master bedroom remodel: beachy crafts

A few weeks ago I told you all about my plans for my fabulous new master-bedroom-on-a-budget.  My goal is to have my room completed by the end of the month.  It will be a push, but I've been trying to work on it a little at a time, and I'm really hoping to hit my deadline.  In case you've forgotten (or in case you're new to my blog, in which case, welcome!), the look I'm going for is what I like to call "5 Star Caribbean Beach Resort," and in case you missed it, here is my inspiration:

(Photo credits:  potterybarn.com, housebeautiful.com, HGTV.com, kohls.com, AllPosters.com, evadesigns.com, realsimple.com, allthingslovely.typepad.com, florida-beach-photography.com.)

I am very lucky to live on Florida's Gulf Coast, which has some of the best and most varied seashells in the whole world.  And what would a beach resort themed bedroom be without seashells?

A few weeks ago, during my great craft supply roundup, I came across 3 glass candleholders on clearance at A.C. Moore.  They had been marked down from $9 to $2, and the minute I saw them I knew with just a little "beachification," they would be perfect for my room.

Thus, this weekend I finally had a few spare hours to take the girls to the beach.  I originally thought about driving to Captiva Island, which is renowned for its shells, but Boca Grande is about 40 miles closer, so I instead opted to save on gas.  I needn't have worried, because the shell supply on Boca Grande was excellent, and Princess & I  had a great time hunting for different varieties while Trouble mostly ate sand.  (You'd think at some point she'd figure out that it just doesn't taste very good, but so far not.)

When we got home, I brought our bucket of shells down to our dock, rinsed them all off and then laid them out in the sun to dry.  I then gathered my project supplies and got busy.  And let me tell you, shell crafts, once you've gathered the shells, are easy breezy!   I think I will still add a few beach pictures (or postcards) to the shadowbox, but otherwise I am happy with how it all turned out, and I think they will be the perfect accent pieces to my new bedroom.

Expenses:

shadowbox-$8.99 (Michaels-on sale for 40% + used extra 25% coupon from paper)

3 glass & metal tealight candle holders-$2.00 each (A.C. Moore-on clearance)

decorative glass container-$4.79 (Michaels-used 40% off coupon from paper)

Total Spent: $19.78

P.S.  Don't forget that today is the last day to enter this week's share-the-wealth giveaway, a box of goodies worth $70!  For details on how to enter, click here.