What type of seaside home doesn’t have beach wall art? Well, it was our home until I was able to repurpose found treasures into a lovely coastal-inspired piece worthy of any beachhouse!
DIY Beach Wall Art from Upcycled Items
The other day the hubby made a barrier door for the irrigation at the farm. It basically looks like a giant picture frame. But, he came home and told me it did not fit properly.
I was so excited! I’ve been wanting to make some sort of beach wall art for a while and when he told me the bad news (for him) I was ecstatic at the thought of inheriting this big old frame to make my coastal creation. After all what sort of a home is near the beach but has no seaside art?
Well as my luck would have it, he came up with a solution and was able to save his door. Which left me with nothing! No frame, no seaside art from a hidden treasure in the dresser.
Until I spotted this piece of plywood in a corner.
Don’t be fooled by the above picture in reality it looked like this. Not exactly the straightest piece of wood. It wasn’t much, but it was something I could work with.
I immediately got to work and painted it with a watered down white paint. I was going for that whitewashed beachy feel. You can see the difference between the top and bottom.
I am in the process of cleaning out a dresser (that will be redone soon) and while looking in those drawers I found a treasure. What are these? They are very ineffective door stops… of course they are ineffective, that’s why they were in the drawers.
What else did I find in the dresser drawers? These are worry beads in the form of a fish. Why were they in the dresser? I have no idea, because they’re pretty cool, just not practical for worrying.
And these knobs. Well, technically I didn’t find the in the dresser but ON the dresser. I could use these, the dresser doesn’t need them.
I then pretty-pleased my daughter to paint a lighthouse for me with water colors. This is the same one who has done so many other projects with me such as the black frame and the gift box.
And this wooden boat which had once been the base for a sail picture frame. It was broken a bit on the inside and so was not in use at the moment.
I gathered some sticks and a piece of white fabric and created a sail for my boat.
We opened two holes one on each side of the wood.
And screwed on the knobs.
But then I painted them white to blend in with the whitewashed wood.
Lo and behold I have my Seaside Art from a hidden treasure in the dresser.
Have you figured out what the doorstops are? I’ve repurposed them as waves.
I may not have inherited the irrigation door frame but I did manage to find many odds and ends that added up to something more than their individual parts.
Now the hubby has got his irrigation door and I’ve got my beach wall art from hidden treasures in a dresser.
Sometimes you need to lose something in order to find something better. What do you say, is this art or is it just crap? Do you ever think you are going to get something and then the deal falls through?
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Additional Beach-Themed Ideas you Might Like
DIY Beachy Vignette with Pebbles Handpainted Beach Wall Art
This blog is for entertainment purposes only; my DIY tutorials are not professional advice. Read my full disclaimer here.
I love it when I get your comments and I will reply to each and every one of them.
That’s pretty cute Mary! You have a creative eye alright & can come up with something out of nothing. Maybe those doorstops were supposed to go under the door or something, but anyhow, I saw right away they were waves. I would never have thought of how to put all that together. Me I look at something & try, try, try to figure out what to do with it & come up with nothing.
One day I was behind the vet’s office picking up boxes & saw where they were throwing away last year’s green rabies tags in the shape of bells. So I must have at least 500 green bells. What am I gonna do with them? Haven’t come up with anything yet!
Florence thanks for your sweet comment. You can paint the tags different colors and make a banner or even christmas decorations with them.
Very creative! I would have never thought of making something like that. Its gorgeous! (:
Thank you Shanna. Sometimes it can be fun to think outside of the box, get a little silly and see where it takes you. .
I think it turned out beautiful Mary! You are so creative with your hidden treasures. You did a great job on the sail for the little boat, and your daughter takes after her mom with creative talent. Love it all!
Thank you LInda. It was a fun change from the other things I usually make which are more on the practical side.
