Hosting a beach themed party and need table-top decorations? Party favors? Have an outside garden, swimming pool or deck that needs some color? If you answered YES to any of those questions I’ve got an easy arts & crafts project for you today! These adorable hand-painted Tropical Fish were made using clam shells seashells! You can make up an entire school of fish in just one weekend. No artistic skills required.
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You’ll need medium to large sized clam shells with smaller scallop or clam shells for the tails. Wash all seashells in warm, soapy water using Dawn Liquid Dish Soap. It’s the best for removing sand, debris and fishy odors. Rinse with clean water and air dry overnight.
I recommend that you glue the fish together using Gorilla Glue before painting the shells. You want seashell onto seashell contact for the BEST hold. Hot glue and craft glue don’t work! You’ll need Gorilla Glue (super glue) or E6000 Adhesive to attach the shells to one another. Let dry for a few hours or until they’re firmly held in place.
Now it’s time to get creative! I like seeing them painted in fun, bright colors! You can use any color combinations that you like. Keep the design simple or get elaborate. That’s entirely up to you. Use my photograph for reference and to give you some design ideas. Let all of the paint dry for 2-3 hours (let it cure) before moving onto the next step.
Protect the painted finish by brushing on 1-2 light coats of Clear Mod Podge Sealer in a Glossy Finish. They sell a matte finish if you prefer that. If you’re going to be placing them outside I recommend 2 coats on the front and back of the shell. If you’re going to display them inside…1 coat of sealer will do. Let dry for 1-2 hours or until they’re no longer tacky.
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