Monday, April 8, 2013

Styling with Shells and a Rustoleum Paint giveaway


  I am always after new and interesting ways to style shells. When this lovely little cabinet turned up at the Beach House in need of a lick of paint......hi Suzie........I ear marked it for some shell action.  Looking at the BBQ table I think that needs a little love too.   Mr Beach House where have you been?


As you can see Darren, Suzie's husband,  had a go at painting it, Clearly Darren is a very clever man.  He must have thought better of it and passed it over to us to have a go. He said something about giving it to the littlest Beach House Brat for her treasures and yes she will have it in her room eventually, but right now it is looking mighty fine filled with shells in the living room.  The Beach House Brat thinks so too.  


This was an arse of a thing to paint.  It seemed to drink paint....yes I know I should have primed it first, but I am lazy like that.  All those nooks and crannies, throw in some glass panelling for good measure and this is the kind of thing I would pass on to a friend as well.  But not this time, it was a lovely gift and it just needed some love.


I think Darren had tried with a paint brush.....But not me......I  have no patience so I used a spray can.  My very kind sponsors Rustoleum came to the party and provided me with a can of white gloss to do this job.  Rustoleum spray paint is easy and quick to use,  the finish has a lovely sheen and they have a great range of beachy colours.


 We filled the boxes mostly with shells, but a little sea glass and a few seed pods as well.  We have left a few spaces and the littlest beach house brat and I are now scouring the beaches for new and interesting things to add to our collection.


I was going for a vintage plantation look, so styled the shells next to an old wash board, some pineapples and a lovely old vintage wedding photo, which will be going into a gallery I plan on putting together in the hallway, sometime soon.


The little boy in the photograph, is Mr Beach House shaking his new uncle's hand.  The attractive woman in the scalloped lace dress is my mother in law.  She'd had had four kids by this stage and was still so glamorous.


Not a great quality shot, but I think my MIL looks beautiful in this one.  Her dress was red lace and it still exists in perfect condition.   She showed us all the other day, at her sister's 50th wedding anniversary party.  I am such a sucker for beautiful things.


If you want to make some of your projects easy and a little bit beautiful, you may like to use Rustoluem, I think it's a terrific product, which can turn even the most annoying piece into a thing of beauty.


If you would like a chance to win these great, easy to use products, valued at around $120, to help you on your crafting journey, you need to do 2 things.



1. To validate your entry, 'Like' Rust-oleumAU on Facebook here or Twitter here and whilst you are there, say hello and spread some cheer. 

2. Follow Desire Empire on one or more of the following platforms:
Google Friends Connect (over in my side bar)
Instagram @desireempire

Leave a  separate comment for each follow, even if you have for some time.

Sharing this to each of your social media platforms will constitute another entry.  Leave me a separate comment for each share.  

And good luck

This giveaway is now closed.  The winner is Cyndie @ Mademoiselle Slimalicious.  Congratulations Cyndie please contact me within 7 days to avoid a redraw.

Giveaway Terms and Conditions
You MUST enter on the BLOG by leaving a comment here.
This competition is open to entrants living in Australia only.
This competition is open from now until 22 April 2013 12pm Australian EST.
The winner will be announced on this blog, Face Book and Twitter and I will contact you, as long as you have left a valid means.  The winner will have 14 days to respond, otherwise the prize will be redrawn.



For more ideas for styling with shell go here.

83 comments :

  1. Great Giveaway Carolyn! I'm a follower of your blog

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  2. And of you on Facebook (which is where I found out about this giveaway!)

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  3. I've just started following you on Pinterest - will scour your pins at lunch time I think :)

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  4. I've just liked Rust-oleum on Facebook

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  5. Just started following you on Twitter

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  6. Started following Rust-oleum on twitter

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  7. Last one - I've started following you on Instagram. :)

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  8. I love this makeover Carolyn.
    It looks really gorgeous.
    T xx

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  9. very nice! would love to try some rust-oleum

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  10. i love the cabinet! i have thought about painting my shadow box and imagine it would be fiddly.
    the spray paint is a great idea. it looks beautiful filled with shells.
    x

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  11. What a project! I can just imagine how awkward it must have been to paint. I love the end result! What a gorgeous decorative piece and it showcases the shells so well. Kids just love collecting things off the beach. How wonderful that your MIL still has the dress she wore 50 years ago xx

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  12. Following Rust-Oleum Australia on Twitter

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  13. Joined Desire Empire via Google Friend Connect

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  14. Tweeted about the giveaway https://mobile.twitter.com/sonyablyton/status/321065267125972992

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  15. i love this Carolyn.you are very clever-love dee x

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  16. I am following rust-oleum via Twitter

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  17. Following all your boards on Pinterest! :D

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  18. And of course I follow your blog on Google Friends Connect! :D

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  19. Very pretty! Found you at the Sunday Showcase.
    Kate

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  20. I like rust-oleum on facebook

    Kim m
    galwayst@hotmail.com

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  21. That looks fantastic, we would have a lot of fun with these...

