What I’m reading: Coastal Crafts

As you know we’re currently enjoying a family holiday in Devon on the south coast. We come here every year so I’m always on the look out for ideas to keep the children busy as well as simple crafts I can do at home with some of the treasures we’ve collected – take a look at the fillable wooden letter filled with sea glass we made last year.

I’ve been picking up Coastal Crafts: Decorative Seaside Projects to Inspire Your Inner Beachcomber by Cynthia Shaffer for the last few weeks and have already bookmarked a few projects to make. I love collecting driftwood so love the look of the driftwood sailboats and driftwood frame. We’ve been collecting driftwood all week so hopefully I will have a go when we get home.

The children have been enjoying looking for treasures on the beach all week too. We’ve been out every day looking for driftwood, sea glass, shells and picking up rubbish too.

The blurb states: ‘Want to feel like you’re on a beach vacation even if you haven’t left home? Over 20 seaside-inspired step-by-step projects are fun to create and will transport you to the shore. Evoke the coast with embroidered sailboat dish towels; a driftwood frame showcasing a starfish; vases painted with a coral motif; a hanging decorative accessory made of sea glass and fishing line; and knotted cord coasters in a beach palette. You can even create stencilled starfish greeting cards to send friends and family. So if you’re craving some coastal style, try these inviting crafts.’

Projects include garlands, tea towels, vases, nautical flags, sand letters and a river rock clock. You can follow the step by step instructions to make these projects or use them as inspiration to make your own.

You don’t need to worry if you don’t have easy access to the beach to collect supplies. Coastal Crafts have some great tips on how to make your own driftwood, as well as tips for cleaning seashells too.