You don't have to have a paperweight dome (
figure A) to make a seashell paperweight--lots of other items can be modified to make one. Small jars, salt shakers and even orphaned glass lids like this one can make great beach paperweights (
figure B).
Materials:
glass dome, lid, etc.
sand and shells
felt scrap
card board or card stock
hot glue gun with glue sticks
ribbon, cord or other trim
round compact mirror (optional)
Steps:
1. Trace the opening of the glass piece you'll use on a piece of cardboard or heavy card stock and cut it out.
2. Glue that circle onto a scrap of felt and cut around it, leaving about 1/2 inch around the paper circle all the way around.
3. Fill the glass container partially with sand and small shells as you wish. Don 't fill it completely or there won't be room for the filling to move around. Also , don't use particularly brittle shells like sand dollars or starfish, as this paperweight will surely be shaken and they will likely break.
4. Hold the glass container upside down and glue the paper and felt circle to the base of it. Be careful not to get glue inside the glass or your shells and sand will stick to it and not shake around. If the container you're using has a lip, you'll want to cut into the felt up to the paper circle to make little tabs all the way around and glue those to the glass. Otherwise, glue the base to the glass and then trim away any excess felt.
5. If necessary, cover the felt tabs with trim or cord. We used some dried sea grass found on the beach (figure C).
Optional: If you want, use a small round mirror recycled from a make-up compact in the base of the glass to add a little more dimension to your paperweight (figure D). Just glue the mirror onto the circle of card stock and place the shells on the mirror. Run a bead of glue around the lip of the glass dome and, turning it right side up, place it over the base and shells, being careful not to get any of the shells in the glue.
Tip: Choose small, intricate shells if you have a paperweight dome--it will magnify their details for a really nice effect (figure E).
Resources Shell Chic: The ultimate guide to decorating your home with seashells
by Marlene Hurley Marshall
Storey Books, 2002
Order this title from Amazon.com.
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