Simple DIY Framed Seashell Art Tutorial

Our family recently vacationed with friends in the Florida Panhandle. Our condo was right on the beach, and every morning, I walked along the beach with a bucket collecting shells and sand dollars. Most of the shells I collected were broken pieces, but they were still so beautiful, even though they were just partial shells. I wasn't sure at the time what I was going to do with my bucket full of broken shell pieces, but during the long car ride home, I came up with a plan. 

My plan was inspired by my previous seashell art wall hanging I made from the shells I collected in Hilton Head a few years ago. Check out my full tutorial on how I made this gorgeous seashell wall hanging. This time, I wanted to make several smaller pieces to give to each of the families we vacationed with as souvenirs of this trip. I basically used many of the same steps from the previous tutorial, but added some modifications to create a brand new piece of art.

Follow along with me as I explain to you how I made these framed seashell art pictures.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!

HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE DIY FRAMED SEASHELL PICTURE

SUPPLIES

• Wood panels with solid wood center or a piece of wood cut to the desired size (8" x 10")
• 1" x 4" scrap wood (for the mounting block)
• Glue (see recommendations below)
• Seashells
• Picture frame mounting kit 
• Paint - indoor house paint or acrylic paint

PREPARE THE WOOD PICTURE FRAME:

Years ago, I got a bunch of white wooden picture frames that have a solid wood center. For this project, I started by painting over center panel with some interior house paint I had on hand to create a solid color background for the shells. 

If you have trouble finding a solid wood picture frame, you can either build your own or use just a square or rectangular piece of wood cut to the size you want. 

CUT WOOD "MOUNTING BLOCK"

Use a small piece of scrap wood cut to a size you think looks best when centered in the middle of your picture frame or wood back. I used a 1"x 4" and cut it down into a slightly rectangular shape of approximately 3" x 4".  I call this small piece the mounting block

Paint the small piece of wood and let it completely dry. I painted the wood to match the paint color I used for the center of the frame, but you could use a bold background color, too. Most of the wood will be covered up, but small pops of color would look nice too.

If you are using a cut piece of wood rather than a picture frame, make sure to add mounting hardware to the back of the wood so you can hang it up.

ARRANGE THE SEASHELLS 

This step is where you get to be as creative as you want! You have endless options on how to display your shells, whether it is by color or size, or type of shell. I like a blend of shells with at least one or two large shell pieces as the main focal point. Lay the shells out on the mounting block, adding any smaller-sized shells to fill in any gaps. Make sure to take a picture before you start gluing it down, in case the shells get bumped!

APPLY THE GLUE

It is important to use a strong, long-lasting glue for this project. Here are my recommendations to choose from for this project:

• Gorilla Glue
• Wellbond Universal Adhesive
• E6000 Clear Craft Industrial Strength 

There are two methods you could use to glue the shells to the mounting block: 

Method #1 

• Remove the shells from the mounting block
• Apply glue to the surface of the shell that will be touching the mounting block 
• Then, place the shells back on the wood mounting piece using the picture you took as a reference for the location of each shell

Method #2

• Leave the shells on the mounting block, arranged the way you like it
• Pick up one shell at a time, apply glue, then press back down onto the wood mounting block
• Fill in open spots with additional shells as needed

Make sure to let the glued-on shells dry completely before the next step.

ATTACH THE MOUNTING BLOCK

Once the shells on the mounting block are dry, spread a generous amount of glue on the back side of the mounting block. Center it onto your solid wood frame (or cut and painted piece of wood), gently press down, and then allow the glue to dry completely. 

I really like how these framed seashell pictures turned out! Before I gifted them to our friends, I wrote the date and location of our trip on the back so they would always remember where the shells came from. These beautiful pieces are one of a kind and full of great memories.

The Ultimate Camping Scavenger Hunt For Kids

Camping is the perfect family vacation especially if you are trying to leave the busyness of life behind and reconnect as a family. One way you can reconnect with your kids while camping is through activities like a family scavenger hunt. Whether you pair up in teams or search for the items on the scavenger hunt individually this activity is perfect to do on your next camping trip. 

