Decorate your home for the holidays in a Gingerbread House theme? Just love the cuteness of gingerbread? If so, check out these easy-to-make Gingerbread House painted clam shells! You can use these painted seashells as Christmas decor accents, as table settings, Christmas tree ornaments and all sorts of other things!

You’ll need 3″ to 4″ wide clam shells collected from the beach. Wash the shells in warm soapy water using Dawn Liquid Dish Soap. Dawn is great for removing sand, debris and fishy odors. Let dry overnight.

Base coat each clam seashell with 2 coats of chocolate brown acrylic craft paint. Allow for 30-45 minutes of drying time between coats. Let dry for 1-2 hours or until the paint is no longer tacky.

Keep the design work EASY by using BETEM Acrylic Paint Markers. These paint markers have dual tips, a fine tip and a medium tip. Use the paint markers to add all of the design work such as the door, windows, trim work, etc. You can decorate them however you like! At the very top of each shell we added white paint to represent “snow” that has fallen on the rooftop.  Let the painted seashells dry overnight.

Next…you need to seal the paint. You can do that one of two different ways. You can spray 1-2 light coats of a clear acrylic sealer onto the shells (must be done outdoors) or use a foam brush to brush-on 1-2 light coats of Glossy Clear Mod Podge Sealer. You need to allow 30-45 minutes between coats. Let dry overnight.

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These hand-painted santa and snowmen seashell Christmas tree ornaments are easy to make! You’ll need smaller sized clam shells and oyster shells to make them along with basic painting supplies. You can make a dozen of them in just one weekend! They’re perfect to hang on the Christmas tree, use as package tie-ons, as place settings and/or to give away as little holiday gifts.

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Santa Clam Shell Ornament – You’ll need clam shells, acrylic craft paint, a paint brush, a small pom-pom, clear fishing line, scissors. Mod Podge and craft glue.

Base coat the clam shell with white acrylic craft paint. You may need to give the shell 2 coats of paint with 30 minutes of drying time between coats. Use flesh-tone colored paint to add a horseshoe shaped face and red  colored paint for the triangular shaped hat. Let dry. Add all of the facial features and the trim for the hat. (trim – I mixed a little bit of sawdust from my hubby’s workshed in with the white acrylic craft paint to give it texture and then painted on the trim for the hat).

Brush on a coat of Clear Glossy Mod Podge Sealer to protect the painted surface. It will dry clear after 30-45 minutes. Cut a piece of clear fishing line to 6″ in length. Knot the two ends together to form a hanging loop. Glue the hanging cord on the back and the mini pom-pom onto the top of the hat. Let ornament sit to fully dry.

Santa Oyster Shell Ornament – You’ll need oyster shells, acrylic craft paint, paint brush, mini pom-pom, clear fishing line, scissors and Mod Podge.

Base coat the oyster shell with 2 coats of white acrylic craft paint allowing for 30-45 minutes of drying time between coats. Follow the photograph above by adding the flesh-tone colored face and the desired color for the santa hat. Let dry until the paint is no longer tacky. Add the facial features and let dry.

Brush a coat of Clear Glossy Mod Podge Sealer over-the-top of the painted surface. It will take 30-40 minutes for it to dry clear. This will protect the painted finish. Cut a 6″ piece of clear fishing line. Knot the two ends together to form a hanging loop. Glue the hanging loop onto the back of the shell and the mini pom-pom on the top of the hat. Set them aside to fully dry.

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