What glue to use to glue sea shells. How to glue decorative elements

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By decorative elements I mean rhinestones, stones, mosaics, shells and other pleasant little things that can complement the decor.

Let's say you created a beautiful seascape on canvas. Of course, for volume and realism, I want to add a large beautiful shell and a couple of pebbles (sorry, pebbles found by chance). Moreover, a dried starfish just begs to be put on canvas. But you won’t be able to glue these decorations onto PVA. What kind of glue should I use?

Surely you have seen that in television master classes, designers usually use a “hot gun”. You can buy it at a hardware store.

Glue for the gun is available in the form of sticks. You load the gun with them and plug them into the outlet. The glue begins to melt. Now pull the trigger and squeeze out the liquid glue directly to the desired location on the canvas. And press the shell there. The glue hardens quickly and the shell is glued on! Everything is fine. What are the disadvantages?

Minus 1. The glue is very hot and viscous. Be careful yourself and do not give this tool to small children!

Minus 2. It is difficult to squeeze out a small amount of glue, so it sticks out from under small objects. Well, it’s okay, it’s transparent.

Minus 3. The collage turned out beautiful. You hung it on the wall and can't stop looking at it. Only in the evening, suddenly, one after another, the pebbles fell off with a roar... By morning, they were followed by a shell. The star, due to its dryness, lasted longer than others. And all because not every hot melt adhesive is capable of holding a heavy object of complex shape on a complex surface.

But a glue gun is indispensable when gluing light decorative elements with a “floral twist”, such as dried flowers, ribbons and other absorbent and loose material.

There are other options, such as Moment glue and various super glues. You can use them, but the pungent smell and the same stickiness are a little confusing.

You can also try various adhesives for mosaic. However, they are not all perfect. Some have a smell, others have a color. Ideally, we need a transparent glue that is easy to use, odorless and provides reliable adhesion to the surface.

Perhaps the most convenient glue for gluing decorative elements is rhinestone glue. It is suitable for any surface, including fabric; has no odor, because made on a water basis; easy to use - you can’t get burned and squeeze it out easily, because... It is packaged in a soft tube with a thin spout. And, most importantly, this glue holds really firmly. You can usually buy it in art stores, where all decorative materials are sold.

Another great glue is clear acrylic gel. It can be matte or glossy. If you are working with a matte surface, it is better to use a matte gel (and vice versa). Acrylic gel meets all our requirements. The gel is produced in plastic tubes or glass jars. I usually use gel for gluing large elements and it has never let me down! However, keep in mind that both glue and gel take quite a long time to dry. If you are gluing a large object, and also an uneven one (such as a shell), you will need quite a lot of gel. The surface must be horizontal. Apply glue or gel and place the shell on it. If necessary, excess gel can be easily removed with a cotton swab. Leave the product to dry until the gel is completely dry (preferably for a day). If the elements are small, a small drop of glue or gel is enough. The glue will “set” very quickly, the gel will take a little longer.

I advise you to try these products, you will probably like them. Just remember to thoroughly dry and degrease the surface before gluing. And one more note: if the shell fell off along with the paint, then the problem is not with the glue. The reason is poor adhesion of the paint to the surface. That is why the surface should be prepared for painting.

I wish you creative success!

A summer vacation on the sea coast promises souvenirs to remember the wonderful hot days. There are many ways to use them at home. There are many options for using shells as decorations. You can decorate any room with your own hands and, if available, interesting ideas create a beautiful decor from shells.

Caring for seashells

If there are a lot of sea shells available, then at home without proper care they will quickly begin to darken. The worst thing is the smell that appears in this process. To extend the life of these souvenirs, you need to follow the step-by-step instructions.

Start caring for such a souvenir by freezing the product itself. Collect the shells in a bag and seal it, then place it in freezer

For undefined period. When you can handle the shellfish, defrost them. Do not open the package immediately, otherwise you will smell the foul odor of rotten shellfish. It will spread very quickly throughout the room and does not evaporate well. Cover your mouth and nose with a cotton-gauze bandage, put on gloves and remove the insides of the shells using tweezers and a knife. Cover the clams with water and boil for 15 minutes. Drain the water and after cooling completely, carefully remove the internal contents with tweezers. Place your shells under

running water . Then they will be completely cleansed. The next stage is bleaching.

Prepare a glass container, stack your sinks and fill them with some bleach. In this state, you need to leave it all alone for a couple of hours. Next they need to be washed, dried and lubricated. vegetable oil, then coat with clear varnish.

ADVICE! When drying seashells, do not get carried away.

sunbathing

. If you leave shells in the open sun, they will begin to crumble. Items that we will decorate Decorating with your own hands is a very exciting and rewarding activity. You can give free rein to your imagination and create something new, unique with your own hands. This option for transforming a room will be very economical.

New life in
home interior
In this way you can give objects of different sizes:
mirrors;
coffee tables;
lamp shades or night lights;

dressers; jewelry boxes; photo frames.

A variety of trinkets of a similar theme will serve as an excellent addition to the main material. These can be sea horses, corals, stars, pebbles, and many others

small items . They will be found at your home. ADVICE! Don't go overboard with decorating your rooms with shells. It should remain light and casual.

If you overload the space with such decor, it will look very stupid and ugly. Please note that this natural component is an excellent tool not only for creating a marine look with your own hands in the house. He can make the most austere interior softer and more interesting. This result is possible provided

The first thing many girls think about when using a natural component to decorate their home with shells is photo frames or mirror rims. These products are in particular demand among ladies.

To design a beautiful mirror with your own hands, you will need:

mirror (framed);
hot glue gun (can be used when performing work transparent glue"Moment");
shells;
beads, pearls, pebbles from the river and other decorations (you can find them around your home);
varnish (colorless);
tweezers.

The process of decorating a mirror with your own hands is very entertaining, but painstaking.

You need to put the mirror on the table. Cover it with cloth or paper so as not to damage it with glue or scratches. Then heat up the glue. Glue small shells along the inner rim.