This post was written in partnership with Zulily. Make sure to check out the Camping Essentials Checklist For Beginners as well as many other great ideas at The Find By Zulily.

Camping Scavenger Hunt For Kids

Since camping happens in the great outdoors it makes sense that this scavenger hunt should include outdoor treasures as well as camping-specific items too! To keep your job easy I've put together a great family scavenger hunt you can take along with you on your next camping trip. Invite other campers to join in with the fun too. 

Scavenger hunts are fun because they encourage those participating to look more closely at the surrounding area while they hunt for the items on the list. They can also be quite competitive (especially in my family), so consider offering a prize for the first person to complete the scavenger hunt - like an ice cream cone or an extra s'more for dessert. 

Lastly, scavenger hunts are great for any age to participate which is why it is the perfect activity to do while camping with your family or a big group.

Here is the printable link for this cool camping scavenger hunt!

Ultimate Camping Checklist For A New Camper

If you are new to camping it might seem a bit overwhelming to know what to bring when you go on your first camping trip. No need to stress - I've got you covered with this post I wrote The Ultimate Checklist For A New Camper for The Find by Zulily. Click to get the full checklist before you adventure out on your first camping trip.  

What's For Dinner?

Now that you have a great activity planned for the family the next thing to figure out is what to serve for dinner! Don't worry I've provided you with 5 Easy Meals To Make On Your Next Camping Trip so you don't have to stress about dinner while on vacation! 

Family Fun Staycation Ideas To Do This Summer

With gas prices skyrocketing out of this world our summer vacation plans may need to be adjusted a little in order to stay within the budget. Don't worry this doesn't mean your summer vacation has to dull and boring! Instead you may find some places close to home worth spending your vacation time and dollars. With a little creative thinking and some help from Google you and your family can have an amazing vacation this summer!

Don't let these barriers keep you from taking a vacation! You don't have to travel very far, or at all to have the best vacation yet this year! Imagination, creativity and a little pre-planning is all you need to gave a relaxing, fun and memorable vacation this year. 

Family Fun Summer Staycation Ideas 

Here are some great ideas to help you plan a vacation this year that you can take from the comfort of your own home.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!

VIRTUAL STAYCATION    

Are you a history buff who loves to visit historical sites or maybe you prefer visiting museums when you go on vacation? Why not do both? Many museums, zoos and historical places now offer free virtual tours that you can visit from the comfort of your own home. 

To make your virtual vacation seem more like a vacation why not go BIG and use a projector to watch a tour of your vacation destination. No longer are projectors those big clunky machines found in a classroom. Today's projectors are small, sleek and affordable making it easy to use anywhere you need to project a movie or picture. 

If buying a mini projector isn't in the budget why not make your own using your smartphone? Get your kids involved and create a memorable vacation project to go along with the virtual tour. Check out this simple tutorial on YouTube from HooplaKids.

Here are some great places to visit on your virtual tour vacation:

Virtual Tour - Gateway Arch

New York Helicopter Tour

Virtual Yosemite

Buckingham Palace Virtual Tour

Great Wall of China

Ellis Island Virtual Tour

The Houston Zoo Live Webcams

Online Tours: The Louvre Museum

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Virtual Chicago City Guide (includes the Cloud Gate)

Don't Forget The Souvenirs

Just because you are vacationing from home doesn't mean you should skip the souvenirs! Below are three free posters you can print from three great virtual tour locations.  

Check out the printable posters below from Apartment Guide (for more decorating tips visit their blog).

click to download

click to download

click to download

BACKYARD CAMPING    

If you can find a campground that is open this summer chances are they are booked solid throughout the summer. No problem, how about camping in your own backyard under the stars. No need for fancy camping supplies since your home kitchen and bathroom are just a few feet away. A tent, some sleeping bags and a flashlight can make your at home camping adventure memorable. 

Don't forget the campfire! Campfires are always a highlight to any camping trip. If you don't have a built in bonfire pit why not get a portable one. There are so many to choose from, I'm sure you will find one your family can use and enjoy for years to come. 

