This year I’m hosting Thanksgiving dinner at my home. I’m expecting 10 adults and 3 children for our holiday dinner. I’m making painted clam shells seashells table decorations, place card settings and party favors. I’m making enough for each guest to take 2 home with them. These are so easy to make and today I’m sharing some how-to’s with you.
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You’ll need 3-5″ wide clam shells collected from the beach. Wash them in soapy water, rinse clean. Let them air dry overnight.
Basic Arts & Crafts Supplies Needed: Acrylic Craft Paint, Paint Brushes, Clear Mod Podge Glossy Sealer, Stickers, Buttons, Acrylic Paint Markers, Rub-On Decals, Scissors,Gorilla Glue, Beads, Charms, fine glitter, etc.
I don’t recommend that you use hot glue (doesn’t hold up well), regular kid’s markers (they’re not acrylic paint markers), or other items that are perm. attached to the shell. ALWAYS seal the seashell with either brushed-on Modge Podge or a Clear Acrylic Spray Sealer to protect the paint and artwork!!!
Each one needs to be base coated in your desired color using acrylic craft paint. I like to give them 2 coats of paint with 30 minutes of drying time between coats. The paint needs to be completely dry before proceeding.
You can decorate them different ways:
1. Paint Pen Markers and Your Own Design.
2. Rub-On Turkey Day themed Decals.
3. Thanksgiving Stickers.
4. Beads, Charms, Mini Buttons, etc.
5. Decoupage Thanksgiving Themed Paper Napkins onto Them.
6. Scrapbooking Embellishments
7. Etc.
I used a combination of things! I completely hand-painted on some (like the Autumn tree and the Turkey), used Decoupage on some (like the Give Thanks Pumpkin) and used felt stickers (the Turkey) on others. You can decorate them using different things. Make them all similar or do totally different designs. I wanted some designs geared towards the adults and others toward the children attending our dinner.
Got children in the family? Get them involved and let them create some holiday themed seashells too!
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