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  22. Theres a lot of creativity I could make with those paints! Great prize :)
    I have been following you on this blog and facebook for some time. I have liked Rustoleum on facebook too :)

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  23. OMG that is gorgeous and where do you find the time!! You'll be appalled by my lack of pretty things when you come one day to visit Casa Catastrophe. Oh dear... but do have a cool new giant pinboard. Anyway, that Rustoleum looks great... I do have great plans for a challboard... oh dear... but when??! Lovely post Carolyn and inspired as ever.

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  24. Such a beautiful cabinet, lucky it fell into the right hands!
    I've been following you for ages on everything.
    x

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  25. Following Rustoleum on facebook!

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  26. Following Rustoleum on twitter!

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  27. That is so pretty! What a good idea ;)
    Jamie @ somuchbetterwithage.com

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  28. Like Desire Empire on Facebook

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  29. Follow Desire Empire on Twitter

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  30. Tweeted about Giveaway https://twitter.com/stephvel/status/321469387179712514

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  31. great display box, great giveaway following on twitter.
    Bec x

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  32. Already loving Rustoleum on FB - liking you on FB as well :)

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  33. What a perfect way to display your shells. I'm a shell collector and live in Florida! Oh, how I need some more ways to show off my shells! Love the paint! I'm a new follower! Thanks!

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  34. I LIKE YOU ON FACEBOOK!
    Thank you for the wonderful giveaway!

    missashleigh at juno dot com

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  35. Looks great, what a lovely display. Did you collect all those shells or buy them?

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  36. I love shells too! This display is a great idea. I have mine in a jar; collected from several beaches. Thanks for sharing.

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  37. Wow, like the display case. Have added you on Twitter.

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  38. Such a sweet cabinet and a perfect use. Thanks for linking up!

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  39. Great project and cheers to glamorous MILs x

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  40. What a fantastic idea! I could really use something like this for my daughters crystal collection X

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  41. This shell display is very beautiful and would suit so many houses in QLD too :) I really like it. I would like to enter your fabulous giveaway too. I have liked the Rustoleum page on facebook...

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  42. I have followed you on pinterest too... (but on my pinterest and facebook I have my maiden name of Michelle Harten)- i don't know how to change it on facebook yet...

    I would like to thank you for the giveaway you are offering to all your readers etc.

    Have a great day
    Michelle

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  43. Hello again, I followed also on Pinterest...

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  44. Hello again... I have followed using google (on the sidebar).. Thanks again :)

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  45. While I can't enter the giveaway (b/c I'm not an Aussie!) I just wanted to comment that I love, love your cabinet displaying shells. Worth every frustrating minute of painting!

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  46. I have liked Rust-Oleum Australia on FACEBOOK (rm.newell@bigpond.com.au)

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  47. I follow Desire Empire on FACEBOOK

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  48. I follow Desire Empire on Twitter (rl_mt)

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  49. I follow Desire Empire on Google Friend Connect (rm.newell)

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  50. I follow Desire Empire on Google+

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  51. I have shared this giveaway on my FACEBoOK page (Rachel Kriss-Newell)

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  52. I have retweeted your giveaway on Twitter (rl_mt) (I don't know a lot about twitter so I'm not sure how to copy or get the URL. Sorry. But I guess there is a way that you are able to check)

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  53. I like Rust-oleumAU on Facebook.

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  54. I like Desire Empire on Facebook. :-)

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  55. Very envious - small display cabinet WITH glass doors = gorgeous dust-free storage.

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  56. This is a beautiful way to display shells! I collect shells, too!

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  57. I love this display. I think it is some great coastal decorating. I have some shells from our trips I need to find a home for.
    We would love to have you share with us at our weekly Super Saturday Link Party. http://www.madefrompinterest.net/2013/10/super-saturday-link-party-13/ Your recipes and ideas would be a hit with our crowd. It would be our honor to have you join us!

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