How to Think Tropical to Help Winter Blues

In the winter many people dream about a time they spent on a warm beautiful beach by an ocean. Here is a fun and simple way to help beat those winter blues by making a display of your favorite shells, starfish and sand.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Favorite beach finds
• Clear glass vase
• Shells and sand
• Memories

1. 
    
   Ocean collectables.

   Choose a clear glass vase to hold your ocean collectables. The size and shape of the vase will depend on the size and shape of the items you desire to display inside. Place the vase on a work table.

2. Gather your favorite shells, starfish, and corals you may use in the vase. Place them on the work table by the vase and easy to reach. The idea is to have a variety of items that work well together in your vase and remind you of a warm relaxed time on the beach.

3. You can use sand from a beach you once visited. Or you can buy sand and/or colored gravel from an aquarium store to use as the foundation at the bottom of the vase.

4. Begin by adding a layer of sand or gravel as a foundation in the bottom of the vase. Add the shells and starfish etc., and think about how the items look to you as they fill in the vase. Lay the shells up against the inside of the glass in various positions until you have added them all. You can always make changes when ever you desire. Continue rearranging the shells until you are pleased with how it looks.

5. As needed, place your shell filled vase in a sun-filled window and remember how it felt to feel so good and warm walking on the beach picking-up the shells.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the glass vase is clean before use.
• Wear gloves due to sharp edges of shells and other items.
• If using sand stored from the past, make sure it is free of debris.
• Wash your hands after the finished project.

[writeitout]

on 10/25/2009 Very inspirational, 5*

[Sondrac]

on 4/15/2009 Great article and very well written. 5* and rec

[AnneZ]

on 3/28/2009 Great suggestion! Collecting shells is a blast! Here comes the sun! 5*

[1GoGetter]

on 3/19/2009 Lovely idea. My whole house looks like the tropics because each time we travel I pick up something I can display in my home. Now it looks like I live in Hawaii and it absolutely does help with the winter doldrums! 5*

[ctgenie99]

on 3/16/2009 Great tips!