Advice! In order for them to attach better, glue must be poured onto them.

Once the outline is ready, start gluing the large shells. Don’t forget about their organic placement relative to each other. Then the gaps between the shells are filled with decorative beads, pebbles, pearls, etc. Once the mirror frame is completely covered with shells, leave the resulting product. It should dry well. This usually takes about a day. The final stage is to coat the mirror with shells with colorless varnish.

2nd idea: photo frame

A stylish photo frame can make every photo unique. It will add a certain charm.

Making a unique frame is quite easy. For this you will need:

glue;
shells;
rhinestones;
glitter;
pebbles;
pearls.

When all the components are ready for work, you can begin the process itself. Take a wooden frame. Mark on it the locations of shells and other decorative items. Then use glue to bring the idea to life.

3rd idea: candlestick

One of the most interesting and unusual jewelry made by hand are seashells as a candlestick. In order for such an interesting little thing to appear in the house, you will need a large shell, a wick and wax.

The process of preparing such a romantic attribute will not take much time and effort. You need to choose the largest shell. It should be comfortable and stable. Place the wick in the recess, fill it with wax, and then let it cool.

Conclusion

Shell decor is a great chance to express yourself. It’s nice to do it with your own hands, to dream up your imagination, to spend time usefully and with pleasure.

Decorating panels and bottles with your own hands (2 videos)

Seashell decor options (43 photos)

It is best to preserve shells as a reminder of carefree days at the beach in the form of interior items, decorations and souvenirs. After all, they are such a beautiful, completely free, natural and durable material. In this material you will find 50 inspiring photos, 8 ideas and the same number of step-by-step master classes on making crafts from shells with your own hands for beginners.

Basic instructions for preparing shells

Cleansing

Before you start making crafts from shells, you need to prepare them well.

If the shells are “dead” and there are no remains of mollusks left in them, then they just need to be soaked in a solution of water and any chlorine-containing product (for example, bleach, “Duckling”, etc.) in a 1:1 ratio for 30 minutes. If the shells are very dirty or you want to remove the dark outer layer ( periostracum), then soak them longer. After soaking, brush the shells and rinse in clean water.
If the shells are “living”, that is, they have the remains of mollusks (even if they died long ago) and have bad smell, then they need to be thoroughly cleaned. To do this, put the shells in boiling water for 5 minutes, and then remove the remains of the shellfish using tongs, nail scissors, etc. There is a second way: heat the shells in the microwave for 30 seconds, then try to remove the remains with tongs. If unsuccessful, continue heating the shells in the microwave, checking the result every 10 seconds. When all remains have been removed, treat the sinks with a bleach solution according to the first instructions.

After processing, inspect the sinks for chips and, if any, sand them with a sanding block, disc or sandpaper. If desired, you can add shine to them using clear nail polish or furniture polish, as well as using oil or rich cream. True, in this case, before treating the shells with glue, the gluing areas will have to be additionally degreased with alcohol.

Drilling holes

To make some types of crafts from shells (for example, wind chimes, beads, bracelets and other jewelry), you need to drill a hole in them. This task is quite simple, the only difficulty is that the shells can crack or delaminate at the drilling site.

Therefore, remember the main rule: the thinner the shell, the smaller the hole should be in it and, accordingly, the thread/accessories of the decoration.

There are two ways to make holes in shells - manual and automated.

Method 1. Select a drill bit for a drill, screwdriver or straight grinder with a diameter of 0.8 - 2 mm. Place the shell on a wooden or plastic board and stick it with masking tape. Drill a hole directly through the tape - it will prevent the shell from splitting or delaminating.

Method 2. If you do not have a screwdriver or drill, then you can make a hole in the sink using a nail and a hammer. To do this, first cover the shell with masking tape and place it on inside shell mark, then place a nail and gently tap it with a hammer several times to make the initial hole. Next, widen the hole by moving the same nail back and forth inside it until you reach the desired diameter.

If you don’t have a nail or a hammer at hand, then use an ordinary needle, nail scissors or a knife and “drill” the hole by hand. The result will appear in about 10 minutes.

Idea 1. Inlay frames, frames and frames

You can decorate the frame of a mirror, painting or photo frame with shells. We present examples of such crafts in the following collection (scroll the photo to the right).

Today we suggest you decorate a mirror frame with shells, but using the same principle you can decorate any photo frame or painting frame.

Materials:

Shells of small, medium and large sizes and, if desired, additional decorations (eg starfish, pearls, figurines of skates, etc.).
Glue gun and several sticks of glue or clear epoxy glue.
Newspaper or any unnecessary paper to protect the mirror from glue.
Masking or regular tape.

Instructions:

Step 1: Protect the mirror with paper and secure it with masking tape. At this stage, the frame can be painted if you are not satisfied with its original appearance.

Step 2. Sort the shells by size to make it easier to create your future composition.

Step 3: First glue the first row of small to medium shells (about the same size) around the mirror.

Step 4: Now start gluing on the largest shells. Beforehand, you can play with the layout options and choose the best one. If you are using epoxy glue, once all the parts are glued, leave the frame to dry overnight.

Idea 2. Making a Valentine panel

From the collection of shells different forms and sizes you can make a panel in the form of a Valentine. However, you can cut out any other shape from cardboard/plywood, say, the same seahorse or a letter.

Materials:

Glue gun or any strong adhesion glue;
Collection of river and sea shells;
Cardboard;
Scissors;
Leg-split.

Instructions:

Step 1. Cut out the base for the heart-shaped panel from cardboard.

Step 2. Using a knife or awl, make two holes for the twine.

Step 3. Start gluing the shells, trying to leave minimal gaps between them. Leave the loop holes open.

Step 4. Cut the twine to the desired length, thread the two ends of the rope into the holes on the back of the panel and tie with double knots.

In the next video you can see a visual master class on making crafts from shells with your own hands in the form of a Valentine panel.

