Life as a LEO Wife

Today I have another summer home decor DIY, a nautical topiary made with glass gems. You can get all of the supplies for this piece from Dollar Tree, for only $3! This post is another blogger A to Z Challenge for the letter G- G for glass and gem. A two for one!

This project is super easy, even if you’re not crafty you can definitely do this. You can get all of the supplies from Dollar Tree.

For your nautical topiary you need:

• Styrofoam cone
• glass gems (I used blue and clear, but you can do just one if you’d like.)
• seashell
• hot glue gun and glue
• paint and paint brush (optional)

Step 1

This part is completely optional. I used acrylic paint in robin’s egg blue to paint the cone. It may show between the glass gems, so painting it makes is blend in better.

Step 2

Once the paint is dry it’s time to begin gluing on the glass gems. Place hot glue on the back of the gem , which is the flat side, and place it on the the bottom of the cone. The cone and the gem should sit flush with the table. You can alternate colors, like blue, clear, blue, or do one color for each line. You can also just use one color gem.

On the second line glue clear gems on top of the blue ones on the bottom row. Continue gluing them like this all the way to the top of the cone. You may have to choose the size of the gems carefully to make sure they all will fit on each line.

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Step 3

Finally, glue a seashell to the top of the nautical topiary. Use whatever shell you’d like to, anything from a conch shell to a starfish. I would’ve liked to place a starfish at the top, but I didn’t have one. So the regular seashell looked the best. Put hot glue on the bottom of the shell, and press down on it a little as you’re placing it on the top. This will help the glue stick because the shell will be held by the stryofoam a little. Now you are finished making your nautical topiary!

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Designing Devotion

Today we made a topiary with glass gems. Sticking with that topic, I want to look at a few gems of wisdom from Proverbs. The book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon. When he became kind God asked Solomon what he wanted from Him. He could have said fame, riches, or power, but he didn’t ask for those things. He asked God for wisdom, so God granted it and gave him all of the other things along with it.

The first thing we need to ask for from God is wisdom. James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously without reproach, and it will be given him.” Not He might give it to you, but it WILL be given.

The first thing we need to do to gain wisdom, is to understand and have the fear of the Lord. For “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction,” Proberbs 1:7. That means a healthy fear of the Lord. Where we understand that God is in control of everything. He admonishes those who are His of course, but He wants us to have a deep, full respect for Him.

One gem of knowledge in Proverbs is that we should train up our children in the way they should go. I think most of the world has gotten so far from doing that. The world is so full of hatred, anger, and entitlement that we are burning down our country, beating each other without reason, killing babies, calling evil good and good evil. If we followed the Bible we would train our children the right way to go, to have respect for each other, and we would discipline them each time it is called for!

Another gem tells us that we ought to be generous in all we do. We can never out give the Lord! “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered,” Proverbs 11:25-26. It really is better than to give than to receive just as Jesus told us!

A final gem that I would like to share with you is do not walk in the way of evil. This passage is one that should strike to the bone as you look around at all the evil things that are happening. Proverbs 4:16 says, “For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.” Wow. The secular world is teaching our children that Christians are intolerant, hateful people. Why is that? They cannot stand the love of Jesus that shines out of the children of God. Why else? Who visits prisons and helps those acclimate to the world once rehabilitated? Who goes into third world countries to spread the gospel, feed the hungry, and clothe the poor? Who starts food banks, create sober homes, helps the widows and orphans? I am not saying that only Christians do those things, but for the most part it is.

Open your hearts, OPEN your eyes, and look hard at what’s going on. Let’s all reevaluate our lives and put these gems from the Lord into place in our lives. I will certainly try my best. I am a sinner saved by grace, but I’m going to rely on Jesus to help me do better!

Let’s wrap things up!

I mentioned yesterday that I am decorating our home this summer with nautical, beachy decor. I shared a tutorial for making a nautical candleholder you see in the picture above. You might like to check it out for your nautical themed rooms.

I am enjoying making these beachy items and participating in the A to Z Challenge! I hope you try to make your own nautical topiary to incorporate in your home this summer. Stick around and check out my other DIY tutorials and enter your blog posts into my link parties Happiness is Homemade and You’re the Star Blog Hop! Enter your email in the box below or on the side bar so that you will know when I post again. Please like and comment below with your thoughts or questions. Follow me on social media using the buttons below. Like tutorials, DIYs, and other lifestyle ideas? Follow me on Pinterest!