Kids love to dabble in arts & crafts and this hand-painted Teddy Bear seashell is an easy project for them to complete. You’ll only need a few basic painting supplies along with a large 4″ to 5″ wide clam seashell that we collected from the beach.
Before painting on shells you need to clean them with hot, soapy water. We like to use Dawn Liquid Dish Soap which is great for removing sand, debris, and fishy odors. Rinse with clean water and air dry for 2-3 days days…preferably in the sun!
The background color needs to be a light color. We selected a metallic silver color which really helps the Teddy Bear to POP! Base coat the shell with 2-3 coats of acrylic paint allowing for 30-45 minutes of drying time between coats. Paint needs to be thoroughly dry before moving onto the next steps.
The bear’s head is a large chocolate brown tear drop shape. Make the head first and then add the half-circle brown ears to the top of the head. You may need to use 2-3 coats of paint depending on the coverage that you get. Let dry for an hour.
Use tan colored acrylic paint to make the slight oval shape for the bear’s muzzle and then add the inner ears. Let dry. Use black to make 2 small circles for the eyes and a triangular shape for the nose. Let dry for 2-3 hours or until the paint is no longer tacky.
Take the painted shells outside and lay them on the sidewalk or a flat area. Don’t place in grass or the dirt. Spray them with 2-3 coats of clear acrylic spray sealer. You need to clear-coat both sides of the seashell and let thoroughly dry.
These hand-painted seashells can be displayed inside or outside of the home. Cute displayed in a flower garden, on a front porch, back deck, etc. Inside display them on a shelf, tabletop or use as a paperweight on the desk.
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My granddaughter loves teddy bears, so this would be a great project to do with her on the weekend.