Mary, what can I say, you’re genius! This looks so beautiful, the whitewash art is lovely and all the little parts add up so nicely, perfectly actually! Kismet! It’s amazing, the perfect nautical summer deco. I really feel like coming over and do something like that with you!
Thank you Kartrin. Come on over and we can find some old drawers to rummage through.
How clever of you to have used so many items found in the drawers!! This is really a very ‘beachy’ Seaside Art, dear Mary!!!!! Well done!!!
This also reminded me that I used to have such a wooden fish as well as two small sailboats!!!! I am off to search the drawers around the house!!! If I am lucky, I might use your idea to create something similar myself!!! I wish you a lovely summer!!!!!
Thank you Marie-Anne. If we just do a little digging in the house we can find lots of things to work our magic with. I can’t wait to see your creation. Have a great summer!
How clever, Mary. Love it.
Thank you Marilyn. It’s a good way to clean out the drawers.
Oh my goodness Mary, this is absolute awesomeness!! How very clever and creative that you pulled all those different pieces together and made such a cool piece of art!!! I love each piece you’ve added, I don’t know which one is my favorite because they’re all so interesting!! I also like how you added the knobs to use as hangers. This is seriously too awesome!! Love it!!
Thanks Keri. Don’t you just love to repurpose things that normally you would not look twice at?
Oh Mary, I Love, Love, Love this Seaside Art! What wonderful ‘finds’..!!! In 1971 I visited Athens Greece and fell in love. Unfortunately I have not been able to return but it is on my bucket list. Thank you for sharing and I’m so Happy I discovered your blog!! It warms my heart!!
Patricia (NC Coast)
Patricia I am so happy to have you here. Greece truly is a wonderful country. If it weren’t for our economic troubles I would call it paradise on earth. I hope you are able to go back one day.
This is so adorable! It seems those “useless” little things were always meant to be together to make this art piece. I could stare at it all day!
Aww thank you Patricia. I’m surprised that it actually came together as well as it did. It’s as if it was meant to be.
That was a fun adventure as you kept pulling things out of the dresser. I think the door stops look like artsy fish. The art turned out great – especially the sail boat.
That’s what it’s all about Krista. Having fun and going where the adventure takes you. Thanks for your encouraging words.
You and your daughter make a great team, Mary! I love the mix of materials and techniques of your seaside wall art. It turned out beautiful and is fun to look at.
Thanks Julie. I need to get her when she’s in a good mood otherwise I get nothing. This was one of the good times.
Personally, I think it’s beautiful, creative, and talent art. I kept wondering what this was going to be, then you reviled genius
Aww that is such a sweet thing to say Ivory. Thank you so much.
Oh I love this! So beachy and so creative! The boat is just perfect. One day I will live by the sea and be able to go mad with the nautical decor – for now I shall just admire yours!
Anna, this would also be perfect for you as well since I always see you taking walks along the beach. You will have so much fun decorating.
Very nice–love that it’s multi-dimensional.
I was a bit worried about it falling off but I put extra strong glue on it.
Mary, you never cease to amaze me with your creativity. That is just adorable! I love to gather up odd things and make something, too, but you do it so well!
Martie you are also wicked with repurposes, There is no greater pleasure than taking junk and turning it into something useful.
While visiting the Thursday Favorite Things party I spotted this fabulous Seaside Wall Art and thought to myself, I betcha that is Mary’s. I pressed the link and surprise!!! Girl, you have the coolest creative mind. Those doorstops – come on, they were meant to be waves!
Marie, so now you are finding me through the linkies. Haha! I can’t help it I have to empty out my junk drawers. And those doorstops, total duds!!
I knew right away that those door stops were waves 🙂 I love your piece of adorable beachy art!!
Thank you so much Susanne. For years they were really bad doorstops and now they finally have an actual purpose instead of not working properly. Thank you for your sweet comment.
I love your artwork. How fortunate you had all the pieces and put them together in such a beautiful creative way. And yes the door stops make the best waves!
