“The Beach Life” Cross DIY:
I am so very blessed to live by the beach. It is something I have dreamed about since I was a little girl. The story of how we got here is a long one and one day I’ll write it out, but for now, let’s just say I’m here because of a dream, my husband’s hard work, A LOT of prayer and blessings. God is so very good, and His timing is perfect! I never gave up! Don't you, either!
This morning as is true many mornings, I took a walk along the beach. The crowds are basically gone and this year’s season is basically coming to an end.
My beach walks vary in terms of what I want to accomplish. Sometimes (most times) they are prayer walks... precious time between The Lord and I. These walks are THE BEST! What I get out of these walks is nothing short of amazing each and every time! Sometimes, I walk with my husband or kids... time we spend together simply to chat and catch up. Sometimes I walk just to worship as I listen to my favorite Christian songs... I cant help but point up, clap and sing out loud... probably louder than I think sometimes! This morning’s walk was yet another kind... a treasure hunt! If you have noticed our Salty Girl Living logo, you will see that our tagline is “Make it... Love it... Live it.” That is yet another future blog post, but all you need to know is that today, I am looking to fulfill the “Make It” part.
Like many people who come here, I am always on the lookout for shells. I can’t say we have a great selection here in Destin, but I can usually find a few for my purposes. I also LOVE to find broken sand dollars. The ones I like look like hearts. I almost ALWAYS find at least one, and I consider them a gift from above. But today, I REALLY want to find my favorite thing... driftwood! This find is definitely a “hit or miss”! I guess the Lord knew I was going to write a blog on this because I scored BIG! YAY!
One of the things I enjoy making the most out of my “treasures” are crosses. Today, I am going to show you how I make one and the ones I have made over the past year. If you're a beach comber like me... maybe this post will inspire you to show not only your love for the beach, but also your love for our Father God! Check it out and go to the beach (or forest, or lake, or your own yard) treasure hunting!
Materials:
You are certainly free to choose whatever you wish from wherever you are!
Here is what I used...
~ Bits of “found objects” (shells, driftwood, sticks, stones, sea glass bits, broken sand dollars)
~ Yarn and twine (I got all of mine at “Dollar Tree”)
~ Wire for wrapping (Hobby Lobby)
~ Hot glue gun and glue (Hobby Lobby)
Instructions:
To be honest... there really are none except to have fun, so let the photos be your inspiration!
However, I will share some of my “tips”...
First and foremost, YOU MUST CLEAN ALL BEACHY PIECES! We don't want smells, critters or bacteria in our final piece or in our house! Please follow these directions...
Be sure to clean your pieces in a well ventilated area. Wear protective eye gear and gloves. Remember, bleach splashes and can definitely bleach your clothing! Now, some people use white vinegar. If you prefer that medium, you can search for how. I personally prefer bleach.
You want to get as much of the loose sand, dirt and debris off the easiest way. So, I hose all my beauties down and then scrub them with a brush.
Shells: Place the shells and sand dollars in a bucket with a mixture of 30% bleach to 70% water. Leave them in the mixture for at least 6-8 hours. Pull them out and rinse them off well. Let them dry. It may take days. The shells and sand dollars will more than likely bleach in color due to the process. Driftwood: Place the driftwood in a bucket that will allow the whole of the pieces to be submerged. Use about 2 cups bleach to 1 gallon water. Let it soak MUCH LONGER than the shells... about 5 days. Be sure to change the water/bleach mixture daily. Pull the pieces out and dry thoroughly. Again, the drying process may take days or even a week or two depending on the size of the wood. You will most likely see a lightening of the wood.
Note: Just keep a watch on things as you go. The more you do this, the more you’ll learn and achieve your desired results.
More Tips:
~ Be very careful with any hot glue gun! You can get a nasty burn. There are low-temp hot glue guns out there if you prefer.
~ If children are involved.. you may want to consider a strong form of Elmer’s (or your favorite) brand of glue. Let dry according to directions.
~ If you have extra baubles... here is a GREAT place to use them! I make jewelry, so I went through all my treasures and goodies and picked what I felt like... like the turquoise stone cross!
~ I literally played around with the yarn wrapping. To change the colors, simply tie knots and pull them tight joining new color strands together!
The best thing about this project is it reflects YOU... what you like, where you live and who you are! So have fun and most importantly, be free in the creativity the Lord has given you... YES, YOU!
