Classy and Opinionated Lifestyle Mom Blog
Love the beach and coastal way of life? Hosting a party in a fun tropical theme? If so, you’ll love these easy-to-make painted tropical palm tree clam shells. They can be used as table-top decorations, as party favors, place settings or display them outside when …
I’m in my late 50’s, approaching 60’s and have been going through menopause. One of the symptoms that I’ve been really suffering with is hot flashes and night sweats. While I get a few hot flashes during the day, I seem to get the majority …
Gnomes are one of the hottest decorating accents in home decor. Every time I walk into a department store or discount store I see Gnomes everywhere! I see them on throw pillows, wall art, kitchen towels, bath linens, figural candles, painted onto the side of lanterns and all sorts of things! I have to admit, they’re cute and fun to look at.
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These painted Gnome Clam Shells Seashells are super easy to make! You don’t need any artistic or crafting skills. You’ll need 3″ to 5″ wide clam shells collected from the beach. Wash them in warm soapy water using Dawn Liquid Dish Soap. Rinse with clean water and air dry overnight.
Each clam shell was given 2 base coats of white acrylic craft paint using a paint brush. Allow for 30-45 minutes of drying time between coats.
All of the design work was made using BETEM Acrylic Paint Pen Markers. They have dual ended tips (a medium and fine tips). They require no priming, they don’t leak/drip, no foul paint odors and they dry quickly. Use a pencil to lightly draw the design onto the clam shell. It doesn’t need to be perfect! You can make chubby gnomes or skinny gnomes. You can decorate the hat any way that you like…use any colors that you prefer!
Color in the larger areas using the medium tip and the smaller areas using the fine tip. Then go back over the design using BLACK and the fine tip to do the outlining. If you’re adding facial features…the fine tip is perfect for that too. When it comes to adding wordage…I like using the fine tip as it looks a lot crisper (the words). Let dry.
Seal the clam shells by brushing on 1-2 light coats of Glossy Clear Mod Podge using a foam brush. Allow 45 minutes of drying time between coats. Let dry until it dries clear and is no longer tacky. Sealing protects the painted finish.
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Heading to the beach this summer for vacation? Live there or have seashells lying around? If so, here’s an easy arts and crafts project that you can make. You’ll need 4″ to 5″ wide clam shells and then several smaller 1/2″ to 2″ wide seashells …
Cellphones have become an essential way of life for the Western world. We all have them and we take them with us everywhere we go. There on our “person” when running errands, at work, while out walking, hiking, enjoying the beach, etc. I never leave …
Our backyard garden is doing fabulous this year! Every 3-4 days we’re out in the garden harvesting fresh vegetables for our family to enjoy. Last week I picked banana peppers, green bell peppers, cucumbers, a head of cauliflower, cherry tomatoes and some broccoli. I brought them into the house…washed and chopped them up to make a large fresh veggie tray. I use whatever is in our garden at the time.
Keeping a fresh veggie tray prepped and ready for snacking is one of the best ways to eat healthy throughout the summer. If I have a tray made-up…the family will eat it…including me!
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To go along with the veggie tray I whipped up a batch of homemade Ranch veggie dip. It’s so easy to make and you only need few ingredients to make it. I recommend that you buy the Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing & Dip Mix in the canister…then you can use as much or as little as you like. I find it much more convenient (and cheaper) than buying it in the small envelope packet. Just a little tip on that! If you can’t find it at your local grocery store, Amazon has it.
Sour Cream
Mayonnaise or Salad Dressing (we prefer Mayonnaise)
Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing/Dip Mix
Salt and Ground Black Pepper
In a bowl add a few tablespoons of sour cream and mayonnaise. I but the Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing & Dip Mix in a large container/canister. Everyone has their own taste buds. Stir in the amount of Ranch flavoring to suit your own tastes. My family likes a “strong” Ranch flavor so I add quite a bit. Once you have it perfect…sprinkle a tad of salt and ground black pepper. Stir until everything is creamy. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours to allow the flavors to infuse.
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Popsicles are a classic during the summertime and come in oodles of different flavors. Don’t get me wrong, they’re enjoyed year-round but during those hot summer months…they’re enjoyed by the millions. Today’s craft project honors those delicious popsicle treats. This is one of the easiest …
Got a fisherman in your life? Just love fish and aquariums? If so, I think you’ll appreciate these colorful hand-painted fish designs complete with funny sayings. All you’ll need for this easy art project are 4″ to 5″ wide clam shells (seashells), acrylic craft paint …