Classy and Opinionated Lifestyle Mom Blog
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 …
The July 4th holiday is just around the corner. This year we’re hosting a little backyard barbecue and pool party for several family and friends. I needed to set the atmosphere for the party so I got busy painting a dozen of these adorable Patriotic themed seashells. The designs were all painted onto clam shells that I collected from the beach. The smaller seashells will be used as table-top decorations with the larger seashells placed around the swimming pool area.
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Wash and dry all clam shells using Dawn Liquid Dish Soap. Why Dawn? It does the best job at removing sand, debris and fishy odors. Soak them in the soapy water for 30 minutes and then rinse with clean water. If needed, use a Mr Clean Eraser to remove any icky debris. Lay them out on a clean cotton towel to air dry overnight.
Base coat each clam shell with 2 coats of acrylic craft paint in your desired color. You can refer to our photograph for some design ideas. NONE of these ideas required a template or pattern. Let the base coat fully dry before decorating.
Keep things simple! We used BETEM Acrylic Paint Markers which have dual ended tips. There’s a medium tip for coloring in the larger areas and a fine tip for writing words or for outlining. These paint markers are fantastic! Require no priming, no drippy leaks, no foul paint odors and the paint dries quickly. Do all of your design work using paint pen markers or if you’re really talented you can certainly use a brush and paint. Let everything dry until the paint is no longer tacky.
Take the painted seashells outside. Spray them with 1-2 light coats of a Clear Acrylic Spray Sealer allowing for 1 hour of drying time between the 2 coats. If you don’t want to mess with that….you can simply brush-on 2 coats of Clear Glossy Mod Podge Sealer allowing for 30 minutes of drying time between coats. It dries clear and gives a nice shiny finish to the seashells. Let dry.
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Every year we take our 2 grandchildren down to the beach for a summer vacation. It’s a family tradition that started after they were born. Every time I see them or talk to them on the phone we always says “Love You to the Beach …
Take a walk on the wild side with these hand-painted Safari Animal seashells! You can make several painted shells in just one afternoon! The designs are easy enough for a beginner to do. You don’t have to be a professional artist to make them! Don’t …