Below are more ideas for creating a shell panel.

Idea 3. “Painting” a picture on canvas

Here is another idea for creating a wall craft from seashells.

Materials:

Canvas on stretcher;
Shells;
Glue gun or other strong adhesion glue, for example, “Moment”;
A template or stencil of the desired design, printed on paper;
Acrylic paint to create a background (optional);
Brush (optional).

Instructions:

If you want to repeat the idea of the painting in this master class, then first create a background for the composition from shells. To do this, use a brush and acrylic paint desired color. Wait for the background to dry and proceed to the next step.
Secure the template or stencil to the canvas using masking tape, and then trace its outline with a pencil.
Start gluing the shells onto the drawing without going beyond its boundaries.

Idea 4. Cooking candles for mini-candlesticks

Shells are almost ready-made miniature candlesticks that are just waiting to be supplemented with paraffin and wick. You can use the resulting candles for a romantic picnic or simply for interior decoration.

Materials:

Sea or large river shells;
Small round candles in tin molds;
Water and a saucepan for a water bath;
PVA glue or double-sided tape.

Instructions:

Step 1. Remove the candle itself from the tin container, and then remove the wick from it by pulling the metal base at the bottom of the candle (see photo). Set the wicks aside and return the candles to the molds.

Step 2. Glue each wick with double-sided tape or PVA glue in the center of the shell.

Step 3. Now we need to melt the paraffin until completely liquid state. You can do this in three ways:

Bring the water in the pan to a boil, then reduce the heat until the water stops boiling and lower the ramekins into it.
Place the candles on the stove over low heat, and make sure that the paraffin does not burn.
Warm up the paraffin using a hairdryer.

Step 4. Once the paraffin has melted, remove the molds from the heat and begin filling the shells. It is best to use some kind of tongs or a pair of Chinese chopsticks for this. Don't forget to protect the table surface with newspaper first.

If the shells are too unstable and you are afraid that the paraffin will harden unevenly, then it is better to arrange the candles in the cells of the egg packaging or fix, for example, with soft plasticine that does not leave marks.

After about 20 minutes, the paraffin will completely harden and you will be able to enjoy the light of the shell candles.

Idea 5. Making topiary in a marine style

Topiary is a small decoration in the form of a tree in a pot. You can learn the principles of making topiary from shells with your own hands or from the following video lesson.

And in this selection of photos you can get ideas for decorating a topiary made from shells with your own hands in a traditional round shape or in the form of a Christmas tree.

Idea 6. Making a flower candlestick

If you have enough bivalve shells, you can make them into flowers.

Today we propose to make such a craft from mussel shells.

Materials:

Bivalve shells;
Any round base of small diameter;
Glue gun;
PVA glue (optional);
Glitter (optional).

Instructions:

Step 1. Prepare the shells - wash them with soap, remove any remaining organic matter and, if desired, bleach them using chlorine-containing products (see instructions at the beginning of the article).

Step 2: Paint the round base of the candle holder a neutral color such as white.

Step 3: While the base is drying, sort your sink set by size.

Step 4: Start gluing 1 row of shells to the sides of the base using hot glue.

Step 5. Once the first row is slightly dry, begin creating the second row, placing each new shell overlapping the previous one so that it is located between the two shells of the first row. As a result, you will have a checkerboard layout of shells in two rows as shown in the photo.

Step 6. Glue the third and all subsequent rows using the same principle, but not on the base, but on the joints of the shells of the previous row (the place is highlighted by an arrow in the photo below).

Step 7. Once you have glued the last row, look around the candle holder and add another row or two where you think it is needed.

Step 8. Hooray, the shell candle holder is ready! If you wish, you can additionally decorate it with sparkles. To do this you need to do the following:

Treat the shells with PVA glue on the inside or just around the edges.
Sprinkle glitter generously onto your craft, let the glue dry, and then shake off any excess.

Idea 7. Create wind chimes

Shells are an ideal material for making wind chimes, because the “chime” of such sea bells is very pleasant to the ear.

Materials:

Twine, fishing line or any thread.
A twig or wooden stick.
Scissors.
Hot glue gun or a tool for drilling small holes (drill with a 2 mm drill bit or just a needle and nail scissors).
Seashells.

Instructions:

Step 1. If you want the shells to be tied to the threads, then first drill holes in them (see basic instructions at the beginning of the article). If you don’t have a tool, and you are satisfied with the adhesive method of fastening, then immediately proceed to the next stage.

Step 2. Tie twine to the branch as shown in the photo, measure approximately 7 cm in length from it and cut off the excess.

If you use shells with holes, then the twine must be cut immediately to the desired length with a reserve for knots.

Step 3: Glue the shell to the twine using a drop of hot glue. Then glue another 7cm strand of twine to the other end of the shell. Continue working until you are satisfied with the length of the first row.

Shells with holes can be tied to a thread in at least two ways: by tying knots around the holes or under them (the knot must be larger than the hole).

Step 4: Continue hanging the shell strings until you reach the desired number. In this case, you can play with the length of the rows to form, say, an arch or a ladder. IN in this case wind chimes have alternating short and long threads.

Step 5. When the piece is ready, tie another piece of twine at both ends of the branch.

Following the principles of this master class, but by replacing the branch with a hoop or adding shells with starfish, beads, feathers and other decor, you can create more fancy wind chime designs.

Idea 8. Making a bracelet from a cowrie shell

If you have at least one cowrie shell, you can make a boho-style bracelet for your arm or leg with your own hands. You can buy all the accessories for such decoration in handicraft stores or large sewing stores.

Materials:

One cowrie shell;
1 m of silk cord;
Half a skein of floss in a contrasting color;
Beads (in this master class we use copper beads from an old bracelet);
A pair of crimp terminals with loops (designed for cords and making bracelets);
Clasp for jewelry (in the form of a ring or carabiner);
Ring for fastening (detachable);
Scissors;
Pliers.

