Corey Schultz Carter's Blog, page 2

Seashell Beach People Wall Decor by Ocean Inspired Design

Hi! I’m Corey. Welcome to my ocean inspired blog! Several months ago, I started making handcrafted seashell people wall decor signs to sell in my Etsy shop, and they have been a huge hit and so much fun to create. These unique coastal wall hangings are designed using a variety of natural materials, such as seashells, sun dials, driftwood, pebbles and nautical rope, much of which I collect along the shores of North Carolina.

Custom Orders Welcome! I have had so many people reach out to me about making these coastal wall signs specific to their own lives. I’ve created memorial seashell people signs, beach sisters and best friends from groups of 2-6, grandparents holding hands with grandchildren, and even a dad on a fishing adventure with his sons. I do my best to depict height and hair specifications, offering personalization with each order if requested.

These handcrafted seashell people signs make an excellent complement to any coastal or farmhouse decor and a very unique gift for mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers. Anyone, really. If you are looking for a charming conversation piece, housewarming, or birthday gift, consider a handmade shell people sign by Ocean Inspired Design.

Visit Ocean Inspired Design on Etsy for a full selection of handcrafted coastal home decor and gifts, guaranteed to please your loved ones.

DIY Decorative Coastal Seashell Jar Craft & Gift Ideas

If you are looking for a place to display all of those seashell treasures collected during your latest family beach vacation or excursion, consider a coastal style decorative jar display. This seashell craft is fairly easy, and the outcome is a beautiful decorative memory that looks great in any room. This is a fun kid’s craft if they are able to or have help with the hot glue portion, and these coastal home decor seashell displays also make excellent handmade gifts for many occasions including housewarming and hostess gifts.

Here’s what you will need:

Jar with Lid

Mixed Seashells

Raffia (or any ribbon you have on hand that you prefer)

Knobby Starfish (or any other shell find that could serve as your centerpiece)

Hot Glue Gun & Hot Glue Sticks

(I have provided idea links to each item, in the event you do not have on hand.)

Just a few simple steps to complete your craft:

Fill your jar to the top with your favorite seashell treasures. You can play around with your mix with a few gentle shakes to display any favorites that may be hiding in the center. I usually hold the prettiest seashells off to the side and place them down the sides after filling the jar. Spin your jar top tightly closed. Tie the raffia or ribbon around the lid to make a bow.Glue a starfish or your favorite seashell find in the center of your bow using your hot glue gun. Admire the beauty of your work!

When I make these for my customers, I add in my rare and special finds found along the coast of North Carolina. Natural coral or sea glass add a little extra interest to the mix. Below is an example of how my seashell jar displays look upon completion. Unique and beautiful each time.

Decorative Seashell Jar by Ocean Inspired Design

Fall Home Decor at Ocean Inspired Design

Half Shell White Oyster Shell Grapevine Wreath with Full Wired Burlap Bow

Fall has arrived, and we all have the fall decorating bug. Even my 9-year-old is asking to go shopping for fall home decor, so her room is nothing short of fall vibes. At Ocean Inspired Design, my handmade coastal home decor Etsy shop, I have a beautiful selection of Oyster shell wreaths that are perfect for coastal, nautical, farmhouse, and minimalist fall home decor.

Best Selling White Oyster Shell Grapevine Wreath

Oyster shell wreaths are a personal favorite of mine because they remind me of our family tradition of oyster roasts by the bonfire. In fact, those oyster shells are saved and cleaned to create the majority of oyster shell art I create for my Etsy shop. These shells also have a beautiful deep purple center. My wreaths are highly rated and made with a high-quality glue, which I use to secure oyster shells to 18″ grapevine wreaths.

Other handmade home decor options I offer are oyster shell ring dishes, white oyster shell ball clusters, and seashell trees. These home decor accents are perfect for fall home decor or year-round, and the seashell trees add a gorgeous and unique touch if you have a coastal Christmas decor theme.

If you are in search of unique, handcrafted, high quality coastal home decor and gifts, visit Ocean Inspired Design for a full selection of coastal, nautical, and farmhouse home decor.

Coastal Seashell Christmas Tree Topiaries: A How to Guide for Makers

Oyster Shell Christmas Tree by Ocean Inspired Design

Christmas is around the corner, and I am starting to sell my handcrafted seashell Christmas trees in my Etsy shop, Ocean Inspired Design. I really enjoy making these unique designs, and the attention to detail really pays off upon completion. I personally display my seashell topiaries year round, but they can be used to compliment your yearly coastal Christmas décor. Most people ask me how long they take to complete, and the answer is two to four hours, depending on your skill level and size of the shells you use.

Here’s a list of what you’ll need to create your very own seashell Christmas tree topiary:

Tree Form: This is my personal favorite size, but they are available in various sizes.Earth Tones Mixed Seashells: Here As an alternative, here’s an all white with aqua sea glass option.OR if you love colorful seashells: Here. Here’s a partially completed tree, using small white seashells.Prefer an Oyster Shell Tree? Find those here if you don’t have them locally. Hot Glue GunHot Glue SticksStarfish Topper (optional)

Once you have gathered your supplies, follow these instructions:

Step One: Plug in your hot glue gun and insert glue stick.

