In the distance you see the twinkly glimmer of a hundred fairy lights cresting over the sand at the ocean’s edge.

What is more magical than candlelight for a beachside evening of cocktails or dinner for any special occasion?

At a Pacific rim wedding, place scented wax-filled shells on either side of the sandy paths to light the way for guests to water’s edge.  Kikidoll collects and cleans the shells, then buys gallon jugs of unscented candle wax at craft stores and scents the melted mixture with coconut and jasmine essential oils for candles. Individual wicks, pre-cut, can be laid into each shell before pouring the mixture in, assembly-line fashion.

Last time Kikidoll made these beachy lights she used glimmery sand and dipped each shell’s edge in hot glue, then coated them with the shimmery gritty mixture for texture and gleam.  Sea shells interspersed with coconut half shells make a delightful and original tropical touch.

For bigger impact take plain brown kraft paper bags and pierce them with simple cut-outs of starbursts, stars and comets.  Fill each bag two-thirds with sand and inside each bag place a small foil-lined votive, lit.  Luminarias glow the longer they are lit for some unknown reason, and they are so effective lining a road or trail on both sides.

To round out the illuminations, fill larger shells for tabletop decoration. These can be nestled in that glimmery sand piled on to the table and surrounded with fresh cut native flowers and greenery.

Nothing could be simpler or more economic, or add that natural touch to an otherwise elegant affair.