Spring is around the corner and it’s time to start thinking about decorating our yards, front porch, back deck, pool areas, gardens, etc. for the new spring season! I love decorating in a beach theme and adding pops of unexpected color. This painted Ladybug Seashell is the perfect addition to your garden yard art collection.
If you enjoy crafting with shells…we have over 100+ Seashell Craft Projects on our blog!
Painted Ladybug Seashells Garden Yard Art
4″ to 5″ Wide Clam Shell
2″ to 2 1/2″ Diameter Scallop Shell
Acrylic Craft Paint – Red, Black, White, and Yellow
Paint Brush, Water Dish, Paper Towels
Clear Acrylic Spray Sealer – Glossy Finish
Gorilla Glue
Pliers or Tile Nippers
Before you get started use pliers or tile nippers to snip off the hinge edge of the scallop shell so that your ladybug will have a triangular shaped face.
Base coat the large clam shell with 2 coats of yellow acrylic craft paint allowing for 20-30 minutes of drying time between coats. While it’s drying base coat the scallop shell with 2 coats of red paint. Let dry.
Use black paint to paint the head, wing separator, and the polka dots. Once dry you’ll add the 2 white eyes and once that’s dry dot on the black and then white to finish up both eyes. Let dry until the paint is no longer tacky.
Gorilla Glue or E6000 Glue is recommended when working with seashells. It’s the best stuff! Don’t use hot glue or craft glue. For this project I used Gorilla Glue to attach the scallop shell onto the clam shell. Let dry for 4-6 hours or until it’s firmly in place. While it’s drying add the red and black polka dots around the perimeter of the clam shell. Let dry.
Take the painted seashells outside and spray them with 1-2 coats of a clear acrylic spray sealer. I used one with a glossy finish as I like the shine. Matte will work too. Spray BOTH sides of the shell and let dry for a few hours. You can now display your work of art inside or outside of your home!
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THis is another beautiful seashell craft. I really like the yellow paint under the ladybug scallop shell.
I like the bright yellow you used for the shell. It really stands out and would look so pretty in my flower garden.
Great ideal I love this!!! Great niece 6 loves to plant flowers with mommy and she likes to decorate her flower beds. She is never more then 30 minutes before she says LETS PAINT
I love it, you did a great job. I have been seeing the shells that people have been painting. None of the ones that I have seen have the scallop shell attached what a neat idea.