Step Two: Attach starfish topper by carefully applying hot glue and firmly attaching to the top of your tree form.

Step Three: Carefully apply hot glue to seashell and firmly attach to foam tree form. Apply a little pressure to ensure it is attached.

Step Four: Repeat this step a whole bunch of times until your tree form is fully covered. I save the tiniest shells for last to fill in any gaps.

I begin gluing seashells at the base and working my way up. Depending on the type of shells you use, this can be a time consuming project. Set aside four hours for smaller shells and two hours for larger shells such as oyster shells.

If you have any questions or want to share a photo of your finished project, please feel free to message me.

Looking for a unique variety of coastal décor and coastal home gifts? Stop by my Etsy shop.

White Oyster Shells with Pearl Pin Here’s a close up of how detailed my
coastal seashell Christmas tree topiaries are.

Oyster Shell Wreaths: A how to guide for DIY makers.

Best Selling Oyster Shell Wreath at OceanInspiredDesign

The variety of grapevine oyster shell wreaths I sell on Etsy are my best selling creations, mostly adored by those living along the east coast of the United States. I use large white oyster shells hand collected in Wilmington, NC and from the many yearly oyster roasts held by the fire pit here at home. WE LOVE OYSTERS! Lots of people ask how I make oyster shell wreaths, so here’s the scoop!

Here’s what you need to create your own oyster shell wreath:

18″ Grapevine WreathA minimum of 40 large oyster shellsSmaller oyster shells to fill smaller gapsNautical Jute Rope (optional)Gorilla Hot Glue Gorilla Hot Glue GunFour Hours for beginners

Step 1: Turn your hot glue gun on high and insert hot glue stick.

Step 2: Attach nautical jute rope. I usually do a simple pull through loop, but the are all sorts of knots or other types of bows you can make. The rope or bow should be at the top of your wreath and wreath should hang evenly.

Step 3: Carefully apply an abundance of hot glue to the back of the oyster shell. Press firmly to the wreath until the glue solidifies. This is very important and takes a little bit of muscle and patience.

Step 4: Repeat step 3 until your wreath is complete. Oyster shell wreaths look great hanging on the front door or in an interior entryway.

Voila! You have created your first grapevine oyster shell wreath for all of your guests to enjoy. Hang it on your front door or interior entryway.

Oyster Shell Wreath by OceanInspiredDesign

***I am an Amazon associate, and my site contains affiliate links.***

Handcrafted Mermaid Wall Art

[image error]Whether you are a mermaid enthusiast or an actual mermaid, you will love my new collection of handcrafted mermaid wall art. I add new mermaid designs weekly, all of which are 100% one of kind, only available at OceanInspiredDesign on Etsy, and hand made by one artisan. (That’s me.)

 

These gorgeous mermaid wall hangings fit in with any coastal decor and make excellent [image error]housewarming or birthday gifts.

Each Mermaid Wall Art is made to order with lots of love and attention to detail.

Please visit for more details. Just a casual admirer? You can still help. Stop by my shop and show some Etsy LOVE!

[image error]

15% off Seashell Mirrors & Coastal Wreaths at Ocean Inspired Design

 

 

This week, save 15% when you spend $60 or more at OceanInspiredDesign on Etsy. I offer high quality, handcrafted coastal decor. Each mirror and wreath is unique and crafted with great attention to detail, using a durable weather resistant glue and, of course, lots of love. Stop by to see a full selection!

Our bestselling oyster shell wreath is also included in this limited time sale. This coastal wreath looks great on any door or entryway and makes an excellent housewarming gift.

 

L.O.L. Surprise! Big Surprise … L.O.L. Big Sister, Little Sister, and Fizz Balls. Where to buy them today for Christmas!

If you have a little one who discovered these entertaining L.O.L. Dolls and then became extraordinarily obsessed with them (and their infinite accessories), you are probably stalking the most popular sites like the rest of us. Let’s admit the obvious: They are adorable, entertaining, and bring a smile to our child’s face. It’s a role play extravaganza around here for children ages 4-8. SOLD!

What’s the problem, you ask? Well, you already know. The company is creating a frenzy. Children are demanding their beloved L.O.L. Surprise Dolls, and parents can’t seem to find them. Not at a reasonable price at least, according to some parents who have already invested in the L.O.L. Surprise! BIG SURPRISE. Mixed reviews claim only two big sisters and two little sisters are accompanied by a generous variety of accessories and fizz balls. However, other reviews come to the defense of the Big Surprise ball, stating that all the fun is in the anticipation of opening the ton of surprises offered in the ball.

In our case, we need three L.O.L. big sisters, which have been unavailable for months. (I can’t even believe I’m an adult and having this discussion with you. Ahhhhhhh!) The kid though! Anyway, I don’t need 10 hamburger keychains or other random things you find in the fizz balls. Parents are in Facebook groups swapping these dolls, and price gouging the hell out of desperate parents. (I’m not that aggressive in acquiring these dolls. Go ahead with your bad ass if you are an avid collector.)

