Today, we’re welcoming back crafting-guru Jerusalem Greer, who wrote her first blog for us last month on designing your ideal crafting space. Today, Jerusalem will share some of her favorite tips for waterside decorating, with simple ways to put a personal touch on a creative, beach-themed project.

I have always lived near water, occasionally even waterside, and until recently I took for granted that everyone did. Well, actually, I had never really thought about it really. I am sure I knew that living near huge bodies of water is not everyone’s reality, but until my husband and I took a week-long road trip through part of Iowa, Kansas and Missouri, I did not have a real sense of what life would be like. It was on that trip that my appreciation for the lakes and rivers I encounter daily grew tenfold, and I realized that my heart would be as the desert without the ability to sit on a beach or a dock from time to time and stare out over a glittering, shimmery pool of water, letting my dreams and thoughts glide across the surface, sending them out with the tide of the waves or the boards that bass, to be worried over another day.

A few lifetimes ago, I had the great pleasure of working on two water-themed projects: decorating the interior of a lakeside condo in Hot Springs, and decorating a beach-inspired bathroom for a friend. Because both projects were done on strict budgets, I had to be extra crafty.

Here are some of my favorite, easy-to-replicate, crafty ideas from those projects:

1) Map Decoupage Side Table

This side table is an old wooden pie safe I bought at a flea market. To bring some character to the piece and add a bit of color to the room, we added a decoupage to the top of the safe with a ripped map of Hot Springs’ lakes (which was inspired by the condo’s location). To do this project at home, simply purchase a bottle of Mod Podge glue and follow the directions on the back—they are fool-proof. You can use vintage maps or any other paper products that bring you inspiration to create a unique a personal side table.

I toyed with covering the whole table but decided that a more timeless look would be achieved by just covering the top. If your decoupage side table is going to get a lot of use, you may consider purchasing custom cut glass for the top.

2) “Framed” Shells

This is an easy project to do with a few supplies, and I love the three-dimensional aspects these have. You could also personalize this collection by collecting shells from vacations and trips, then label each framed shell with the year and location it was found, building a memorable collection of framed shells over the years. To create your own framed shells, gather the following items:

Picture frames in various sizes (I chose wall and easel frames in a simple white wood)

Scrapbook paper

Hot glue gun

Shells

Tags or labels

To create this look, simple cut and frame a variety of coordinating scrapbook papers, then hot glue one to three shells (depending on shell and frame size) to the outside glass area of each frame, spacing them equally apart. You can even change your scrapbook papers out seasonally or as you change your decor, making this a very budget-friendly craft!

3) Beach Jars

This is definitely on the low-skill level of crafting. In fact, it may not be worthy of the title “crafty,” but it is absolutely thrifty (and creative!).

I love a great collection of jars that are filled with all sorts of unusual items. This is a great way to add color, personality, creativity and character to any space. To create the feel of a waterside home, try filling jars with things like:

Sand

Beach rocks

Beach glass

Fishing lures

Fishing bobbers

Shells (separated by type)

Old tiles

Vintage spools of fishing line

Leis

So, those are a few of my favorite water-inspired crafts. Do you have any favorite waterside crafts you have created that you are looking forward to making this summer?