Coastal Christmas

I just could not bear to bring down our usual ornaments this year. I wanted something bright, glittery and full of coastal charm.

Most of our other stuff is very antique and mission-like…..very Pennsylvania farmhouse-ish.

So the first step was to head to the beach and find some sand dollars. We found quite a few, and then hit the local shell shop for the rest. We found bulk starfish there as well.

I bought some supplies

Then aired out the starfish (I mean, phew…it would be good to let these bleach out in the sun as well) and allowed the sand dollars to bleach out in the sun.

The kids used glitter glue and spray glitter to decorate the shells. I am still cleaning up glitter from EVERY SQUARE INCH of my kitchen. Glitter glue sticks worked for the kids, but dang, when mom gets ahold of the glitter spray WATCH OUT!

Bill and I decorated a few.

They actually turned out pretty cute.

After they dried, I used a glue gun and attached a loop of twine ( I used some with silver and gold threaded in it)

And last night we decorated the tree with them. I added some glittery white garland, some glittery ribbon and red balls for some color.

The kids had so much fun making these ornaments. I did as well.

We are building memories here, in our new home by the sea.