CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA-- SEA SHELL TOPIARY

I love making topiaries. I think they’re a very versatile decorative element for any time of year. Today I’m going to show you how to make a seashell topiary from some of those shells you collected at on your summer seaside trip. -- AP

MATERIALS: 2-1/2” diameter clay pot, 6” Styrofoam cone, small piece of floral foam, 5” length 1/4” dowel, primer and white spray paint, ball of white twine, assorted small shells, assorted small white and translucent flat buttons, hot glue gun and glue sticks, tacky glue, 2 sequin pins.

1. Paint the clay pot with primer, then white paint, allowing paint to dry between coats.

2. Apply vertical rows of tacky glue to the cone.

3. Pin the end of the twine to the bottom of the cone. Begin wrapping twine around cone, working from bottom to top. When you come to the top of the cone, cut excess and pin end.

4. Beginning at the bottom edge and working in horizontal rows, attach shells to cone with hot glue. Vary the direction of the shells, overlapping some.

5. Glue buttons randomly around shells in open spaces but leave some spaces uncovered for variety.

6. Glue buttons around the lip of the clay pot.

7. Glue floral foam into pot. Glue dowel into center of floral foam.

8. Place cone centered over pot and lower onto dowel. Remove cone from dowel. Fill hole in cone with tacky glue. Replace cone over dowel.

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA-- SEA SHELL WREATH

BREAKING NEWS: This evening at 7pm eastern time, Lois Winston, the author who writes about my life, will be part of an author mystery panel on Giovanni Gelati's GZONE blogspot radio show. The panel will also include fellow Midnight Ink authors Beth Groundwater, Alice Loweecey, and Sebastian Stuart. You can listen to the show live or go to the website and listen to the archived broadcast later. 
Now back to our regularly scheduled Monday craft. -- AP

For many of us, summertime means trips down the shore (if you live in New Jersey) or to the beach (if you live in other parts of the country.) No matter what you call it, though, you’ll probably come home with bags of seashells. So what do you do with all those shells once you get home? Instead of dumping them on a shelf or in a closet, use them in craft projects. Over the next few weeks, I’ll show you how to make all sorts of shell crafts to create lasting memories of that summer seaside trip. -- AP

SEASHELL WREATH

Materials: 6” flat Styrofoam wreath, 3 yds. 7/8” wide flat white lace, 5” 3/8” wide white ribbon, 3/4” white plastic hanging ring, tacky glue, hot glue gun and glue sticks, assorted shells,

1. Wrap the lace around the wreath, overlapping and pulling the lace taught as you wrap. Wrap until the wreath is covered. Trim excess lace and glue end at back.

2. Thread ribbon through hanging ring. Fold ribbon in half and glue cut edges together. Glue ends of ribbon to back of wreath, securing with several sequin pins.

3. Hot glue shells to front of wreath over lace, varying the direction and size of shells.

Look for more simple shell crafts in the weeks to come. -- AP

DECORATING WITH JEANIE -- SUMMERIZE YOUR WINTER HOME

I’m sick of the snow, and I’m sick of the cold. Decorating editor Jeanie Sims is sick of the snow and cold, too. So today she’s decided we all need a little summer added to our homes, sort of a psychological trick played on winter. -- AP

You’re so right, Anastasia! So here’s what I want you all to do. Go dig out those seashells you’ve collected from the beach and have sitting down in your basement or out in your garage or shed. If you never got around to cleaning them last summer, soak them in a bucket of water with a cup or two of bleach added. Let them sit for at least five or six hours. Overnight is great.

Now scavenge up a clear glass container large enough to hold those shells. If you don’t have one, you can find inexpensive ones at the crafts store. While you’re there, pick up a small package of sand and maybe a few pieces of driftwood.

Rinse the shells in cold water and allow to dry on a towel. 

Pour the sand into the bottom of the glass container. Now arrange the shells. Use the photo for inspiration if you need some. Voila! Instant summer. Use in your bathroom, as a table centerpiece, or on a shelf in any room of your house.

Nice idea, Jeanie. I’m just not sure playing with shells will make me forget the snow and cold, but it’s worth a try. What do you think, readers? Remember to post a comment to be entered into the drawing for a book from this week's Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP