Holiday Style: Glowing Shell Vase DIY

We're decking our halls beach-style, and this glowing shell vase is just the thing for a mantle.  Oooh, it would be gorgeous in a centerpiece too.  It's easy to put together - here's how!

Gather Your Supplies
- A tall, clear vase.  We used a a fun martini pitcher!
- A short string of battery operated white LED lights.  We found ours at IKEA.
- Small ball ornaments.  We chose a gold theme.
- Sea shells.  A selection of small-medium white shells in a variety of shapes works well.
- Sand.  White worked well with our color palette.

Fill It Up
- Pour some sand into the bottom of the vase.
- Add the shells and ornaments, one at a time.  
- Work the lights in as you go, hiding the cord.
- At the top, run the cord over the edge and down the back.  Wrap the excess cord around the battery pack, and tuck it behind the vase.


Let it Glow!
Arrange your beautiful glowing vase with your other holiday decor and enjoy!
 

SolEscapes has a wonderful selection of holiday gifts in the Holiday Gift Shop!

Gidget goes Kitsch

We were getting a little creative at the office, imagining how we could go totally tacky, kitschy and fabulous with our holiday decorations.  Beach-inspired, naturally!

Santa and a surfboard are an obvious combination; glitter them up and hang them on the tree.  Frosty in the Tropics?  You betcha.  Replace that top hat with a Santa hat and throw on some sunglasses; he’s all ready to lounge on the beach (temporarily, anyway).  Invite the Elf on the Shelf to the tacky party -  wouldn’t a grass skirt and coconuts be just the thing?  An Ugly Christmas sweater is a must; get out the glue gun and add some shells to your candy cane/wreath/gingerbread cardigan (bonus points for glittered shells).  The mantel needs some shiny tinsel garland.  Now add some super-bright (again: glittered!) tropical fish.  Perfect.     

Let’s consider the exterior: outdoor Christmas decorations have tremendous tacky potential, I’m thinking Clark Griswold gone… coastal.  Flamingos should obviously figure in somehow… I know, a flock of flamingos pulls the sleigh across the lawn (since reindeer abhor warm weather).  In the sleigh, Santa sports a loud Hawaiian shirt and a lei.  He may or may not be holding an umbrella drink.  Have a palm tree?  Drown it in colored lights.  Don’t have a palm tree?  Even better!  Get a bright, shiny foil palm tree and slap those lights on (they’d better blink).  And on the front door, welcome your guests with a beadazzled, neon-colored flip-flop wreath (work in some more of those blinking lights). 

Happy, Tacky Holidays to you and yours!

Gift Ideas for Beach Lovers

1. Gorgeous Resort Jewelry  |  2. Sun Hat for Beach or Pool 
3. A Travel Journal  |  4. Waterproof Phone Case |  5.  An In-Flight Bag
6.  A Gift Certificate to SolEscapes  |  7. Island Inspired Candle

Traditional Holidays in the Tropics

Making a great tropical escape can be a wonderful way to spend the holidays.  Leave the stress of the season at home, and enjoy a unique Christmas in Paradise!  But for many, traditions are integral to Christmas, and forgoing familiar activities can bring on the Holiday Blues.  So grab your sense of adventure + a little creativity and bring those traditions with you!

 

O Christmas Tree...

While a trek to a snowy tree lot isn’t going to happen, a Christmas tree certainly can.  Choose a suitable patch of beach and plant a branch.  Decorate it with small ornaments brought from home, or cut some out from shiny paper.  No branches in sight?  Draw a tree in the sand and adorn with beach-combed shells.  Go sculptural with a tree fashioned from driftwood.

Christmas Music Sets the Mood

Ever portable, bringing your family’s favorite Christmas tunes is a no-brainer.  Take it in a tropical direction with some great beachy holiday tunes. 

Food, Delicious Food

Many holiday traditions center around food.  Tucking a favorite Christmas treat into your suitcase and presenting it at the right moment will bring on the familiar holiday cheer.  Is there a special meal you enjoy every Christmas Eve?  Find its island equivalent!  Make it kalua pig instead of Christmas ham.

Presents!

While lugging gifts to a faraway destination may be a burden, exchanging gifts is central to Christmas for most families.  Consider a single suitcase-friendly gift that packs a big punch, such as jewelry, electronic gadgets or gift certificates.  For children, be sure to include something that can be played with right away, such as a small construction set (LEGO, playmobil), a little doll with extra outfits, or a travel-friendly craft activity.  What about a gift that can be enjoyed during the vacation?  A packable sun hat or beach towel would be welcome!          

