A few months ago I purchased a Metallic Acrylic Paint Pouring Set from Amazon. This kit has the prettiest metallic colors and the paint pouring medium is already mixed into the paints! You can use the paint on art canvas, rocks, seashells, paper, wood and on other items. I’ve been using it on clam shells and crab shells!
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First things first. Your base item always needs to be freshly cleaned and dry. I like to wash seashells and crab shells in a sink full of warm, soapy water. Dawn Dishwashing Liquid Soap is my go-to because it does a great job at removing dirt, debris, sand and fishy odors. Rinse with clean water. Air dry overnight.
Paint pouring is mess, so always wear a craft apron or an old t-shirt. I like to do it over the sink in my laundry room…that way when I’m done I just clean the sink and wash it all down the drain. You may want to do it outside over-the-top of a plastic drop cloth. I don’t wear gloves…but I keep hand wipes nearby for frequent cleaning and then just wash with soap and water.
Everyone approaches paint pouring differently. I like to base coat the item in a single color with acrylic paint first. I then let it dry. I use little plastic medicine dosing cups to mix the paint colors in. I’ll squirt in 2-3 colors into one medicine cup. Give it a little swirl and then slowly pour it over the crab shell or seashell. As it’s running over the shell…turn your shell different angles so that it runs differently across it. Plus, you need to get decent coverage. Have your next little cup of colors ready to pour…pour those next. Again, turn your shell differnet directions so that you’re getting different patterns and swirls.
This type of paint does require a lot of paint and patience! I like to cover the entire surface. I then lay them on a plastic drop cloth to air dry which can take 1-2 days depending on how heavy I poured the paint, room or outdoor temperatures and so forth. It needs to completely dry!!!!
To preserve the paint color I like to spray 1-2 light coats of a Clear Acrylic Spray Sealer over-the-top. Once dry, flip the shell and do the same to the other side. This will help protect the painted surface and give a little more strength to the shell. Let dry overnight.
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