DIY shell painting: master class with photos

Most people bring a lot of shells from their seaside vacation, which eventually gather dust on a shelf and are forgotten about. Not everyone realizes that they can be used to make an excellent and original panel

It should be understood that the sketch should not have many small details, since the shells themselves are a very original and interesting material that looks impressive in various compositions. But if you really want to, you can use shell crumbs for small details.

Beginners to create in this direction should take simple drawings, with a small amount of detail.

Print the image in accordance with the dimensions of the panel being performed, the next step.

Then you need to apply the drawing to the board using carbon paper.

However, this is not a mandatory step; beginners usually do this. Or when the drawing is incredibly complex. You can simply create a composition directly on the panel.

Preparing the shells

The first step is to process the shells. First, check to see if there are shellfish remains in them. If there is a foreign smell, the collected shells should be boiled for about five minutes and then the remains of the shellfish should be removed with long tweezers.

If the shell is empty, dip it in bleach mixed with water in equal proportions for half an hour. In some cases it may take a little longer. Then the dark layer should be removed.

You can use a stiff toothbrush for this work. Thoroughly clean the surface of the shell from plaque.

At the end of this stage, the shell will become dull and lose its shine. For some seashell crafts, the matte effect adds a touch of sophistication. If you need a classic gloss, the shell should be further processed.

Vase

The doors and cones of different shapes and sizes can be used as a filler for vases with flowers. You can use them to make a stylized vase. For example, use them to decorate the top or bottom, or the central part. When using a clay vase or product with matte surfaces, pre-treatment of the walls is not necessary. But if a vessel with a smooth surface is to be renewed, you need to cover it with a thin layer of primer. You can glue design elements with a glue gun. For an unusual stylization, it is recommended to additionally cover the walls of the container with twine, carefully wrapping it around the walls, lubricated with glue. Using a similar scheme, you can stylize bottles of different shapes. They are ideal for custom kitchen designs. Can be used to style bedrooms and living rooms in a loft style.

How to make a hole

For some crafts, small holes should be made in the shells. You can do it in two ways:

• Screwdriver,
• Manually. To do this you will need a hammer and the thinnest nail you can find.

The work should be done carefully. Too much force and the shell will crack.

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Getting started is easy

It is necessary to prepare the power tool and unwind the carrier; nothing should force you to make unnecessary movements. A drill or screwdriver will do the job perfectly.

They will require thin drills; it is important not to go wrong with the long one. To firmly secure a fragile component on the table, you can use stationery tape; the strip should pass through the location of the future hole and stick to the table, then the chances of success will increase significantly.

Having decided what to make from shells, you can start drilling all the parts; the above tips will help you avoid a lot of waste of workpieces due to defects.

If several copies crumble, do not worry; when working with such components, losses cannot be avoided. Using a hammer and a small nail, pointing and hitting the head with a heavy object will also create a hole.

Glossy effect

Water-dried shells look less vibrant than the items on store shelves. To achieve a beautiful glossy shine, the parts are treated with acrylic varnish with a transparent or pearlescent tint.

After processing, mother-of-pearl models acquire a lasting shine. It seems that the shell was just taken out of the water.

Candles

Glass containers, especially low and wide ones, act as beautiful candlesticks. There is no need to be afraid that the wax will drip on the table or something will catch fire - glass is reliable and heat-resistant protection. And, of course, it looks beautiful! Especially if you put several stump candles in a vase and additionally decorate around it. More decor ideas using candles: “Hand flame: candles in the interior”

Craft options

Shells can become a decorative element or represent a single composition. For example, photo frames designed to look like crafts made from seashells, or watches with a dial decorated with seashells, are still popular.

You can create various souvenirs from shells, including:

• Pictures in frames.
• Candlesticks.
• Animal figurines and ship models.
• Jewelry, including bracelets and beads.
• Postcards.
• Interior decorations and much more.

Handmade crafts made from shells will make an excellent gift.

Sequence of actions in the photo frame product

First you need to attach the largest parts, for example, shells and voluminous beads. Then we place smaller ones between the large elements and glue them, trying not to leave any free spaces. You can manipulate the arrangement of photo frame elements as your heart desires.

To create a calm image of our craft, you can glue shells or decorative items of the same size and shape to the edges of the frame. The photo frame can shine under a mantle of sparkles, or shimmer in a variety of bright and matte shades.

Photo frame

Every year, designers come up with new ideas for making crafts from shells that will complement the interior. One of them is photo frames.

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Materials needed:

• Seashells.
• Glue.
• Acrylic paints.
• Varnish.
• Wooden frame.

Sea Horse

We offer another step-by-step master class. Panels on canvas are another common option for crafts.

Accessories:

• background with stretcher;
• clean sinks;
• glue “Moment” or glue gun;
• stencil in the form of a seahorse;
• scotch.

On the background with the stretcher, we fix the stencil with the pattern with tape. We trace the outline with a pencil.

We fill the “ridge” with small shells without going beyond the boundaries.

Let it dry well. Ready!

How to do

First of all, we cover the blank frame with acrylic paint of any shade. Then we prepare the shells: remove the mollusks, polish them, and, if necessary, varnish them.

Small shells of various colors are best suited for photo frames. We glue the prepared shells to the base using a heat gun and wait until they dry completely.

