Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Glamorous Beach in a Vase how to and good old Beach Jars Tips


Outside our side door sits a table for two.
Since the space is limited decorations need to be small and compact.

I like to add a little beach grass that sways in the breeze.
Fire hazard! 
I minimized that by tucking the grass behind a large oyster shell.
 

To create your own you need to give your beach grass
 a little thinning out haircut.

 (toffee twist)

Tie a bundle of the grass with a little twist tie.

Place the oyster or other shell in the corner and drop in some
beach pebbles and shells.  Add the tea light  and a few more shells
to cover up it's sides.  Tuck the bundle of beach grass 
behind the oyster shell. Make sure the grass 
falls outward  and over the side opposite the tea light.

Instead of beach grass, add some water and tuck in a flower.

Now for a glamorous version.

Raid your jewelery box for old rhinestone earrings, pins, 
shoe clips, bracelets...etc Old rhinestone buttons work too.


Add a few loose pearls and Swarovksi crystals if you like.


A clip on earring or shoe clips work great on oyster and flatter shells.

The rhinestones look so pretty day or evening.
 Fabulous for a beach wedding!

The oh so popular "beach jar lantern" 
Everyone knows this one but, I like easy clean up.


Easy, old jar, sand or beach pebbles and/or shells candle
Put candle in jar surround with pebbles and shells. 

As the candle burns wax has a tendency to melt on to
sand or stones and shells and the jar. 
Messy.

 A quick fix is placing an empty votive cup into
the jar first.  I use a pair of pliers or tongs to gently
lower the votive cup into the jar.


As you drop in the pebbles and shells some will fall into
the votive cup helping to keep the candle straight.  Use long
tweezers or tongs to move the pebbles between the outside
of the votive holder and the inside of the jar.


I prefer using candles that are lower then
the the metal band on the jar; it looks nicer 
and casts that nice glow immediately.
It also minimizes wax overflowing the sides of the
votive holder.
I  use candles from the dining room that have already
been burned so they are usually just the right height.


Or 

 Simply lower a votive candle in a votive cup
into the jar....even cleaner since it's unlikely
any wax is going to overflow at all.

You can also place a tea light in a votive cup


Now,  

my personal favorite is using these small citronella oil containers.
No wax, no mess and hopefully less mosquitoes!
 The caps are little hard to remove but, worth it.


I like to hang little decorations, or clip on
 some rhinestones to the jar handles. Sometimes,
I add little silverware vases with small blooms.


If the jar is too short to use the suction cup
 I just tie the vase to the handles.


 Thanks for stopping by.

If you haven't entered my "give back" yet you can
by clicking here.  Ends June 18th, 2010

42 comments:

Heidi @ Decor & More said...

J'adore! My fave is your last photo with the glamorous look...it just speaks to me. Thanks for the how-tos!

michelle said...

Great ideas! I have been saving my spaghetti jars that look like the 'old fashion' jars and now I have some great ideas for them! Thanks!

sealaura said...

wonderfult tips. great for a wedding or dinner parties outside this summer. love that jar, perfectly beachy blue. Thanks for stopping by and seeing my vacay adventures. we have a few days left and we are trying to soak every little bit in.

rjerdee said...

Your how-to is so helpful...full of ideas and options. Love this post!

I'll check in to your "give back" in a moment.
Thinking of you at the beach, lucky girl!

Ticking and Toile said...

Hi there Rita,
Love all the jars and beach vases! It would be so fun to live near the water :)

xo,
Shellagh

Marie said...

Omigosh...that's brilliant! I luv the glamorous version of that arrangement you've concocted, especially for someone who loves sparkly things like moi.
-marie

Burlap Luxe said...

Hi Rita
I can do just that, I will get my shells and add all the old jewels to it treasures from the sea :) I just love your inspiration here...see how it is we feed of each other. When I made my knife ends into mini bud vases years ago and decided to make more then post them and you in turn made some and posted them.

I can see we have the same taste, passsion beyond the just buy it, we love to create it :)

see you soon,
xx
Dore

Shellbelle said...

I have shell jars all over my house and I always love seeing how everyone else does theirs. These are all so lovely and I'm lovin' the "bejeweled" one. Never thought to do that. Have to go find another jar, please excuse me.

Diane@inMyOwnStyle.com said...

Just found your blog yesterday - Love it. I have tons of rhinestone junk jewels that I am going to add to a glass hurricane that I filled with shells. It was a 50 cent purchase that I recently picked up at a yard sale. Thanks for the inspiration.
Diane

annechovie said...

How gorgeous! You are so creative. xx

Lindsay said...

SO pretty. Love the bling you added! xx

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

These are all SO pretty, Rita~ I need to make some! My favorites are the ones with the bling! Thanks for sharing!

Lady Grey said...

oh these are all so very pretty!
Fabulous pictures!

Simple Daisy said...

Love the cute little rhinestones in there!! A little beachy bling.....Super cute:)

La Dolfina said...

Love these!!! Throwing in the jewels was genius!
Happy Birthday Sweetheart :)
XO

Alexandra Rae said...

Happy Birthday Rita. I just found you through La Dolfina's beautiful birthday post to you. Love your blog. Can't wait to visit your etsy shop.

Karena said...

So so lovely just perfect for the deck!!

Happy birthday Rita!! Come join my giveaway!

Karena
Art by Karena

A Perfect Gray said...

Happy Birthday! A little birdie named La Dolfina told me it was your special day!

Kerry said...

