Have some nice shells and a glue gun? That's all you need to make a variety of simple beach crafts like these. I'm not suggesting you walk around your house with a pretty shell in one hand and a fired-up glue gun in the other, but...well, OK, maybe that
is what I'm suggesting. You never know when inspiration will strike you, and before you know it, memories of your beach vacation will surround you in simple, clever ways.
A simple hair barrette gets a beachy facelift with the addition of a few carefully placed shells (figure A). Begin by gluing one good-sized shell onto the hair barrette with hot glue, and then continue filling in with progressively smaller shells until the barrette is completely covered. Then use very small or intricate shells as accents here and there on the others.
Turn a shadowbox frame into a special, unique work of art when you frame prized beach treasures in it (figure B). Cut a decorative mat or piece of card stock to fit in the frame. Set the glass aside and put the frame back together with the mat board inside. Don't worry about securing the clips or screws that hold the frame together--this is just a test run. Place shells in rows (figure C) or randomly on the mat board in the frame until you have them arranged the way you want them, and then glue them in place one by one. Take the frame apart, replace the glass and put the frame back together. Hang and enjoy!
Alternative: Using a regular frame with hook closures in the back, remove the cardboard backing and any other layers except for the glass and the frame and set aside. Leave the glass in the frame and secure it with the hooks/clips on the back. Then use hot glue to affix a special shell or several directly to the front of the glass and hang it as you would any other picture for a unique floating effect.
Use a large platter, serving piece, tray or other wide flat vessel to create a tabletop beach. We filled the bottom of a tray with sand and just added several prized beach finds. Keep this tabletop beach on a coffee table or desk to play with like a little Zen sand garden to relieve stress or any time you need a "beach fix"--or just as a unique way of displaying your treasures.
There's never enough magnets to hold up all the lists, photos, reminders and kiddie art that finds its way to our refrigerators. Glue small around magnets (or cut pieces from larger magnets) onto the backs of pretty shells to make a multitude simple and unique refrigerator magnets (figure D).
Make shell drawer pulls and fan/lamp/shade pulls by adding a dab of hot glue to the underside or inside of a specimen shell and attach a drawer-pull screw or a ball chain.
Fill a vase, wide-mouthed glass bowl or a flat plate/platter with a layer of sand and some small shells. Nestle a small tealight candle in the sand (figure E) for a beachy centerpiece or party decoration--or to enjoy all the time.
I've seen hats decorated with shells like this one (figure F) in department stores for $40 and up. This hat was a couple of dollars in a craft store, and it only took about 10 minutes to make.
Arrange shells on your tabletop to look like flowers (figure G) or butterflies (figure H). A small piece of hemp cord folded in half makes simple butterfly antennae, and a few inches knotted a couple of times makes a good flower center.
When you've got just the right design planned out, glue the flowers and/or butterflies to the hat one by one with a hot glue gun. Use natural ribbon to embellish the hat even more if you like. What could be better to protect cheeks and noses from a sunny day at the beach?
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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