If a portable fire pit is not in your budget this year why not make your own table top mini campfire.  Here are two great tutorials you can follow to make your own with just a few simple and inexpensive supplies:

Option #1 - Charcoal Tabletop Campfire

• Terra Cotta pot & drainage plate
• A few bricks of charcoal, 
• Lighter fluid 
• A lighter 
• Aluminum foil (I prefer heavy duty) 

Slice off a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the inside of the Terra Cotta pot. If you need to use more than one piece go ahead, just make sure the entire inside of the pot is lined with foil. I prefer to use the heavy duty aluminum foil. Next place several bricks of charcoal inside the pot filling it to the top but not enough so any can fall out. I recommend placing your pot on top of the drainage plate to prevent the pot from scorching your table top. Squirt a little bit of lighter fluid on the charcoal then light them with the lighter. 

Grab your marshmallow sticks, marshmallows, and s'more fixings and start toasting! 

Be Careful! This small table top campfire will be hot. Please supervise your children at all times. Once you are done using the campfire make sure to fully extinguish the coals.The pot will be hot so do not touch it until it is completely cool.

Option #2 - Sterno & Terra Cotta Pot Tabletop Campfire

• Terra Cotta Pot & drainage plate
• 1 can of sterno
• Small rocks
• Lighter

This second option for building a tabletop campfire uses a slightly different heat source than the first option. You know those small cans of sterno that you see under a platter that a caterer uses to keep food warm? That is what this option uses as the campfire!

To build your campfire place the Terra Cotta pot on top of the drainage plate then place a layer of small stones in the bottom of the pot. Next place the can of sterno on top of the rock layer. You will want the opening of the sterno container to be level with the edge of the pot so you may need to add a few more rocks. Fill in the space between the sterno can and the pot with additional small stones. This layer of stones will help keep the sterno can from being wobbly. 

When you are ready for your table top campfire just unscrew the lid of the sterno, use your lighter to ignite the sterno and start enjoying a fire roasted marshmallow! After you have stuffed yourself silly with marshmallows and s'mores place the lid over the sterno can to extinguish the fire. Again, remember this sterno can may be hot so please let it cool completely before touching it. 

AT HOME LUAU VACATION

Did the dream vacation you wanted to take to a tropical island change due to the increased cost to fly? Don't let this change of plans wreck your tropical island experience instead, why not create a tropical island of your very own right at home? 

With the help of Pinterest you can get some great ideas to help you create a tropical oasis right in your own back yard. Check out and follow the Pins on my PARTY Luau board to get you started! 

Here are some supplies you need to get your at home Luau Vacation started:

Tiki torches

Pool noodles 

Medium size cardboard boxes (empty Amazon boxes work well)

Brown butcher paper (or paper grocery bags)

Colorful sheets of tissue paper

Leis

Bags of play sand

Beach chairs

Beach balls

Make a beach in your yard with a few bags of play sand. If you have a sandbox you can use this as the beach but if you don't, find a spot in your yard that you don't mind covering in sand and empty a few bags of play sand there. Place beach chairs, tiki torches and even a banner of beach balls around your new beach! 

Every tropical island needs palm trees. To make some for your backyard luau cut a hole the same diameter as a pool noodle. Insert the pool noodle into the hole then cover the pool noodle with brown craft paper, bunching it up to make it look like palm tree bark. Use the colorful tissue paper to make the tree foliage and don't forget to make a few coconuts with balled up brown craft paper or tissue paper. 

Don't forget to make some island luau food to go along with your new beach and luau party! Here are some great ideas for luau party food I think you might like:

Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs via Yummly.com 

Hawaiian Crockpot Meatballs 

A Bountiful Love

Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes from Kitchen Dreaming.com

Kitchen Dreaming

Hawaiian Blue Mocktail from 3 Boys And A Dog.com

3 Boys and a Dog

No matter what type of vacation you decide to take this summer the memories you make will last a lifetime for you and your family. A vacation at home can be relaxing and fun! I'd love to hear your staycation ideas, please leave me a comment telling me your ideas and experiences. 

Need more help planning a Family Staycation? Check out this post The Ultimate Family Staycation with a bunch of helpful ideas including a budget, meal plan and activity worksheets!

click to read full post

8 Tips to Help You Plan The Ultimate Family Staycation

Family staycations are the new way to vacation! Depending on the season of life you and your family are in, an out of state vacation might seem like more work than it is worth.  Why not consider a family staycation instead? 