I really lu cked out Debra. All those pieces right in that dresser. Fate is on my side. The door stops are certainly better as waves.
I love this, Mary! So creative! I would have never thought to create a piece of art like this from that board!
Yes that board is one of a kind the way it curves like that. I’m happy that I was able to find a solution.
Did you say junk??! Absolutely not! This is by far one of the most creative things I’ve seen you do, and that’s saying a lot. I love how your mind works Mary! The doorstops? They don’t look like any doorstops I’ve ever seen. They look exactly like waves, and now they’re spending their lives exactly as they should be. 🙂
xxx
Doreen, you have really touched me with your sweet comment. You know how much I respect you and your kind words mean so much. Thank you my friend.
You are kidding!
How did you ever come up with a cohesive and pretty beachy art, using all these random “junk” pieces?!
I am pretty amazed. (And please, give props t your very talented daughter – for her lighthouse!)
Thanks for your sweet comment. It was fun and challenging to come up with this one. I guess we could say it was being at the right place.
Mary – this is such a creative idea. I just love the way you make use of almost everything!
Thank you Ilka, I thought I’d try my hand at something different.
Ok, this is by far my favorite project yet! This looks amazing! And I just love how you found the pieces for it all over your house, including robbing the dresser of its knobs, haha! There is nothing off limits when it comes to crafting!
You are so right Celeste, there are no limits when it comes to our crafting!
You always amaze me with your “repurposAbility”, You see things that no-one else would even imagine and turn it into something so awesome. Love what you did!!
I like that word Michelle. Thank you for coming up with it. This is a recent skill of mine, it comes from spending so much time reading blogs.
This looks so beautiful, your whitewash art is lovely and all the little additions are perfect. Perfectly nautical and just in time for Summer!
Thank you for sharing this project with TOHOT!
Jemma
Hi Mary,
You are so creative, I love your art! And Seaside – well you know that is right up my alley…or what floats my boat! 😉
I have one of those same doorstops, and you are right, they do not work very well…but as waves they are perfect!
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!
Hugs, Kimberley
The perfect waves can be found in defective doorstops! Who would have thought? Kimberley, Art is what you make of it, am I right?
wow! How creative are you? Amazing!
Thank you so much Amy. It was so much fun to do.
This came out awesome! Definitely wall-worthy!
Thank you Emma! Now I may not have gotten the husband’s frame but I did get my wall art.
This is fabulous Mary – If I ever come to your house I’m definitely looking in your drawers, they are clearly far more interesting than mine!
Haha Sarah you are certainly welcome to rummage through them.
Such a great idea! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Blessings,
Edye | http://gracefulcoffee.wordpress.com
two words – WOW and LOVE!
two words – THANK and YOU!
Your new seaside art is very cute and unique. I love the waves! I have a roomful of wooden boards to repurpose but no time! I just have to do it like you did and be rewarded with great art!
Ann Marie, yo u have a roomful of wooden boards and you have not used them yet? Send them over to me. I had to beg the hubs for his and he wouldn’t give it to me. That’s why I ended up with the reject. Now off to make some art!
What a wonderful project, Mary! You are so very creative! The finished project is fabulous!
Thank you Andrea. I am happy with it even though my board was oddly shaped.
Hi Mary, seriously. Get that book sorted! Of course it’s art and would look perfect placed not too far from your nautical lantern. I don’t have a lot of deals, but the only deal that ever seems to fall through for me is the one where I thought my not so small children were going to surprise me by doing their chores!
xx
Haha Debbie, sometimes deals will show up when you least expect them.
I love this! You amaze me with your creative mind. I love the lighthouse and the waves are just genius! This reminds me of the pictures that you took of the ocean and the boats, I love it! Found objects at your house have no fear of being tossed in the garbage! Everything has another use, even as art!
