Giggles Galore

Nautical 4th of July Mantel Decorations

June 11, 2018 by Mariah · Leave a Comment

A few summers ago we rented a beach house in Connecticut and spent a week exploring the New England coast with our family. I loved all the charming sea side towns, sailboats and patriotic charm we found along the way. Anchors, flags, sailboats, seashells and sand inspired my Nautical 4th of July Mantel Decorations this year. All of the elements of that unforgettable seaside summer vacation come crashing together to create this patriotic vignette.

I recently styled and hosted a Nautical 4th of July Party for Oriental Trading and after the party was over I decided to repurpose the party decor into home decor. I love changing out my mantel decorations for each season, and I rarely repeat the same look twice, you can see the changes compared to what my 4th of July Patriotic Mantel looked like last year. I like to think of it as an inexpensive way to make quick and easy changes to my home decor, and I can usually just mix and match things I already own to get the look I want.

Using the party supplies from my Nautical 4th of July Party I created a festive display just in time for the 4th of July. From sea to shining sea these red, white and blue nautical 4th of July mantel decorations will make you feel proud to be an American.

I made a custom canvas with the famous song lyrics from America the Beautiful using Cricut vinyl and thick jute cording from Oriental Trading.

I added some glass jars filled with sand and seashells and the cutest little sailboat. Mini lanterns, a patriotic inspired lighthouse and fishing net added a bit more nautical flair.

I repurposed the DIY Nautical Wine Cork Garland I made for the party and added another red, white and blue banner.

It reminds me of our special summer vacation and I love how patriotic this nautical mantel looks, but I also feel like it’s perfect to keep up all summer long too. Do you decorate your mantel for each of the seasons and holidays?

If you love the way this patriotic nautical 4th of July mantel looks, then I know you will love my Nautical 4th of July Party. Make sure you head over to Oriental Trading to see all of the party details and check out the tutorial for my DIY Nautical Wine Cork Garland, Nautical Stars and Stripes Wood Fans and the perfect summer recipe for my favorite Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Parfait. Here’s a sneak peek of some of my favorite party details, but don’t forget to stop by Oriental Trading to see all the fun!

DIY Nautical Anchor Cake Topper

Simple Flamingo Beach Bag Gift Idea

June 10, 2018 by Jessica Roe · Leave a Comment

My boys have been out of school for just about a week, and we’ve already received 4 pool party invitations!! Buying gifts for all those parties can get expensive, real quick. But, this simple flamingo beach bag gift ideas is the perfect solution for cute, practical and affordable summer gifts! To help keep the costs a little more in check, I decided to order a bulk lot of canvas bags, pool towels, and inexpensive flip flops. Next, I fired up my Cricut and cut some iron on for … [Continue reading...]

DIY Patriotic Italian Soda Bar

June 8, 2018 by Mariah · Leave a Comment

Summer is in full swing here and we are filling our social calendar with lots of pool parties, backyard BBQ's and outdoor concerts. While the summer is heating up we are cooling down with a fun and refreshing DIY Patriotic Italian Soda Bar! This red, white and blue drink station is perfect for all your summer celebrations and I'm sharing all the details for this Italian Soda Bar over on the Chinet® brand blog. Guest young and old will enjoy sipping on their own delicious … [Continue reading...]

Summer Paint Pour Canvas

June 4, 2018 by Mariah · 1 Comment

Today is the first day of summer break for us and I'm feeling all the colorful, happy vibes that come with this season. I am looking forward to lots of lazy days spent by the pool, vacations, and simply enjoying a slower pace schedule with my kids. Each year as my kids get older I realize that these sweet summer moments are fleeting and before you know it they won't be around much. Just like these moments with my kids I want to make summer last, so I decided to create a … [Continue reading...]

FREE Inspirational Summer Art Print

June 1, 2018 by Laura Londergan · 4 Comments

Hello there friends and happy (almost) SUMMER! Today I want to talk about being motivated and inspired. That's right it is time to Stop Wishing and Start Doing, and I'm making that easy with this Free Inspirational Summer Art Print. For me, I NEED to be inspired and usually find that inspiration by hanging out with other creatives, perusing my favorite go-to online websites or reading my fave book or magazine. I gather inspiration from everywhere, even when I am out shopping! I even carry a … [Continue reading...]

How to Cut Chipboard with the Cricut Knife Blade

May 25, 2018 by Mariah · Leave a Comment

Last year when Cricut announced the new Cricut Maker I was giddy with excitement about all of the possibilities this new machine would provide. I have always loved creating with my Cricut (I've had one version or another for more than 9 years!) but I couldn't wait to start creating projects with the Rotary Blade and the Knife Blade. While we had to wait a while for the arrival of the Knife Blade, I think it's been well worth the wait! I have been playing around with my Knife … [Continue reading...]

Simple Ice Cream Party DIY

May 8, 2018 by Jessica Roe · Leave a Comment

Everyday Party Magazine Ice Cream Cone Cupcake Stand DIY #CricutMaker #CricutChipboard #CricutKnifeBlade #IceCreamPartyIdeas

Y’all, summer is around the corner, and I am so thrilled! Summer days are best spent in the pool, reading good books, and having parties with friends! I know, you might be thinking, parties are a lot of work, and summers are hot…and no one wants to do a lot of work when it’s hot. But, I have a sweet little party hack to share! I am so excited to share this Simple Ice Cream Party DIY with you today! My kids love when we host Ice Cream Parties! Since my guys are older now, I can typically … [Continue reading...]

Mother’s Day Cards with DIY Marbled Shaving Cream Paper

May 7, 2018 by Mariah · Leave a Comment

Lately it feels like everything is sneaking up on me quicker than I can flip the calendar. Are you like me and need some last minute Mother's Day ideas? Over the years some of my most treasured gifts have been the handmade gifts or cards my kids have made for me. These are the gifts that bring a smile to my face and remind me what an honor it is to have the title "mom." Make mom smile this Mother's Day with these awesome handmade Mother's Day Cards with DIY Marbled Shaving Cream … [Continue reading...]

You’re a Star Graduation Party

May 3, 2018 by Mariah · 1 Comment

Yesterday my kids informed me that there are only 20 days of school left. Which means that graduation season is here and with that comes lots of graduation celebrations. I teamed up with Oriental Trading and created a star-studded graduation party theme and dessert table that is perfect for your graduation celebrations So whether you are celebrating your cute little kindergarten graduate or your all grown-up high school graduate, this You're a Star graduation party is full of … [Continue reading...]

DIY Leather Luggage Tags with Cricut Knife Blade

May 2, 2018 by Mariah · 4 Comments

It's here! The Cricut Knife Blade is finally here. I know many of you, like me, have been eagerly been awaiting the arrival of the Knife Blade for the Cricut Maker and I'm thrilled to not only tell you that the wait is finally over! To celebrate this new product launch I'm sharing everything you'll need to know about using the Knife Blade and these DIY Leather Luggage Tags you can make with the Cricut Knife Blade. Let's start by answering some of the questions you might … [Continue reading...]