of a ceiling fan circling overhead, picking up shells at the beach, being wrapped in a warm towel after getting out of the pool, placing your hand over your heart in patriotic pride!

Take time this Summer to notice & experience the little joys in life!

{all photos courtesy of Country Living Magazine}

Beachy Bottles -- You Can Fake It Too!

Since I know everyone in blogland LOVES a good "fake-it-on-the-cheap" project,
y'all are just going to go gaga over this one!

Summertime Faux-Soldered Beachy Bottles

I'm sure somewhere you've seen a version of these pretty shells soldered on a vintage bottle.
The pic below is from Wisteria, and a set of 3 bottles (you don't know what bottle or shell you're gonna get) costs a whopping $149.00.

Love the look, don't love the price.
Can you relate?

{above picture: wisteria.com}


So, I decided to try out a version of this for myself using what I had on hand!

Here's my version below:

If you're like me (or most of us!) & can't solder, but can wield a hot glue gun.... then this easy project is for you! :)

Here's what you'll need:

Vintage Bottles of Any Kind
Collected Shells & Starfish
Jute Twine
Hot Glue Gun


Easy-Peasy Lemon-Squeezey Instructions:
Hot glue shell to top of (or just inside lip of) your bottle.
Don't worry about it being perfect, the hot glue is just gonna get covered up soon anyway!

Cut a length of your jute twine and wrap it around the lip of the bottle, hot gluing as you go.
Keep wrapping & gluing up toward the base of the shell. Glue and wrap till you meet the base of the shell, trying to cover any left over gaps on the top of the bottle, and then finish twine off in the back side.

Add a few tiny shells for fun if desired.
Enjoy!

I personally think that the jute adds a fun coastal feel to this project!
Perfect for Summertime or Anytime!!

Display your pretty Beachy Bottles anywhere....on a shelf, grouped as a centerpiece, or next to the tub! You can't go wrong :)!!

The beauty of hot glue is that it can easily peel off the bottle and shell for when you want to do a different project!

I hope that you like this fun & easy project!
Let me know if you try it, I'd love to see pictures!! :)

Have a Blessed Day!