Nautical Do It Yourself

Whether you are planning a nautical theme party or enhancing your home decor, we've put together some of our favorite DIY nautical do-it-yourself projects for focal points and accents, including:

Life-Ring Door “Wreath”

Personalize the poop deck with a wall hanging life ring with your own nautical theme party slogan in block letters. Add nautical accents like realistic fish netting and bleached starfish and seashells for a finishing touch.

You Will Need

• 14”-20” Hanging Life Ring/Preserver
• Fish net
• Roll of thick cotton rope
• Hot Glue
• Printed text in desired font
• Craft knife/scissors
• Acrylic paint
• Foam paint applicator
• Optional: Sea shells, starfish, sand dollars, crab, fish, and/or sea turtle replicas

TIP: Coastal Christmas ornaments are a great source for cute sea life decorations.

Lettering

1. Print message in desired font on copy paper.
2. Cut along the outlines using craft knife and/or scissors, leaving paper in tact to create a stencil.
3. Position stencil as desired on life ring; use tape to hold in place.
4. Using a foam applicator, spread paint in thin layers across the stencil, brushing lightly to keep edges from bleeding under.
5. Let dry for at least 4 hours, or per package instructions, before decorating further.

Decorating

1. Lay ring on a flat surface and position decorations as desired.
2. Use pea-sized dabs of hot glue to attach rope & decorations to ring.

TIP: If using fish net, wrap it around the ring and apply hot glue to the back for a neater appearance.

Painted Nautical Signal Flags

Signal the start of a fabulous party with the vibrant color of hand-painted nautical flag canvases. These super-easy designs will create a striking focal point that will make a big impact.

For reference, here is a chart of signal flag designs and their meanings at Wikipedia.

You Will Need

• Pre-stretched primed canvas or canvas board, in desired size(s)
• Acrylic Paints
• Colorless Acrylic Paint
• Medium Sponge Paint Applicator
• Painter’s tape Pencil
• Razor blade
• Small plastic spoon
• Optional: Small paintbrush for touch-ups, stencil

Directions

1. Paint the canvas with colorless medium, then allow to dry completely.
2. Create design template using painters tape to block out outlines that you do not want to paint; for larger areas, cut copy paper to shape and affix with tape.
3. Burnish the edges of the tape with a plastic spoon before applying paint.
4. Using foam applicator, apply thin layers of paint to desired opacity; let dry completely before removing tape.
5. Pressing VERY lightly, drag the corner of a (new) razorblade down the length of the masking tape to prevent the paint from chipping when tape is removed.
6. Pull tape away from the canvas at a 45 degree angle, pulling gently and slowly.

Faux Pier Pilings

You Will Need

• 4” Conduit (PVC or Fiberglass)
• Liquid Nails Panel Adhesive Monster Mud (or joint compound + latex paint)
• Wood or Drywall Screws
• Latex paint in colors of choice
• Hot glue
• Plastic Spoon & Cup
• Optional: ¾” Manila Rope, Barnacles (bought or cast yourself)

Directions

1. Cut the conduit to desired length. Suggested heights for cluster of three: 33", 26" & 17"
2. Use screws such as 1 ½” drywall screws to attach each of the pilings together.
3. Cut cardboard disks to use for the tops of the pilings and attach with hot glue.

4. Mix pre-made Monster Mud with Liquid Nails Panel Adhesive at a ratio of 1:1 (1 part MM to 1 part LN) in a plastic cup.
5. Alternatively, create your own “Monster Mud” using joint compound and latex paint in a ratio of 4:1.

6. Apply the MM / LN mixture with the back of a spoon following the “grain” of your piling. To create a rugged appearance, leave the ridges created by the spoon and keep them all going in the same direction. Let dry for 24 hours.
7. Add a dark paint “wash” to your surface in a 1:1 water-to-paint ratio.
8. Use a lighter color to dry brush everything to make the “wood” grain really pop.
9. Optional: Add Manila Rope, glue on barnacles and/or add some water stains to the lower part of the pilings if desired.

