While on summer vacation I walked them beach and collected a lot of seashells. I like to decorate my home in a beach & coastal theme and seashells are a must-have in my craft projects. I use all kinds…from itty bitty ones to large conch shell sizes! Over the years I’ve collected thousands of them with many in my personal shell collection.
Today’s arts and crafts project is an easy one…especially if you don’t have any artistic painting skills. You’ll need just a handful of supplies to make them.
4″ to 5″ wide clam shells (the base)
mini seashells (various types)
Acrylic Craft Paint
Paint Brush, Water Dish, Paper Towel
Gorilla Glue
Fine Gold Metallic Glitter
Clear Mod Podge Sealer with Glossy Finish
Note: The little shells that you add on top of the base can be painted beautiful colors or just leave them natural.
The large clam shell needs to be painted to look like the beach. A small section should be painted a light beige sand color, then the larger section in your choice of blue. Let those two colors dry. Once they’re dry you want to go back and add the white to represent the edge of the water. Let dry.
While the paint is drying arrange the smaller shells in a pattern that you like. I like using 1 larger shell then 3-5 mini shells (like what you see in the photograph). I like the shells clustered together but you can do whatever pattern or arrangement that you like.
You’ll want to use Gorilla Glue to attach them to the clam shell. Don’t use HOT GLUE or CRAFT GLUE as they won’t hold for the long-term! I highly recommend using Gorilla Glue. It will take 2-3 hours for the Gorilla Glue to firmly set up.
Dip a paint brush into the Clear Mod Podge Sealer. Brush a generous amount of Mod Podge across the “sandy” area of the beach. Sprinkle fine gold metallic glitter onto the wet Mod Podge. Then brush the rest of the clam shell with Mod Podge to seal in the paint. As the sealer dries…it will dry crystal clear. If you’re going to be displaying them outside…I recommend 2 coats from and back to protect the shell.
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