SUMMER WEATHER IN CHICAGO~ Check out my Summer GLITTER Beach decor!

Hello everyone!!
I just checked the weather in Chicagoland today, and its gonna be in the high 80's! YAY! Summer weather is finally here!!  I was super excited for the weather to be in the 60's 70's and now the 80's!!!!

As someone who loves to decorate, I plan out items I want to make almost a year in advance!  I get crazy fun ideas about wreaths, centerpieces, wall decor and things I can fill my apothecary jars with!!!!
I find colors that inspire me and literally hunt down things that match!!  There is something I should share with you guys...  I love when things match, I obsess over items that are I find while shopping that match perfectly to items I already own!  I don't mean just match a theme... I mean like the colors are the same exact shades and that they do not clash!!  I am not scared to expand into the world of GLITTER or BLING, I prefer my decor stand out!!  For example I will share the piece I started back in January 2014.

So this piece is by far the largest word collage I have made!  This is 4x5 feet plywood I painted white with a flat indoor paint.  I hand painted each of the wood letters and then topped then with 2 coats of fine glitter.  I have to mention that the "SAND" word is actually covered in sad with a little bit of fine gold glitter mixed in!!! I added some real white finger starfishes that I painted and glittered and one blue anchor at the bottom!  How do these colors look together?  I am absolutely mesmerized when i look at this wall decor!

 I get these visions of art I need to create and this was one I could not wait to start painting!  I love that I am Greek and have embraced it however, I am not a huge fan of deep blue (like the Greek flag) so, I decided to do aqua and white stripes and a gold anchor!!  everything was first hand painted with acrylic paint and then covered in fine glitter! This is a 12x12 inch canvas wall art that I currently sell for $30 in my boutique. www.etsy.com/listing/189022132/glitter-aqua-white-stripes-and-gold?ref=shop_home_active_17

 This is another 12x12 inch canvas I designed to match all my beach decor. I hand painted a beach scene with acrylic paints, then added sand and glitter to the ocean and beach.  I topped the piece off with real sea shells, a real white finger starfish and wooden "BEACH" letters painted and glittered in light pink fine glitter!! I sell this wall art for $35 in my boutique.  www.etsy.com/listing/189027225/sandy-beach-seashells-starfish-glitter?ref=shop_home_active_15

              

This is one of the 12 inch Jumbo clothespins I make and sell in my boutique.  I got  unfinished clothespins and hand painted the metallic gold brushed bronze from Martha Stewart.  I then used my sand and glitter mix to add a real beachy feel.  I topped it off with a light pink glittered starfish, "BEACH" letters and a few seashells! You can purchase this in my etsy shop for $25 www.etsy.com/listing/189390930/12-inch-sandy-glitter-starfish-beachy?ref=shop_home_active_15

The boat wheel you see here is another item from Hobby Lobby I found that I had to paint to match my white boat shelf.  I didn't like the brown color it came it so you know, this Greek Diva painted it!!  I debated whether or not to add glitter on top and I decided not to.  I had my dad and friend Amy tell me "where is the glitter?  I think you need to add glitter! and is this finished?" LOL They know me too well.  

I have a wall separating the living room and dining room that is perfect to display each season's word.  For example "SUMMER" is painted in an aqua blue then glittered in fine glitter.

This boat shelf/prop is one of my favorite items I found at Hobby Lobby!!  I had to tip the existing netting and shells out because I was not happy with the colors.  My mom and my friend Julie thought I was nuts!!  They were like "you should keep it the way it is... it's beautiful"  yeah and it was the way I bought it however, I saw the colors of my other decor and could not have it look different.. The colors didn't match up and totally clashed. Also, the boat was weathered in it's painted style.  I am not a fan of the rustic, weathered beach decor..  So I busted out my white acrylic paint and painted it all brand new!!  I added an aqua blue paint to the edges and topped it with glitter of course!!  I used my netting that matches other beach decor i already have made, and also added real seashells, blue glitter anchor and a hot pink glitter starfish!  It turned out great!!

I love burlap and am very happy it is trending now!!  I had to make this wall word board because I love adding shells to letters and I had to make this vision com into light!!!! this wood is 3x4 feet plywood covered in a light burlap with hot glue! I will tell you that it took hours to assemble everything you see, but to me it was totally worth it!!!  I had to add the gold glitter letters and starfish for some bling! I love how these natural colors all blend together!!

This anchor is another Item I found at Hobby Lobby that i painted and glittered!!  Honestly I was eye balling this item since last year!  I am sorry this picture is turned on its side..  not sure why it's doing that? Anyways I added this pretty burlap bow because I did not like the rope that came with the anchor.  Again, i am  showing you that it's okay to personalize things you find at the store!! 

I am in love with this fish, I love the color I chose to paint it and the hot pink glitter just makes me happy!!  This fish was also a summer seasonal item at Hobby Lobby that I just had to have!  I used the Martha Stuart Amaranth high gloss paint and fine glitter! 

 
 I just love my sea horses I also found at Hobby Lobby.  I chose the Aqua and light pink to match the rest of my beach theme colors! Apothecary jars are fantastic!  I found these at Home goods on clearance.  I have to change them up for each holiday or season! So I chose sand (I am really proud of my trend in adding gold fine glitter to my sand) and sea shells with 2 starfish aqua and gold.  It's super simple and super cheap!!!

I had fun sharing my stuff, now time to go outside and enjoy God's beautiful day!! 

I hope you like my Summer BEACH Decor!!  Check back daily for more home decor ideas!!
~Greek Diva
Helen Day