Mod-Podge Nautical Cut-outs on Canvas

Source: modpodgerocksblog.com

You Will Need

• Scrapbook paper – colors of your choice
• Mod Podge Gloss
• Canvases – set of 4, 6?x6?
• Nautical silhouette clip art – you’ll need to have these sized to your canvases
• Acrylic paint in the colors of your choice
• Foam paint applicator
• Stencil tape
• Scissors/Craft knife

Directions

1. Find an image of the motif you want to use; print it on colorful scrapbook paper and make sure it fits well inside your canvas.
2. Tape the scrapbook paper down using painter’s tape to a rubber cutting mat suitable for handling a craft knife.
3. Spread the paint in thin, even lines in multiple coats to achieve desired opacity. Let each coat dry before applying the next one.
4. Using the craft knife and/or scissors, cut around the outlines of the shapes you want to use; in this method, you will use the cutouts, not the stencil.
5. Once shapes are cut out, use Mod Podge to affix them to the canvas and let dry.
6. If desired, spread the whole surface with glossy Mod Podge for improved permanence.

Sisal-Wrapped Porthole Mirror

Source: makinghomebase.com

You Will Need

• Small circular mirror, casing detached
• Sisal rope
• Cardboard boxes or cardboard cake plate
• Gorilla glue
• Hot glue
• Scissors
• Wallhanger hook
• Optional: Staples/stapler

Directions

1. If not using cardboard cake plates, cut circles out of cardboard sheets with diameters of at least 6” in excess of mirror size.
2. Affix mirror to the center of the circle with gorilla glue, and reinforce with hot glue if desired.
3. Cut the end of the sisal rope at a sharp angle, then fasten to the board up against the side of the mirror with hot glue.
4. Continue wrapping and gluing until entire board is covered.
5. Affix wall hook to the back firmly, using glue and/or staples if desired.

Nautical Napkin Rings

Source: homedit.com

You Will Need

• Roll of thick cotton rope
• Twine/cotton string
• Hot Glue
• Optional: Colorful sea shells, bleached starfish & sand dollars, crab, fish, and/or sea turtle replicas

Directions

1. Cut three pieces of 17” thick cotton rope; double or triple for a thicker napkin ring if desired using 6 or 9 pieces or rope.

2. Wrap a piece of cotton string or twine around the pieces to bind the thicker rope together, about 1” from the top and tie off in a knot.
3. Braid the pieces of rope for 6 inches.
4. Loop the braid so that the unbound side of the braid meets the knot at the other end, and bind them all tightly with the thin string.
5. Tie off with a knot on the underside of the loop.
6. Cut the ends of thick rope and thin string very short, and reinforce with glue if desired.
7. Apply fabric or hot glue on the flat, wrapped portion of the braided napkin ring, and glue a shell or other ocean-themed decoration onto the ring.

Nautical Drinking Cups

Source: bigdotofhappiness.com

You Will Need

• Twine 
• Glass milk bottles
• Lifesavers
• Hot glue

Directions

1. Cut a length of twine 18 - 24 inches and fold in half.
2. Thread the folded portion through a Lifesaver.

3. Place the loose ends of the twine through  the loop and pull tight, arranging loop and Lifesaver text in desired orientation.
4. Hold the Lifesaver at the front and wrap one end of the twine clockwise, then the other end counter clockwise.
5. Continue wrapping until you  have the desired amount around the neck of your glass milk bottle jar.
6. Tie off tightly with a knot pulled tight, adding a dab of hot glue to reinforce.
7. Embellish with red striped straws, name cards, or other nautical party supplies.

Nautical Coasters

Source: theshabbycreekcottage.com

You Will Need

• Sisal rope
• Small terracotta planter saucers
• Felt
• Hot glue
• Chalk
• Scissors
• Clothespin
• Optional: Spray paint

Directions

1. If desired, spray paint the saucers in desired color and allow to dry completely (24 hours) before proceeding.
2. Once saucer is desired color, lay the felt across the bottom surface of the upturned saucer, then trace around the raised edge with chalk.
3. Cut out the circle with scissors, and attach to the saucer with hot glue. 

4. Cut a length of 25” of sisal rope.
5. Place a dab of hot glue at one end of the sisal rope, fold to begin spiral, and hold with a clothespin until hot glue cools completely.
6. Proceed to wrap sisal rope around itself to create a spiral and reinforce it every few inches with a dab of hot glue to secure.
7. Reinforce the tail end of the spiral with a generous amount of glue.
8. Spread glue in the bottom of the saucer, then place the sisal rope spiral into the center. 

Monkey's Fist Rope Knot

Tie your own monkey’s fist rope knots with this easy step-by-step photo guide at animatedknots.com