Nikki y u should come over and see the piles of stuff I have all over the house waiting to be repurposed. I once saw a post by another blogger showing us what her house really looked like. She photographed one area, and moved all the piles to the other side of the room. When it was time to photograph the other end, she simply moved the piles back… haha, that is how I feel sometimes.
Aren’t you a clever thing Mary. This is absolutely gorgeous. Very artistic and great use of everyday items. Thanks so much for linking up to Thriving on Thursdays. Love seeing you pop in. I’m featuring this one at tomorrow’s party.
Anne xx
Thank you so much Anne. I really enjoy visiting your blog.
Oh Mary, I missed this one! I love the end result.
I also have these door stops but they are quite useful for me, ha!ha!
You are so creative!
Big hug and sorry for being so inactive lately (I have so much to do…) but I don’t forget you!
Anne.
Anne, I am so happy to see that you have opened your own workshop. I only wish I could visit and learn from you. I wish you continued success my friend and follow your creativity!
My gosh, Mary, you are too creative for words! I want that art!
Thank you Carol, now just take a look in your neglected drawer, you never know what you’ll find.
You are so clever, Mary! This seaside art piece came out beautiful!
Thank you so much Pat, it was so easy to put together.
Who knew dresser junk could be so cool!! I just love this Mary. What a creative eye you have. Your #trashure rocks!
Thanks so much Larissa, at least now I have a clean drawer.
Well, that “junk” turned out to be real treasure, didn’t it! This is such a sweet summery project and you’ve used all those beautiful findings masterfully!
Thank you so much Maya. I’m glad I had so much junk in the drawer.
I think everyone has already said it all! I really enjoyed the creativity of your picture!
Thank you so much Kathy!
Mary, your seaside art is so fun and creative! I love the use of the doorstops. Your daughter did a great job on the lighthouse too! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thank you so much Jann. Sometimes you have to get the whole family involved!
Amazing how it all came together. I’ve never seen door stoppers like that, but they are perfect for your seaside art. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday. See you at the party next week!
They are really unusual. Too bad they didn’t work to stop the doors.
I love, love, love this! It came out beautiful! I’ve gone ahead and pinned this to the party board on Pinterest so everyone can see this! It’s such a great and original craft!
Thanks for linking up to the Make Life Pretty Monday link party! Enjoy your week!
Thank you Kate, it was something unusual for me.
Good morning Mary, just hopping by to let you know that you will be featured at SYC today.
hugs,
Jann
Thank you so much Jann. I have to say I did not expect such a reception for this piece of junk!
This is so darn cute and so very creative Mary! I love the little boat and trinkets you added to your artwork. Beautifully done!! I pinned it to my coastal crafts board 🙂 for future inspiration!
Thank you Wendi, sometimes it’s good to clean out the drawers.
You are so clever! This is a great piece of rustic art.
Thanks so much Carol!
You did a fantastic job! What a creative way to re-use all the items you found! Thank you for sharing at Merry Monday; I’m going to be featuring your seaside art at next week’s party. I hope you can stop by and link up again!
Thank you so much Emily. I will be there as I am every week.
I love how you made art form practically nothing.
We have those door stops, they go vertically it in the gap between the door and the frame to jam them open. We use them in our patio doors in the summer to keep them open. They actually work quite well! They do make great giant water drops though.
A ha! So that is how they were meant to be used Julie. All this time I had been sticking them on the floor hoping to get them to grip to the tiles. Oh well, at least I found another use for them. 😉
You are the queen of the hided treasures. Only you my friend can repurpose so many different items and create a piece of art! Bravo!!!
Thank you Christina. I really loved this one. I have left it back in Greece on the balcony.
Super cute idea, Mary! Love the coastal vibe, and so creative!
I’d do almost anything to bring that coastal vibe home with me!
You are the most creative person! Your head must just be swimming with ideas. I love how you put all that together.
🙂 gwingal
Thank you Nikki. Can you imagine what my dreams must look like? haha!!