Adapt Your Traditions 

Baking holiday treats may be unrealistic, but an adventure to the local market may uncover some fun cookie decorating options.  Then leave those cookies out for Santa and try to imagine how he will get in, given the absence of a chimney in your bungalow.  Seeing friends and family is crucial to Christmas; take advantage of technology and call or Skype with your loved ones.  If your family typically partakes in Midnight Mass, find a special service at a local church.         

Adopt New Traditions 
There’s no better way to learn about a culture than by being there!  Take this opportunity to learn about the holiday traditions of your destination.  Find out about the local holiday food and indulge!  Check the newspaper for special concerts; maybe you’ll learn some new holiday songs.  Deck the halls (or suite) as they do locally (then bring those decorations home to enjoy during future Christmases).  Immerse yourself in the local Holiday culture at a festival, carnival or parade. 

Holiday Trimmings, Beach Style

Deck the halls with boughs of… driftwood?  Why not?!  
Use these ideas to add some seaside whimsy to your holiday home, 
and welcome the beach to your chilly December.

Beachy Wreath:  Start with a traditional evergreen wreath and attach a mixture of shells, starfish, sand dollars, and driftwood.  You might like to work in traditional touches such as shiny glass ball ornaments and pinecones.  For a finishing touch, add a large raffia or ribbon bow.

Starfish Topper:  Paint a large starfish with a metallic gold paint.  Add a coiled wire base, and top that tree.

Miniature Seascape:  Using a clear glass ball ornament as the starting point, create a beach or sea scene.  Fill with a little sand from a favorite beach, and add some small shells, and even a tiny starfish.  For an under-the-sea effect, use a bit of aqua-blue gravel topped by tiny shells and a colorful fish.   A simple beachy look can be achieved by partially filling the ball with some colorful beach glass.  

Beachcomber Ornaments: Hanging shells, starfish, coral and sand dollars on the tree gives a classic beach look.  Loops could be fashioned from a piece of twine, raffia or colored ribbon glued to the back or threaded through a small drilled hole.  For a glitzy look, paint them in metallic colors or even add glitter.  While painting, a monogram could be added by placing a stencil before painting (a sand dollar would work well for this!).

Stockings of the Sea:  Begin with white or natural colored stockings (linen or velvet would both be wonderful).  Attach a starfish, sand dollar, or perhaps a nautical ornament, such as an anchor in gold.

Nautical Garland: Wind white lights around thick white or natural colored rope; add evergreen sprigs if a splash a green is in order.  Drape over a doorway or mantle, or coil around a banister.

Life Ring Wreath: Wrap a foam life ring (or wreath blank) with jute twine (gluing twine in place).  Select a wide ribbon in white for a classic look, or any color that coordinates with your décor, and create the four bands.  Finish it off with a large bow, or attach nautical ornaments, perhaps an anchor or ship’s wheel.

Lush Beach Tableau:  In a large platter or beautiful tray, start with a layer of sand, and top with shells, starfish, and coral pieces.  Nestle some glass ball ornaments amongst the shells; white and gold would be gorgeous.  Add white candles in holders (small votives or tealights); when the candles are lit, the glass balls will sparkle.  This would make a fabulous centerpiece for a large dining or coffee table. 

Rope Wreath:  Using a single piece of heavy white rope, join the ends to form a ring.  Alternately, create the wreath by braiding smaller rope.  To add more color, incorporate a strand of ribbon while braiding.  Decorate it simply, with a large red bow; or add sealife elements, such as shells and coral.     

Give the perfect gift… certificate!

Who doesn't love gifting gift certificates?  It's so easy, and takes the guesswork out of finding the perfect gift.  But with the convenience comes the nagging fear, "is this too impersonal?"  We say: no way!  Use these ideas to make a SolEscapes gift certificate a personal, thoughtful and fun gift.

1. “Get Beach Ready!”

Colorful tin bucket + Coola sunscreen + SolEscapes Gift Certificate + some beachy beers and a lime = beach ready!

  

2. “To the Newlyweds: Bon Voyage!”

 Roll up two Travel Lux Microfiber Beach Towels, tuck in a SolEscapes gift certificate and place in a pretty basket.  

3. “Choose something sparkly for our special night out.”

Pair a gift certificate to an exclusive restaurant with a SolEscapes gift certificate.  Wrap them in a pretty jewelry wallet.

4. “Enjoy your time relaxing poolside.” 

Stock a great resort bag with a few vacation must-haves: fashion magazines, a guilty-pleasure novel, and a Gift Certificate to SolEscapes. 

5. “Relish the sun safely with your favorite chapeau!”

Nestle a SolEscapes gift certificate into a beautiful hat box. 

  

6. “Aloha to the whole family.”

Add a SolEscapes gift certificate to a fun sand toy set; let the family choose their favorite resort essentials.