3. To remove barnacles or other built-up areas on shells, use a pair of tweezers, a butter knife or a dental pick to scrape and pick it off. You can also try scrubbing shells with a grill brush or an old toothbrush and Lime-Away bathroom cleaner.
4. Sand raised or rough edges with a nail file or sanding instrument like a Dremel rotary tool.
5. Rub on a little baby oil or mineral oil when shells are clean and dry to give them a luster, or paint them with clear non-yellowing nail polish to preserve their bright wet look.
To dye seashells:
1. Boil shells for 10 minutes. For each cup of distilled water, use a teaspoon of white vinegar and a pinch of salt. Rinse.
2. Prepare a solution of about 2 cups of water and one teaspoon of dye, or according to the instructions on the dye package. Boil the shells about 10 more minutes in the dye.
3. Strain the shells and dry thoroughly on paper towels, turning occasionally to let all the liquid drain from the holes and crevices in the shells.
To apply metallic leaf to shells: (see episode DWS-660)
1. Paint clean dry shells with quick-drying size. Wait an hour or two for it to get tacky.
2. Cut the leafing into smaller pieces to make it easier to work with. Gently pick up a sheet with a leafing brush and position the leaf on the surface of the shell and dab into place with the brush.
3. Overlap the next piece slightly and repeat.
4. Let the leafing set for several hours before brushing away excess particles of leaf.
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