Pet Memorial Painted Seashells Garden Yard Art
Our beloved granddog of 13 years passed away from Cancer in March 2022. She was a beloved member of the family, a wonderful dog! My daughter and her husband adopted Nellari when she was a puppy. They lived with us for a short time and I have fond memories of helping them potty train her which only took 2 short weeks. She was a fast learner!
We were very close to Nellari and took care of her when they traveled. She was a loving dog and loved to cuddle…even during her Senior years. She loved treats…especially doggie ice cream which I was happy to give to her a few years ago when she could have it. She loved to play, run, and just have fun! You couldn’t ask for a better dog!
The family knew her time was coming to an end and even though you know its coming…it’s still hard to deal with. The loss, grief and emptiness you feel inside. She can never be replaced and we will always keep her close in our hearts.
To help with the grieving process we made pet memorial seashells using large 5″ to 6″ wide clam seashells that we collected from the beach. You want to thoroughly wash them in soapy water and air dry them before painting on them. I recommend washing them with Dawn Liquid Dish Soap. It’s the best for removing sand, debris and fishy odors!!!
Base coat the seashell with 2-3 coats of acrylic craft paint allowing for 30-45 minutes of drying time between coats. Once dry let the kids decorate them as they see fit. As you can see in both of our examples Nellari’s name is on the front of each shell with hearts, flowers, yellow stars, BFF, etc. Let all of the painting throughly dry.
Note: Designs can be painted with a paint brush and acrylic paints or use quick-drying acrylic paint markers. I use and recommend BETEM Acrylic Paint Markers with dual-ended tips. No leaking, no priming, no clogs and no foul paint odors. Easy to use and affordable!
Once all of the paint is dry flip them over. Use a paint pen or Sharpie Marker to write the name, date of birth, date of death, or whatever type of information you want on the backside of each shell. Let dry. Take them outside and spray each side with 1-2 coats of clear acrylic spray sealer. We used one with a glossy finish. Let dry overnight. They can now be displayed inside or outside of the home.
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