When Terri tells me to visit...I visit! So glad she did...love your blog, and a very happy birthday to you too :)

Privet and Holly said...

Both versions are so fresh and sweet!
And the shells in the blue jar ~ perfect.
I like all of the little tips that you
have included, too, for those of us who
might botch it up! xx Suzanne

Kathysue said...

Hi I love the sparkles with the texture of the grass and shells. It is so pretty together I would have never thought to do that, very inspiring. I also wanted to come by and thank you for your insightful comment on my Commenting post. I love the part about gushing, Sometimes I feel that way too. I feel like I write a novel for a comment. Often I wish I could just pick up the phone and call the blog author. I am so thankful for the connections I have made in blogland and I can only hope that I can write inspiring post from time to time. Have a wonderful weekend,Kathysue

Jen said...

Fire hazard?? It looks like it's worth the risk! ;-)

Unknown said...

Happy Belated Birthday...love your beachy blog! Another friend of the Dolfina!

Cashon&Co said...

i love all the arrangements you made! but i am totally floored by how much charm adding the vintage jewelry to the shells as well as the dried grass made. that is so cool. i would of never thought of that, but it really made a big difference and took it to the next level. I need to remember this!

Beth said...

Great ideas, thanks for sharing! I love the old ball jars used for candle holders, especially when strung up from trees or poles! xoxo beth

Burlap Luxe said...

Soooo! Rita,
Did I hear that you want to do the job, everyone wrote me telling me you really want to watering job since you spent so much time on the water this would not be a hard job for you!
Thank you, Thank you, thank you, love :)

How can I ever repay you????
xx
Dore
You my best bloggy friend, forever and ever!

Couture Carrie said...

Beautiful post and blog, darling!

xoxox,
CC

Unknown said...

what a gorgeous idea! I love the rhinestone added touch! So romantic and pretty!

Unknown said...

Beach House, I loved this! What a terrific idea to add the touch of glamour to the shells/grass. I'm definitely stealing this idea and wowing my friends with it. :)Girl, yews gots skillz...

Heaven's Walk said...

Rita - there's nothing better than using those beautiful vintage aqua canning jars for more than just canning! I have one on my white dresser filled with a big bunch of white flowers. It's the first thing I look at when I open my eyes in the morning and I just adore it. Now I'll be using the others I have for candles out on the porch. Thanks for sharing!

xoxo laurie@heavenswalk

La Dolfina said...

Hi Miss Rita,
How was the celebrating over the weekend?
I think I have a sinus infection this morning. I'm not feeling so hot but I just had to come over to thank you for your sweet email and phone call wishing us a Happy Anniversary. I forgot we both had something to celebrate :)
So much love to you my friend and welcome to my decade :)
XXO
Chris & Terri

Anonymous said...

Great tips Rita! I keep hinting to my son that a beach wedding sure would be nice. I would be glad to start collecting old rhinestone jewelry in anticipation of using it in seaside glass candleholders. (grin)

beachvintage.com said...

What sweet ideas. Love the candles.

Linda@Coastal Charm said...

Lovin' these neat "BEACHY" ideas...thanks so much for sharing!

Blessings,
Linda

Seawashed said...

I picked up some square glass vases and bags of beach rocks from Ikea a month ago and have been playing with them...some have shells. I have also been using mason jars of all sizes for tea lights, roses, and paint brushes. I adore your blue jars here...simple, serene, photos.

I think you asked about my sea biscuit painting? I don't know what a sea biscuit is...but I think the painting you are talking about is my mushroom. I picked it in our yard and then painted it. It is not available at this time because I am just beginning to paint again and am trying to build up a portfolio to enter for exhibit at our local Fine Arts Center. I will be sure to let you know as soon as 'any' of my work is available. Thank you for the interest...it encourages me so much. ox~ Kerrie aka Fairmaiden

Lara said...

Those are some wonderful tips! The square jar with the beachy things in it + the jewelry is such a cute idea.. looks a little like coastal chic meets shabby chic. ;) Thanks for a wonderful post and your comment! ~lara

Anne Lorys said...

Wonderful! Looks much better and more glam than the pricier versions out there. :-)

Hugs,
Anne

Maya @ Completely Coastal said...

Oh, I love it all! The bling version just looks so elegant. I want to try the shorter candle in the jar!

And Rita, I'm including your beautiful stamped ribbons in my Wednesday post (your feature post is still to come).

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Hi Rita
I'm assuming Rita reading Maya's comment and assuming you had a birthday recently reading the others.. Happy Birthday my friend.. sorry I missed it. and very sorry I missed your giveaway.. I have really been an absent blogger lately..... I am quite crazed by the blue ball jars.. have never seen them here... oh.. one day!!! and love how you put the rhinestones in your little creations.. beautiful!!!

So... about those cockatoos.. I probably won't get any at my new villa.. but then they are all over the neighbourhood here.. so only need to go a block or two to the beach!! yes.. at least they won't be swooping me on the balcony anymore.. neither will the bats!!! lots of screaming this way.. haha.. thanks for your always lovely comments.. I hope to get back to blogging more often once I move.. take care xxx Julie

S and O said...

Those are so beautiful and creative, I love it!!

Xoxo
Sarah

Burlap Luxe said...

Thank you Rita for your returning to laugh again... Go ahead and copy paste it to your email and send it off in your name to your friends and family and give them a great laugh from you...go ahead and make there day!
xx
Dore

annechovie said...

Love this - hope you're having a great week! xx

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