Instructions:

Step 1. Drill a small hole at the two ends of the cowrie (see basic instructions at the beginning of the article).

Step 2. Cut approximately 15 cm from the skein of silk cord and set this piece aside for a while.

Step 3. Pass the silk cord about halfway through one hole of the shell and tie a knot.

Step 4: Pass the other end of the cord through the middle of the sink and tie a knot in the second hole.

Step 5. Cut several strands of floss, gather them and fold the resulting bundle around the silk cord next to the shell as shown in the photo.

Step 6: Take a short piece of lace, wrap it tightly around the top of the folded floss, tie a knot, and cut off the excess. You will get a brush. Fluff it up and trim it with scissors if necessary.

Step 7: Start stringing beads onto both ends of the bracelet. Once the desired length is reached, bend the ends of the cords in half and tuck the resulting ends into the crimp ends.

Step 8: Use pliers to pinch the ends of the bracelet and then cut off the excess cord.

Step 9. Using pliers, attach a ring to one end and a clasp to the other. Your shell bracelet is ready!

Not only children, but also adults will enjoy making crafts from shells. Beautiful, relief shells, differing in shape and size, mentally return you to a warm, bright summer on the sea coast. We suggest doing a Master Class presented in this article.

Preparatory stage

It seems that nature created shells precisely in order to make all sorts of decorations from them. And while on a seaside holiday, in the resort souvenir shops we can see a huge number of beautiful crafts. But why buy if you can make it yourself? We will tell you how to make a Master Class that is worth studying after preparing the raw materials for creativity:

Wash.
To get rid of shellfish smell, boil the shellfish in salt water.
Go over the sharp corners with sandpaper.
Add shine to your shells using baby oil or nail polish.

How to glue shells

For those who already have experience working with shells, it will be much easier. Beginners will have to study the right technology gluing. Only after this can you make crafts from shells with your own hands. Everyone will enjoy the master class.

The shell is glued using several methods:

Using Glue is good because it is transparent, but if it is overheated, it can turn yellow. Be extremely careful when gluing small parts, the glue in the gun is very hot and you can get burned.
Using This method is good for beginners. Silicone takes a long time to dry, and if you want to replace a part, you can easily do it.
Using superglue "Moment".

If you need to make a hole in the shell, use a thin drill. You need to drill over protective film. Wrap the shell with tape and drill. This way you will prevent a split.

Varieties of crafts made from seashells

There are a lot of options. From shells you can create boxes, souvenirs, paintings, candlesticks, figurines, photo frames and much more interesting things. It’s better to make crafts from shells with your own hands; the master class is presented step by step below. This way you will get rid of many errors.

Considered an easy craft decorative vase. Such beauty will decorate your interior. You need to pour sand into the container, you can use colored sand. Next, place the shells and starfish. A beautiful gift there will be a photo frame decorated with such material. It is very easy to make these crafts from shells with your own hands. A master class for beginners is presented below.

Shell crafts for kids

A fun activity for children is creating animals from shells. To simplify the task, use plasticine rather than glue, and it’s much safer. Let's look at several options for crafts that you can do with your children.

Snail

You will need a spirally twisted shell. Use plasticine to make all the small details of the snail’s body parts; the shell will serve as a shell. Attach the parts to the shell - and the toy snail is ready. Using the same technology you can make a turtle. Select a shell for the shell, and mold all other parts from plasticine. Connect the parts and get a turtle.

Seashell flowers

You can make other crafts from shells with your own hands with your baby. The master class (flowers, crab and glass) is described below. Step by step you will be able to create real masterpieces.

Take thick colored cardboard. Make a ball out of plasticine and stick it to cardboard. The shells will serve as petals for the flower, and the plastic mass will become the core. Attach the shells to the plasticine in a circle. If the shells are of different shapes, then the finished applique will look much more interesting. Now the flower needs to make a stem. Roll the sausage and glue it to the cardboard. This way you can create a whole flower meadow. To make the application brighter, the finished flowers can be painted.

Using the same method, you can create a picture of the seabed with your child. Draw undersea world, and use shells and plasticine to create ocean inhabitants.

Sea crab craft made from shells

Let's make it from shells with our own hands. The master class (animals, crabs and turtles) is described in great detail. You can use the finished product for a variety of purposes. For example, decorate your interior or give it to friends as a souvenir. The size of the crab depends on what shells you have available.

You need to take:

A bivalve shell.
Cone-shaped shells.
Paint.
Glue.
Red knitting threads.

Cover the shells with paint, preferably in two layers, then the color will be brighter. It is better to use acrylic ones. Let the shells dry. Draw eyes with a marker.

The paws are made from knitting threads. Cut 12 ropes of equal length and glue them to the inside of the shell.

Cone-shaped shells need to be glued to the front sections. They will become claws.

The crab is ready! By creating them in larger quantities, you can decorate your entire home with them. This animal will become a wonderful talisman or amulet.

Original photo frame

Buy a cheap picture frame and stock up on seashells.

We will decorate the frame according to the frame. Arrange the shells at your discretion, the main thing is that the overall picture is in harmony. These DIY crafts made from shells will make a wonderful gift. The master class will help you create an unforgettable piece of furniture.

The location of the shells needs to be remembered, since they will have to be removed in order to lubricate the frame with glue. If desired, you can decorate the sea shells with paints. Insert your favorite photo from your seaside holiday into the finished frame.

Marine garland

For the garland, take shells, thread and a needle. Now we will create bright crafts from shells with our own hands. The master class describes each stage in detail. There shouldn't be any difficulties.

To create a garland for your home, follow the technology:

You need to make a hole in each shell to pull the thread through. Holes are made on the inside of the shells using a needle.
You determine the distance between the shells yourself.
This garland can be used to decorate curtains or walls. And if you decorate with sea shells, the garland will fit perfectly into the interior of a children's room.

Try creating another vertical garland. She will decorate any holiday. To create it, take:

Christmas tree garland.
Scotch.
Glue.