Does the thought of cramming your family into a tiny hotel room for a week of vacation seem more like torture than restful? Planning a kid-friendly vacation that can accommodate nap times, picky eaters, bedtime routines, hot sticky weather, crabby family members all on a tight budget can be a near impossible task.  

As parents we want to give our children the gift of a fun-filled vacation but if an out-of-town vacation isn't in the budget and seems way too overwhelming why not consider a staycation instead!

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my disclaimer page. Thanks!

8 Tips to Help Plan The Ultimate Family Staycation

A family staycation embraces all the fun and restfulness of a vacation from the comforts of your own home. Check out our list of ways to make your staycation the best family vacation ever!


1. Create Family Staycation Guidelines

As a family spend some time discussing your expectations for your staycation. Everyone has different opinions of what "relaxing" is so make sure to discuss what expectations are before the staycation so everyone can enjoy their at-home vacation. For example, what chores must get done during the week and which ones can be skipped? Will it be a social-media free week? Will you allow friends or family to visit during your staycation?


2. Come Up With A Plan

click HERE for free printable planner

You might not be booking hotels, rental cars or flights but having a plan in place will help this staycation feel like a real vacation. What local attractions, restaurants, activities or nature preserves do you want to visit? 

Depending on the season of your staycation look for opportunities to try something new like a great new sledding spot in the winter or a backyard bonfire. 

If you don't have a plan it will be really easy to slip back into your regular routine which won't make this time feel like a true vacation. No need to create a plan of your own from scratch - use this great FREE printable staycation planner from the mint.com blog instead. 

3. Create A Budget

click HERE for free staycation budget planner

If the budget is tight having a plan in place before your staycation begins can help you keep your spending in order. Planning out what places or activities your family is going to do before hand gives you time to find deals, coupons and even free events everyone will enjoy without blowing your budget. 

Research which museums and events are free or what times and days they offer discounts.  Download a FREE staycation budget planner from mint.com blog today!

4. Have A Meal Plan

Don't forget to plan which meals you will be eating out and which ones you will eat at home. The cost of eating out can be more expensive than you think so stick to your budget and enjoy preparing a meal or two together as a family at home. Keep it simple and put your crockpot or instant pot to work for you so the meal is ready when everyone is hungry! 

Use this amazing meal planner from Sunny Day Family that includes everything you need to plan out a week of recipes for snacks and meals so you can stay within your budget!

5. Let Loose A Little

It's a vacation right! Why not get a little crazy and kick the rules to the side for a few days? All day pajama party, face painting party in the kitchen or spa day in the bathroom isn't something you do everyday but on a vacation the sky's the limit. When you are on vacation everything is a little more relaxed and fun so make sure to let down your hair a little and enjoy your staycation!

6. Pick Your Family Splurge Item

There is always something on every vacation that everyone looks forward to so why not have one special "splurge" item on your staycation too! It doesn't have to be extravagant to make it special. A walk on the beach collecting seashells or tickets to a local sport event or even a special family dinner can all be considered a special splurge. Remember vacations are about making great family memories, so make some great ones!

7.  Plan Some Local Day Trips

Your staycation doesn't have to all be done in the comforts of your own home. There are plenty of local attractions around that are within a tank of gas if you look for them. Plan a few day trips to places you love or haven't visited before, pack a cooler and hit the road for the day. The best part is you get to sleep in your own bed each night! 

8. Vacation Attitude

Remember this is a vacation so make sure your attitude is set to vacation mode! As a parent it is easy to reply to a quick email from work or return a phone call to your boss, but remember you wouldn't be doing this if you were out of state lying on the beach somewhere would you? So don't do it on your staycation either! Commit to a vacation and to relaxing and truly unplug from the daily grind. Your family will thank you!

Make sure to PIN for later!!

