Last year we started sharing with all of you some frugal craft project ideas that utilize found objects like river rocks and seashells. Some of the designs we’ve featured included Halloween, Christmas, Spring and Summer themes. All of these craft projects are fun to make, are inexpensive to do and even the older kids can make them.
Today’s craft project is on how to make a cute bumble bee which can be hand-painted on the outside of a large clam shell (seashell) or onto a large, smooth river rock. You can make several of them in just one day!
If you enjoy painting on seashells or crafting with seashells…you’ll find over 70+ seashell craft projects right here on the Two Classy Chics blog! We will be sharing more seashell craft projects in the future too!
Hand-Painted Bumble Bee Seashells
Large Clam Shells (clean and dry)
Bright Yellow, Black and White Acrylic Paint
Paint Brush, Water Dish and Paint Palette
Newspaper and Paper Towels
Clear Acrylic Spray Sealer
Our clam shells measure 5 to 7″ in width. We collected an entire box full of them from the beach last year. Cover your work surface with two sheets of newspaper.
Paint two coats of bright yellow acrylic paint onto the outside of your clam shell, allowing for 30-45 minutes drying time between coats. Make sure the paint is completely dry before proceeding on.
Paint three stripes onto the shell using black acrylic paint and then a 3/4 circle using the black acrylic paint to make the bumble bee’s head. We were able to do this using ONLY one coat of black paint. Let dry for 30-45 minutes. Make sure it’s dry before proceeding on.
Using white acrylic paint…dot on two oval-shaped eyes. Dot on tiny white dots with the paint to make two antenna on the bee’s head and upper body. Let dry. Using the black acrylic paint, dot on the pupils inside each white eye. Let dry for 2-3 hours.
Lay two sheets of newspaper down outside. Lightly spray one coat of clear acrylic sealer onto the shell. Wait 30 minutes and then spray on a second coat. Let dry for several hours. The hand-painted artwork is now protected and you can display your seashells indoors or outdoors.
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I love all your shell crafts. These bumble bees are so cute. Kids will love making them.
How cute! Perfect craft for Spring! I saw some bumblebees in the yard yesterday.
These are adorable and I can see using them as cute decorations on my deck and patio. We have run out of our clam shells but fortunately we live near a beach and with some good weather will be heading out that way to replenish our supplies.
I like these shell crafts. The girls and I make similar ones. It is so much fun. Thank you for more ideas.
I think the bumble bees go very well with the lady bugs from last time. We have plenty of rocks but no clam shells.
I adore this painted shell series Two Classy Chics! The possibilities seem endless and I know kids will enjoy making this cute craft. An additional way to incorporate the children would be to take them shell hunting on the beach; where they collect their own shells to decorate.