There is no need to use any complicated items, and the result will fill your home with a festive atmosphere. The technique is quite simple. Apply glue to the light bulb and attach the shell. This should be done with each light bulb. After complete drying, place the product on the wall, securing with tape. Can be plugged into an outlet. The garland looks incredibly beautiful.

Pencil cup

With the help of shells you can transform any thing. Even the oldest, uninteresting box can sparkle with new colors. And all you need to do is simply cover the object with sea shells. As you can see, these DIY shell crafts are very easy to make. The master class (a photo of each product is attached) describes in detail the stages of production. You won't notice how time flies during this creative process.

After decorating the box, place large shells on the lid various forms. Complete them with beads and open them with pearlescent paint. You can use nail polish.

And to add brightness to your child’s life, give him a small gift. Cover a pencil cup with various shells and decorate them with paints. Your child will really like this gift. Especially if you invite your baby to take part in its creation.

Use your imagination, and with the help of elementary things you can create a huge number of beautiful things. They will not only decorate the house, but also preserve memories of summer vacation. They will become a wonderful gift for your relatives. You can save on sea souvenirs. Create and decorate your home with beautiful creations of nature. Such products will harmoniously take their place on the shelves. It's always nice to look at souvenirs that are made by yourself.

Posted from: 9-21-2016

This year I finally realized my old dream - I made decor from seashells. I have been collecting shells for a long time - from every trip to the sea I brought with me a certain amount of shells. I was all about to start making crafts from shells for the interior, but, as they say, “the preparations were short-lived” 🙂 The only thing is that the shells were used to decorate miniature gardens in bowls, the creation of which I am passionate about.

This year I was lucky enough to visit the sea near Anapa, in st. Blagoveshchenskaya, where we were camping on a sand spit. There were absolutely extraordinary shells there - the likes of which I had never seen in my life. They were large, bright, some were even covered with some kind of limescale, reminiscent of coral formations.

Of course, during my vacation I was enthusiastically collecting this beauty, with the goal of subsequently making decor from shells. Other shells, smaller ones, I collected on the Sea of Azov when we went to the port of Caucasus near Taman to meet a friend from the ferry.

When we were returning from the sea, we stopped at Ikea near Krasnodar and there I bought two wooden mirrors, hoping to decorate them with shells. I started decorating the mirror with my own hands while on a trip - it’s nice to do something creative on vacation when you have a lot of free time. For this I only needed pva glue, shells and the mirror itself.

How to glue shells to glass

Many people ask me how and what kind of glue can be used to glue shells to glass - I will say with all responsibility that you can’t think of a better glue than PVA glue.

You need to glue shells like this: squeeze PVA glue onto the surface (it should be thick and create a layer of 3 millimeters on the surface. This is exactly how many people do it - they simply spread it on the surface with a brush. In the latter case, your shells will fall off almost immediately.

But if you squeeze out the glue in a thick layer, then carefully place the shells in the glue (don’t be afraid, this will not harm the beauty), then they will stick very well. When the glue dries, its layer will become thinner and it will become transparent and invisible. This is exactly the way I glued the shells onto the mirror. Large orange ones were collected on the Black Sea, and small ones - on the Azov Sea.

Lovers of handicrafts and creativity are often faced with choosing the most suitable glue. There is a very large selection of them on the market, so when purchasing you need to take into account what material you will be working with.

For different techniques handicrafts, one or another option is most preferable. Some, for example, PVA, are universal and are suitable for gluing several materials popular among craftsmen at once.

PVA – the best choice for paper, plastic, fabric and foam. Also this best option for those who are going to do crafts made from threads and glue.
Hot glue is the best choice for creating crafts with fabric, glass, ceramics, wood, paper, plastic, and foam.
For a tree, the name speaks for itself. Suitable for wood parts only.
Aerosol – holds paper, fabric, foam, plastic, and organics well.
Superglue - although the manufacturer calls it universal and promises reliable bonding of almost all materials, in practice it is worth using it with glass, ceramics, metal, plastic, and organics.
Rubber - despite the name, it is suitable for gluing wood, fabric, paper, and foam.
Silicone – bonds plastic, glass, metal and ceramics.
Epoxy – suitable for glass, ceramics, wood, plastic, metal and organics.
Polyurethane glue holds wood, plastic, ceramics, metal, and organics together.

A glue gun for crafts is also very convenient to use.

It is non-toxic, does not have an unpleasant aroma, and securely and quickly holds parts together.

Also he:

spends sparingly,
easy to use, even children can handle it,
securely fastens parts,
the seam is not afraid of moisture,
The glue fills the voids and seals well.

Silicone glue appeared on the domestic market recently, but quickly gained popularity. It is used for construction and finishing works, as well as in creativity and handicrafts.

Today, manufacturers offer two types of formulations - neutral and acetic. To create crafts, neutral sealants are used that hold almost any material together well.

To use sealant, you will need a special gun into which a tube of glue is installed. Use a sharp knife to cut off the tip of the spout, then screw on the dispenser to control the flow. The product is applied to a dry, cleaned surface.

Hot glue is inexpensive material to create beautiful original crafts. During use, you should be careful not to get burned, so children should only use the material under adult supervision.

You can easily use hot glue to decorate tin boxes and jars, create beautiful kitchen accessories, and create Christmas tree decorations.

For these purposes you will need:

heat gun,
newspapers,
jars,
gun tubes,
pieces of lace,
leg-split.

We wrap the bottom of the coffee jar with thin twine and attach beautiful lace. You can use this container for sugar or pepper.

tin can from under the pistachios you can completely wrap it with twine. To do this, you need to drop a few drops of glue onto the jar and wrap it around the twine, and so on several times until the jar is completely wrapped in the material. You can now store coffee or tea in this jar.

VIDEO ON THE TOPIC

Another simple and beautiful craft- from an ordinary tin can. Using acrylic paint, hot glue and colored glass, you will create a luxurious handmade vase.