Preparing For a Family Road Trip: Must Have DIY Travel Binder For Kids With Free Printables

When you think back to some of the road trips you took as a kid, do you remember playing the license plate game or guess what animal I'm thinking of or getting a special snacks at the next gas station pit stop? These are the kind of childhood memories you have treasured forever and want your children to have too! Why not give your little ones the same fun experience on your next road trip and watch their love for travel grow. 

I participate in the Amazon affiliate program which means if you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!

Traveling can throw the whole family out of routine and bring on unplanned challenges that you
don’t normally face at home. Whether you’re traveling by car or plane, you’re often confined to a
small space with little freedom to move around which can be torturous to a young child. Keeping
your kids entertained with a movie, snacks or some screen time on the iPad can only last so long
before they start asking "Are we there yet?"

Custom Travel Binder Kit For Kids

To solve this problem and keep the travel "blahs" to a minimum why not create a travel binder for
each child full of fun and engaging activities they can do while you’re driving or flying. 

An individualized travel binder can easily be customized for each of your kids by age and interests.
If you have a little one that likes to color, add plenty of coloring pages. If your kid enjoys puzzles,
add mazes and word scrambles. With special travel-themed printables, your kids can even track
the details of their trip and record their memories. The travel binder can become a homemade
souvenier for each trip you take!

To get started on your custom travel binder, you’ll need:

• 1- 3 ring binder (at least a ½ inch)
• Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
• Printable activities

Pick which printables will appeal to your kids, print them off, hole punch them and stick them in your
kid’s travel binder before the trip. Keep supplies like pencils, crayons, colored pencils and markers
within arms reach of your child whether they are buckled into the car or airplane. Backpacks, zipper
pencils cases or even a portable kids travel desk are great ways to store supplies. If your child finishes all
the activities on the trip you can give them a reward like a special treat or even a certificate of
completion coupon good for a date with mom/dad or trip to the ice cream parlor.

Your kids will enjoy these so much and will ask you for another travel binder for your next trip.
All you have to do is print and add more to their binder for the next adventure. 

To help you gather up some fun printable activities, check out these travel-themed printables from The Zebra. They created printables for kids from preschool through fifth grade and included some additional resources to fill your binders. It includes pages of tic-tac-toe squares, car coupons, a coloring map, and loads of activities for your kids.

Make sure to grab a few clipboards too so that your child has a hard surface to use when filling out their road-trip printables.

Road Trip Ideas - Fun Places To Visit This Summer

Check out these other posts that include more road trip ideas you won't want to miss out on! Don't forget to Pin for later.

30 Waterfalls You Won't Want To Miss

click HERE to read more

17 Road Signs That Will Crack You UP!

click HERE to read more

12 Kid-Friendly Podcasts To Listen To In The Car

click HERE to read more

Summer Road Trip Ideas - 30 Waterfalls You Won't Want To Miss

Summer can bring out the inner explorer in all of us to a varying degree. Whether you are a true roughing it kind of family or maybe a weekend hiking warrior we all love a little adventure in our lives. 

Finding nature's hidden treasures along a trail or spending time at a National Forest can provide your family with the perfect venue for exciting explorations.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my disclaimer page. Thanks!

This summer as you are planning your vacation explorations consider visiting a waterfall along the way. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Waterfalls are so relaxing and powerful all at the same time! Their beauty and strength pulls you in as you watch and listen to the roar of the water cascading over the edge.

Our beautiful country has many waterfalls to explore. 

CarRentals.com has provided a great map broken down into five geographical regions that highlight a some less popular yet amazing waterfalls you may want to consider adding to your summer vacation plans. 

30 Waterfalls To Chase On Your Summer Vacation

Here is a glimpse of the map CarRentals.com put together. For more detailed information including a description of the different types of waterfalls please check out their blog HERE.

The informative map also includes a few tips to consider if you are going to visit these spots so you are prepared and know what to expect before you get there.  

Our Vacation to Tahquamenon Falls (Michigan)

Last year our family spent a week exploring and vacationing in the Upper Peninsula, fondly referred to as the "UP"(pronounced "you-p") of Michigan. We visited many beautiful places like Picture Rocks, Mackinac Island and St. Ignace but our favorite was Tahquamenon Falls.