After this, you can insert the photo into the frame and hang it on the wall.

From simple to complex

Working with sinks is not difficult, but requires careful handling. Let's go from the simplest to the more complex options for crafts. Bracelets and beads can do it all! Let's look at more interesting ideas.

Frames

The usual photo frames and mirror frames will sparkle with other colors if you decorate them with sea shells.

Paintings and panels

It is known that children love to make crafts from a variety of materials. One of them is shells.

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One of the most common shell crafts for children are wall panels. They can be decorated not only with shells, but also with sea pebbles.

To make a painting in a marine style you will need attention and perseverance, as well as the following materials:

• White dense paintings,
• Paints,
• Pencils,
• Shells and pebbles.

Seasonal decorations

With the arrival of a new season, there is often a desire to make your home blend in with it. A glass vase will be an excellent container for various seasonal decorations: in the fall it can be leaves and acorns, in the winter pine cones and Christmas balls, in the spring bright pebbles, and in the summer wildflowers.

How to do

The first step is to cut out the base of a certain shape. Then, the cardboard is pasted over with colored paper or painted with paints. And after the background has completely dried, all decorative elements are glued.

Such panels are considered one of the most common children's crafts made from shells. The author's imagination is not limited by anything. Children can glue shells in absolutely any order.

Memories of pleasant things

A glass vase can serve as a repository for your best vacation memories. If you fly a lot at sea, bring sand from the beaches: you can make real historical layers out of it, and stick stickers on the outside with the location and date of your trip signed. You can make a mixed composition: sand, shells, tickets and other memorable little things. They perfectly preserve memories and photographs, which also look impressive in vases.

For more ideas on how to easily capture memories, read here: Vacation Memories

How to do

Sanded sinks should be checked for edge sharpness. The excess is processed with a file or emery sheet.

The cinders should be melted in a water bath and poured inside the shell. Until the candle hardens, you need to place a wick with a bolt or nut attached to it. It is necessary to hold the wick until the paraffin completely hardens.

To make the candle not only pleasing to the eye, but also give a pleasant aroma, you can drop aromatic oil into the melted paraffin. The finished product can be painted or varnished.

"The music of wind"

We take shells with drilled holes and string them on twine of different lengths, securing each with knots at different levels. We tie each rope with attached material to a branch and enjoy the magical chime.

You can add glass beads to the shells

Candlestick

Another craft option that will be useful in every home. A beautiful, unique candlestick will decorate any celebration. It's quite simple to make. You will need wide mollusk shells of different diameters, varnish and glue.

We lay out the shells in the shape of an open lotus and carefully glue all the parts together. We coat the finished composition with acrylic varnish. Place a candle in the center.

This is how you can easily create unique interior items or figurines. A little imagination and patience will help you make a real masterpiece out of a bunch of shells.

Mirror design

The original design of mirror surfaces and their frames is quite easy to create using a wooden frame as a base. Its design is carried out using a glue gun. If desired, you can also glue dried stars, mother-of-pearl balls, and other thematic elements. This product is perfect for decorating a bright hallway or stylizing a corridor. Such products can be used for hanging in a bedroom decorated in cream, sand or turquoise tones. A large mirror with an unusual design will fit perfectly into the interior of the bathroom. To highlight the frame, you can paint it with silver or gold compounds. To protect against constant exposure to moisture, the paint composition should be protected with a transparent varnish. Otherwise, the paint will begin to crack and quickly crumble.

Photos of crafts made from shells

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Thematic mirror

We suggest doing a little work for beginners. It will look like a mirror with shells around the edges. It won’t take much of your time, and will also delight you and those around you!

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We will need:

• shells of different sizes;
• glue gun;
• mirror of any size;
• unnecessary newspapers;
• scotch;
• additional decorations (beads, seed beads) at your request.

If you don't like the look of the mirror frame, you should paint it the color you want. In order not to stain the mirror, it is worth securing the paper on it with tape.

We begin to glue the shells onto the frame. At your discretion, arrange the parts according to size so that the picture looks neater in the future.

We fill all the gaps with small parts or shell remains.

Well, that's it! Look how easy and simple everything is, but at the same time beautiful and pleasing to the eye.

Cowrie bracelet

The shells of these mollusks are so beautiful that they were once used on the islands of Oceania instead of money. If you have such a shell, try making a fashion accessory.

Accessories are sold in textile departments of markets.

You will need:

• Cowries;
• Cord;
• "Floss";
• Beads or large beads;
• End clamps with loops;
• Clasp;
• Split ring;
• Scissors;
• Pliers.

Operating procedure:

1. We make holes in the shell at the ends.
2. We measure 2 dm of silk cord.
3. We pass it through the hole half the length and tie a knot on the outside of the shell.
4. We do the same with the second hole.
5. We put together several threads of floss of a suitable color, throw them over the cord next to the cowrie, and tie them with a small piece of cord. It turns out to be a brush. For example, in our photo the purple floss tassel is contrasted by the white cowrie, gold beads and blue cord.
6. We collect beads or beads to the right and left of the shell.
7. We bend the ends of the cord in half and insert them into the clamps. Using pliers we compress the end switches and cut off the excess.
8. We attach a ring to one end, and a carabiner to the other. The bracelet is ready!