To do this, the jar needs to be thoroughly washed, painted and dried. Next, glue the glass pieces (if there are none, then shells, pebbles or buttons). The hot composition will reliably hold any material, even dried pasta.

With its help, you can decorate the lamp shade with homemade or artificial flowers.

There is a traveler in each of us, and in order to prolong the pleasant sensations from happy days Every time we spend a vacation at the sea, we bring little reminders to stuffy cities - beautiful pebbles and shells. And if everything is prosaic with the first ones, their place is in glass vases or aquariums with fish, with the latter there is room for your imagination to run wild. Let's breathe a second life into sea shells!

Order is needed in everything

First, let's do some cleaning. Even if there are no foreign particles or shellfish remains on the surface, the shells should be soaked in a chlorine-containing solution. Any bleach will do detergent with chlorine.

Advice! If the contamination is not severe, half an hour is enough; removing dark deposits will require a long time and additional cleaning with a brush.

To get rid of live shellfish and their relatively fresh parts, the shells must be placed in boiling water and the excess removed using tongs. There is another way - warm them up for 30 seconds and clean them of remains in the same way. If the first half a minute does not produce results, repeat the process until all particles are removed. Next, the material must be disinfected by rinsing in a solution with chlorine.

If there are chips

If cracks or chips are found, they must be sanded. Regular sandpaper or a sanding block will do for this.

Advice! To make it more beautiful appearance the sink can be covered with transparent nail polish or furniture, or rub with oil/fat cream. If you choose the second method, when gluing the contact points, you must first degrease them with alcohol.

Drilling holes

If we are planning necklaces, bracelets, dream catchers and other crafts that require stringing, we drill holes in advance.
You can do this in two ways:

Drill or - place the shell on wooden board and glue it with tape. We take the thinnest drill and make a hole right on top of the tape, this will not allow the material to crumble.
Using a nail and a hammer – we cover the sink with tape (painting paper), draw a mark on the depressed side, place the point of the nail and lightly hit the head with a hammer several times to mark the hole. Next, we gradually expand it with the same nail or awl to the desired diameter.

Advice! The shell structure is fragile, so to avoid splitting, you need to remember a simple rule: the thinner the material, the thinner the drill or nail should be.

From simple to complex

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

Frames

The usual colors will sparkle with other colors if you decorate them with sea shells.

We will need:

shells of different sizes;
glue;
newspaper or any unnecessary paper;
scotch;
any auxiliary material for decoration.

Step-by-step instruction:

Cover the glass or mirror surface with paper and secure it with tape.
We sort the material by size.
We glue the first row from small fragments, the second from medium ones, then from the largest ones.
Leave until completely dry.

Advice! If there are gaps between the tiers, fill them with additional decorations - beads, stars, etc.

Panel

We cut out a shape, any shape, from thick cardboard, make a hole for the rope, completely cover it with shells in any order, the main thing is that the gaps between them are minimal. We thread the twine through the hole, tie it in beautiful knots, dry it - and the panel is ready.

For different needlework techniques, certain options are most preferable. Some, for example, PVA, are universal and are suitable for gluing several materials popular among craftsmen at once.

PVA is the best choice for paper, plastic, fabric and foam. This is also the best option for those who are planning to do crafts made from threads and glue.
Hot glue is the best choice for creating crafts with fabric, glass, ceramics, wood, paper, plastic, and foam.
For a tree, the name speaks for itself. Suitable for wood parts only.
Aerosol – holds paper, fabric, foam, plastic, and organics well.
Superglue - although the manufacturer calls it universal and promises reliable bonding of almost all materials, in practice it is worth using it with glass, ceramics, metal, plastic, and organics.
Rubber - despite the name, it is suitable for gluing wood, fabric, paper, and foam.
Silicone – bonds plastic, glass, metal and ceramics.
Epoxy – suitable for glass, ceramics, wood, plastic, metal and organics.
Polyurethane glue holds wood, plastic, ceramics, metal, and organics together.

A glue gun for crafts is also very convenient to use.

It is non-toxic, does not have an unpleasant aroma, and securely and quickly holds parts together.

Also he:

spends sparingly,
easy to use, even children can handle it,
securely fastens parts,
the seam is not afraid of moisture,
The glue fills the voids and seals well.

Silicone glue appeared on the domestic market recently, but quickly gained popularity. It is used for construction and finishing work, as well as in arts and crafts.

Today, manufacturers offer two types of formulations - neutral and acetic. To create crafts, neutral sealants are used that hold almost any material together well.

Hot glue is an inexpensive material for creating beautiful, original crafts. During use, you should be careful not to get burned, so children should use the material only under adult supervision.

You can easily use hot glue to decorate tin boxes and jars, create beautiful kitchen accessories, and create Christmas tree decorations.

For these purposes you will need:

heat gun,
newspapers,
jars,
gun tubes,
pieces of lace,
leg-split.

We wrap the bottom of the coffee jar with thin twine and attach beautiful lace. You can use this container for sugar or pepper.

A tin of pistachios can be completely wrapped with twine. To do this, you need to drop a few drops of glue onto the jar and wrap it around the twine, and so on several times until the jar is completely wrapped in the material. You can now store coffee or tea in this jar.

VIDEO ON THE TOPIC

Another simple and beautiful craft is made from an ordinary tin can. Using acrylic paint, hot glue and colored glass, you will create a luxurious handmade vase.

With its help, you can decorate the lamp shade with homemade or artificial flowers.

Basic instructions for preparing shells

Cleansing

Before you start making crafts from shells, you need to prepare them well.