Tahquamenon Falls is actually two different waterfalls on the Tahquamenon river near Lake Superior in the UP. One unique feature of these falls is the color of the water. The water is brown in color (not muddy or cloudy) due to the tannins from cedar swamps which the river drains. 

Tip...

If you love taking nature pictures the best time to capture these beautiful falls is in Autumn when the contrast of the brown waterfall water is set against the backdrop of the surrounding trees as their leaves change colors.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park provides a paved path visitors can follow to see both falls. The viewing deck for the upper falls is a great place to pull out your camera and capture the beauty of this waterfall. There are also many quiet spots to rest and listen to the waterfall too. Pack a cooler and have a picnic at many of the picnic tables throughout the park. 

The upper falls span more than 200 feet and drop about 48 feet. In the spring the volume of water draining from the river over the falls can be as much as 50,000 gallons per second making the upper falls the third most voluminous vertical waterfall east of the Mississippi River after Niagara Falls and Cohoes Falls in New York State (per Wikipedia)

The lower falls are a great place for visitors to experience the waterfall right in the water! The lower falls are about 4 miles downstream and are really a series of five smaller falls cascading around an island. Visitors can rent rowboats and row to the island where the fun and exploration really begins! We rented one rowboat for our family of 6 (life jackets included!) and paddled our way across a small section of gently flowing river to the island.

Navigating our way across large slippery rocks, through the shallow water, along the river's edge was exciting! Even our youngest who was 5 years old at the time was able to do most of the climbing on his own. We spend hours exploring along the island and the river's edge. Water shoes are highly recommended if you want to climb the rocks!

The highlight of our exploration was at a section of the lower falls where the water cascades over a rock ledge. Those who are brave enough can make their way through the swiftly flowing river and carefully plunge themselves through the cascading waterfall into a large gap behind the falls. 

Standing behind the waterfall in the cave-like environment was exhilarating (and terrifying as a mom holding her 9 year old son's hand!). It was an experience like no other and definitely one of the highlights of our trip!

For more information specific to the Tahquamenon Falls State Park visit the Michigan State Park website.

Before you go...

While your family is traveling for vacation don't forget to look for funny signs to help you pass the time more quickly. Check out my post - 17+ Road Signs That Will Crack You Up! If you find any silly signs don't forget to take a picture and share them with me!  

Oh, and make sure you print a copy of my free Road Trip Scavenger Hunt game to take along with you! 

If you and the kids haven't already created a Summer Bucket List I highly recommend you do so - it isn't too late yet! Not sure what a bucket list is or how to begin? Don't worry! You can get a premade list or one you can customize all on your own HERE!

click HERE to read more

Happy trails my friends! Don't forget to Pin and Share this post so others can learn about these awesome waterfalls too!

The Ultimate Summer Bucket List for Kids

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure here.

Summer vacation is finally here! Schedules are more relaxed, days seem longer and the fun seems endless. Well, that is until you hear the first exasperated "I'm BORED" spew forth from one of the kids.

AAHHH! Bored, really? Isn't this the same child who was just complaining and asking how much longer before school is done? Wasn't that only 3 days ago?

OK, mom let go of the clump of hair you are about to pull out from your head and take a deep breath! Boredom is a good thing, an inspiring moment for little Sally to start really digging deep to find out what she wants to get out of her summer break, right? Let her just stew a little in this boredom - it will bear good fruit!

Remember mom you are not an entertainment director (or maid, or waitress, or gofer), you are not responsible for providing the entertainment 24/7 for these school free kiddos. Your job is to help inspire these kids so that they can create their own inventions, adventures and summer fun.


Sometimes the best way to inspire your kids is to sit down with them and create a summer "Bucket List" - a list of ideas that they help come up with of things they want to do or accomplish during their summer break. Allowing the kids to come up with the ideas is empowering for them and allows the child to have a say in what they want to do. This list can also be a source of boredom busting for you mom - just whip out this list when you see the first signs of the "I'm BORED" beginning to surface on your child's face.

If you have never created a list like this before here is the Ultimate Summer Bucket List you can use as inspiration for creating your own list with your kids.

I'd love to hear what is on your summer bucket list - leave a comment with your great bucket list ideas! 

Erin