Bring The BeachInto Your Home Year-Round (NAPSA)—There’s nothing better than digging your toes in the warm sand, breathing crisp, salty air or hearing the sound of waves crashing on the shoreline. But whether the beach is close to home or thousands of miles away, you don’t have to leave the memories behind at the summer’s end. There are many creative ways to bring the beach into your homeall year long. Here are a few project ideas that are sure to give you that tranquil beach feel even on a gloomy winter day: Accent with shimmering sea glass. Sea glass is one of the rarest of all beach finds. Perhaps that’s why purchasing an accent piece made of natural sea glass can be very expensive. But thanks to paint innovation, it’s easy to replicate the glimmering bluish green tone of natural sea glass andcreate a beautiful accent piece without spending a fortune. Find an old glass jar, bowl or vase around your home—or purchase one at the dollar store. Then spray it with a paint like Rust-Oleum Frosted Glass Spray. Fill the jar or bowl with sand, coral or shells you brought home from the beach. It will cost less than $10 but will look like you spent a fortune. Seashells forever. Hunting for shells is a timeless beach pastime. And the seashells you find can be used to create one-of-akind decorations to give a beach feel to your home year-round. Make sure to clean your shells with soap and water to remove sand, salt and other debris. Once completely dry, spray on a coat of Bulls Eye Shellac. Its all-natural shellac resin will seal in lingering odors and preserve the shells so they don’t There are many creative ways to bring the beach into your home all year long. crumble over time. Let the shells dry overnight. Then get out your glue gun and attach them to any surface you choose. It’s an easy, affordable way to spend some post-beach time with yourkids. Frame up your vacation memories. Photos are great for reminiscing about warm summer days at the beach. So instead of storing them on your hard drive, why not frame them in oceanesque colorsfor all to see? Find a few old frames, either at homeor from a thrift store. Then paint them with a spray paint like Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Harbor Blue or Ultra 2X Aqua. Group your photos on a vacation wall—or display them throughout your home—to keep your warm, sunny days at the beach top of mind throughout the winter’s chill. Visit Facebook.com/Paintideas for additional inspiring and creative decorating projects.