If the shells are “dead” and there are no remains of mollusks left in them, then they just need to be soaked in a solution of water and any chlorine-containing product (for example, bleach, “Duckling”, etc.) in a 1:1 ratio for 30 minutes. If the shells are very dirty or you want to remove the dark outer layer (periostracum), soak them longer. After soaking, brush the shells and rinse in clean water.
If the shells are “live”, that is, they have the remains of mollusks (even if they died long ago) and have an unpleasant odor, then they need to be thoroughly cleaned. To do this, put the shells in boiling water for 5 minutes, and then remove the remains of the shellfish using tongs, nail scissors, etc. There is a second way: heat the shells in the microwave for 30 seconds, then try to remove the remains with tongs. If unsuccessful, continue heating the shells in the microwave, checking the result every 10 seconds. When all remains have been removed, treat the sinks with a bleach solution according to the first instructions.

Drilling holes

To make some types of crafts from shells (for example, wind chimes, garlands, beads, bracelets and other jewelry), you need to drill a hole in them. This task is quite simple, the only difficulty is that the shells can crack or delaminate at the drilling site.

Therefore, remember the main rule: the thinner the shell, the smaller the hole should be in it and, accordingly, the thread/accessories of the decoration.

To make these beads, you need to drill holes in the shells and string them on a silk cord, securing the location with knots. Next, all that remains is to clamp the ends of the laces in the crimp ends and attach the fasteners to them

To make these beads, you need to drill holes in the shells and string them on a silk cord, securing the location with knots. Next, all that remains is to clamp the ends of the laces into the crimp ends and attach the fasteners to them.

There are two ways to make holes in shells - manual and automated.

Method 1. Select a drill bit for a drill, screwdriver or straight grinder with a diameter of 0.8 - 2 mm. Place the shell on a wooden or plastic board and secure it with masking tape. Drill a hole directly through the tape - it will prevent the shell from splitting or delaminating.

Method 2. If you do not have a screwdriver or drill, then you can make a hole in the sink using a nail and a hammer. To do this, first cover the shell with masking tape, put a mark on the inside of the shell, then place a nail and gently tap it with a hammer several times to make the initial hole. Next, widen the hole by moving the same nail back and forth inside it until you reach the desired diameter.

If you don’t have a nail or a hammer at hand, then use an ordinary needle, nail scissors or a knife and “drill” the hole by hand. The result will appear in about 10 minutes.

Idea 1. Inlay frames, frames and frames

You can decorate the frame of a mirror, painting or photo frame with shells. We present examples of such crafts in the following collection (scroll the photo to the right).

Today we suggest you decorate a mirror frame with shells, but using the same principle you can decorate any photo frame or painting frame.

Materials:

Shells of small, medium and large sizes and, if desired, additional decorations (eg starfish, pearls, figurines of skates, etc.).
Glue gun and several sticks of glue or clear epoxy glue.
Newspaper or any unnecessary paper to protect the mirror from glue.
Masking or regular tape.

Instructions:

Step 1: Protect the mirror with paper and secure it with masking tape. At this stage, the frame can be painted if you are not satisfied with its original appearance.

Step 2. Sort the shells by size to make it easier to create your future composition.

Step 3: First glue the first row of small to medium shells (about the same size) around the mirror.

Idea 2. Making a Valentine panel

From a collection of shells of different shapes and sizes, you can make a panel in the form of a valentine. However, you can cut out any other shape from cardboard/plywood, say, the same seahorse or a letter.

Materials:

Glue gun or any strong adhesion glue;
Collection of river and sea shells;
Cardboard;
Scissors;
Leg-split.

Instructions:

Step 1. Cut out the base for the heart-shaped panel from cardboard.

Step 2. Using a knife or awl, make two holes for the twine.

Step 3. Start gluing the shells, trying to leave minimal gaps between them. Leave the loop holes open.

Step 4. Cut the twine to the desired length, thread the two ends of the rope into the holes on the back of the panel and tie with double knots.

In the next video you can see a visual master class on making crafts from shells with your own hands in the form of a Valentine panel.

Below are more ideas for creating a shell panel.

Idea 3. “Painting” a picture on canvas

Here is another idea for creating a wall craft from seashells.

Materials:

Canvas on stretcher;
Shells;
Glue gun or other strong adhesion glue, for example, “Moment”;
A template or stencil of the desired design, printed on paper;
Acrylic paint to create a background (optional);
Brush (optional).

Instructions:

If you want to repeat the idea of the painting in this master class, then first create a background for the composition from shells. To do this, use a brush and acrylic paint of the desired color. Wait for the background to dry and proceed to the next step.
Secure the template or stencil to the canvas using masking tape, and then trace its outline with a pencil.
Start gluing the shells onto the drawing without going beyond its boundaries.

Also see our other materials:

Idea 4. Cooking candles for mini-candlesticks

Shells are almost ready-made miniature candlesticks that are just waiting to be supplemented with paraffin and wick. You can use the resulting candles for table setting, a romantic picnic, or simply for interior decoration.

Materials:

Sea or large river shells;
Small round candles in tin molds;
Water and a saucepan for a water bath;
PVA glue or double-sided tape.

Instructions:

Step 2. Glue each wick with double-sided tape or PVA glue in the center of the shell.

Step 3. Now we need to melt the paraffin until it is completely liquid. You can do this in three ways:

Bring the water in the pan to a boil, then reduce the heat until the water stops boiling and lower the ramekins into it.
Place the candles on the stove over low heat, and make sure that the paraffin does not burn.
Warm up the paraffin using a hairdryer.

If the shells are too unstable and you are afraid that the paraffin will harden unevenly, then it is better to arrange the candles in the cells of the egg packaging or fix, for example, with soft plasticine that does not leave marks.

After about 20 minutes, the paraffin will completely harden and you will be able to enjoy the light of the shell candles.

Idea 5. Making topiary in a marine style

Topiary is a small decoration in the form of a tree in a pot. You can learn the principles of making topiary from shells with your own hands in our master class or from the following video lesson.

And in this selection of photos you can get ideas for decorating a topiary made from shells with your own hands in a traditional round shape or in the form of a Christmas tree.

Idea 6. Making a flower candlestick

If you have enough bivalve shells, you can use them to make beautiful flower-shaped candle holders.