The Problem with Finding LOL Dolls?

The prices are WILDLY different with each sales giant and availability is not reliable:

[image error]

 

Walmart: We found the BIG SURPRISE on a Sunday at $58.88, shown here at $68.88 and SOLD OUT. Our daughter was with us and freaked out. I returned a few days later, finally alone, to buy her Christmas surprise: GONE! However, they will have the big sisters in a few days. At first their site said November 13th but now that has changed to the 14th. Shocking!

 

 

ToysRus: SOLD OUT! Best online sale yet at $59.99, and it was gone as quickly as it [image error]was released. Let’s just keep building the suspense, right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazon: Didn’t get them in time? Be ready to pay up, parents. My Mac showed only one L.O.L. Surprise! Big Surprise left in stock. The price just keeps increasing, and Amazon seems to at least have them available online. Supply and demand baby!

[image error]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due to our own supply and demand, we did not buy the L.O.L. Big Surprise for two reasons. When I initially tried to purchase the giant LOL gold ball, it was no longer available, just a few days after its release. Pretty mad! I had some time to research and found out that it wasn’t a good fit for my kiddo, who specifically wants the LOL Big Sisters. The bigs and littles are a 100% hit on our block!

*Disclaimer: I am an Amazon affiliate. To date, this is the only place I can find to order this particular product online. Others are pick up in store only, which may change. I was very upset that I could not make my intended purchase after returning to Walmart.  I love LOL Dolls almost as much as my little one loves them, and I’m not sorry.

Wild Four Year Olds, Seashells, & Other Reasons I Took a Writing Break.

***To really put things into perspective before you read this post, I overcooked a whole chicken by 40 degrees while writing this. I forgot to set the timer because my child, who is taking her first nap in seven very busy days, distracted me when I popped the chicken in the oven. She cried hysterically because she wanted me to blow up her water wings, so she could fly like a bird on her way to nap time. When I told her no, she told me that I never let her pretend. Who am I to discourage imagination?***

This post was prompted after three people over the past month asked why I haven’t been

[image error]

Add graphic design and advertising to the list of distractions.

writing, and a fellow author tweeted to me, asking why I stopped advertising my books. First of all, thanks to those people for noticing and caring. It’s easy to feel like a lost voice in the overcrowded land of online advertising, and after trying to self promote my novel and short stories for a few years, I just needed a little break from that very time consuming process. The tremendous network, support system, and friendships I created during that time have been my greatest reward.

Enter the four year olds and seashells. For those of you who do not know me well, I am a “stay at home mom”. (Whatever the hell that really means. My adventures rarely leave me at home.) I am also an independently published author and owner and designer of Ocean Inspired Design. My child has one more year of being “stuck at home” with me, and making memories with her is my number one priority before the slinging of books and seashells. I am in charge of finding other parents of four year olds, and charming them with my quick wit (awkward humor), all to ensure that they will want to play with us on a regular basis. My daughter actually collects friends at an alarming rate on her own these days, so we stay very social and always busy … and hot. Alone time is no longer part of my vocabulary.

[image error]While on one of our many beach adventures last fall, I collected a massive amount of seashells. One passerby looked at me like I was some insane shelling fanatic, which I now am, so I won’t judge him for his accurate observation. That seashell collection turned into crafting as a hobby. I showed my work to a few friends and received lots of positive feedback, so I opened up my own Etsy shop. A little bit of play money never hurts, right? Basically, I filled my free time with a new creative outlet during a discouraging writing period: Open laptop, stare blankly at screen, yell at screen, pour a glass of wine, stare at screen again, close laptop. I have never been one to force myself to write, so I took a break.

Now that I have created an arsenal of beautiful seashell wall art, wind chimes, and coastal wreaths, I plan on using my very little free time in the evenings to write a series of short stories over the summer. I also have a half written novel, coldly abandoned in Microsoft Word, which I may finish or save to a USB and watch as it melts in the fire pit. Who knows? Go ahead and add self doubt to my list of writing obstacles. As you can see, I have enough things going on to distract me from writing, but I have not given up or lost my passion. I’m just a busy woman, doing my best to make ends meet and raise a child who will hopefully become a wonderful benefit to society one day.

Thanks for reading and to those who support my work and continue to reach out to me! -Corey

 

Save up to $9 on high quality, handcrafted seashell artwork from Ocean Inspired Design!

[image error]

Seashell Anchor Wall Decor

Good afternoon! For a limited time, Ocean Inspired Design is offering to ship selected items anywhere in the U.S. for only $2.99.

Depending on your location, that’s a $5-$9 savings on high quality, handcrafted seashell wall decor and wind chimes.

Please visit our Etsy shop for a variety of unique coastal decor. We add new seashell artwork daily, so if you ever need a gift for the beach lover in your life, you’ll love our beautiful seashell creations!

[image error]

Mother’s Day Seashell Heart Wall Hanging