Today we propose to make such a craft from mussel shells.

Materials:

Bivalve shells;
Any round base of small diameter;
Glue gun;
PVA glue (optional);
Glitter (optional).

Instructions:

Step 2: Paint the round base of the candle holder a neutral color, such as white.

Step 3: While the base is drying, sort your sink set by size.

Step 4: Start gluing 1 row of shells to the sides of the base using hot glue.

Step 7. Once you have glued the last row, look around the candle holder and add another row or two where you think it is needed.

Step 8. Hooray, the shell candle holder is ready! If you wish, you can additionally decorate it with sparkles. To do this you need to do the following:

Treat the shells with PVA glue on the inside or just around the edges.
Sprinkle glitter generously onto your craft, let the glue dry, and then shake off any excess.

Idea 7. Create wind chimes

Shells are an ideal material for making wind chimes, because the “chime” of such sea bells is very pleasant to the ear.

Materials:

Twine, fishing line or any thread.
A twig or wooden stick.
Scissors.
Hot glue gun or a tool for drilling small holes (drill with a 2 mm drill bit or just a needle and nail scissors).
Seashells.

Photos are a great way to preserve life's brightest moments and warm memories. It is especially pleasant to admire family photographs in original frames made by yourself. In this article we will show you how to make a frame from shells. This will be a great addition to sunny summer photos.

How to decorate a frame with shells?

To make a photo frame from shells, you will need the frame itself, glue, shells (several types are possible), as well as any additional decorations that seem appropriate to you. It can be: beads, beads, stones, sand, crystals, sparkles, sequins, corals and even tree branches. It is advisable to coat the finished photo frame made of shells with varnish or glaze - this way it will look more impressive and, in addition, it will be easier to care for it.

Decorating frames with shells should begin with preparing the working material - wash and dry the shells, and sort them by color, type and size.

Then try making a shell pattern without using glue. Simply place them in the chosen order on the surface of the base and evaluate the result. Try moving the sinks and swapping them around until you find the most beautiful pattern (placement). Once the pattern is determined, start gluing.

How to glue shells to a frame?

Use hot glue to secure the shells to the base. Apply a drop of glue to the surface of the base and shell, then press the shell firmly against the frame and hold for a few seconds (until the glue sets). It is better to start decorating with large shells, trying to place them on the surface of the base as evenly as possible. Then the spaces between large shells are gradually filled with smaller and smaller types of shells, and Additional materials(beads, seed beads, sequins) are attached at the very end. After all the parts (both shells and decor) are secured, set the frame aside until completely dry. Once the glue has set, coat the surface of the frame with clear varnish or glaze and leave to dry again.

While the frame is drying, select a photo from your family album that can be inserted into a new frame.

After the varnish has dried, add the selected photo and enjoy the result.

Seashells are the most inexpensive and atmospheric souvenirs that you can collect on the seashore and bring home. These little things will remind you of warm water, bright sun and colorful summer for a long time. In addition, they will become an unusual addition to the interior and create an atmosphere of lightness and carefreeness in your home.

In building original interior Any decorations you make yourself will come in handy.

Shell decor is an element of eco-style in the interior.

Jewelry made with your own hands allows you to create unique design your house. You won’t find a similar interior in any of your friends, because you put a piece of yourself into every such handmade item.

An important detail in the decor of shells is that such an item will cost much less than one bought in a store.

Shells brought from the sea are an ideal material for such creativity. Sea shells are quite easy to use and do not require any special skills or talents. At the same time, there are a huge number of ideas for decorating various objects with shells. They can decorate:

Photo frame;
Mirror;
Vase;
Casket;
A picture.

Sand, shells, starfish, pebbles - these are the natural materials, with which you can create a unique style.

Large and small sinks are also used as independent interior decorations. For example, a large voluminous shell can become an excellent pencil holder or even a flower pot.

Give yourself the atmosphere of a sea breeze - decorate the interior of your home in nautical style.

Seashells can be used almost everywhere. The most logical place for them in the house is the bathroom, but they will also fit well in the living room and bedroom. Even the most ordinary shell on a shelf or bedside table will look extraordinary.

It is also difficult to imagine an aquarium without them, where they are often simply necessary.

Seashells in the interior – these are always clean and shiny sinks, as if they came straight out of pictures. However, nature does not create them exactly like this.

In order for them to become ideal decorations and suitable for use in decoration, you will have to work a little on them.

Pre-freezing will help extend the life of shells. Put all your sea treasures in the freezer. When they are frozen, take them out and use a knife to remove the insides. For absolute results, it is worth boiling the shellfish for about 15 minutes, peeling them again and rinsing in water.

Shell decor is back in fashion!

On last stage sinks are bleached. Any bleaching agent can be used. Pour over the shells and leave for several hours, then rinse, dry, grease with vegetable oil and varnish.

Decorating the mirror

The bathroom will be transformed beyond recognition if you decorate the mirror with seashells. To create the background of a composition made in a marine style, use gold or turquoise acrylic paint.

Seashells, pebbles, beads small size Beautifully shaped, they will be an excellent decor for mirrors.

When gluing shells, you need to take care of the strength of such fastening. The adhesive must be suitable for wet areas, because water and evaporation will constantly fall on the mirror.

Anyone can make such an original decor on their own.

Seashells in the interior bedrooms will look no less impressive, but here it is better to stick to a pastel color palette.

The decor of the mirror should be more restrained and match the style of the room.

Shell decor - this is beauty that is very simple to create. To decorate the mirror you will need:

Seashells of different shapes and sizes;
Thermal gun for needlework;
Double sided tape;
Imitation pearls;
Pebbles;
Clear varnish.

Decorate the frame with shells of different sizes and colors.

Before starting work, wash and dry the shells. Protect the mirror surface from damage by covering it with cloth or paper.

Choose the smallest shells. It is desirable that they be of a similar size. Glue them along the inner rim of the mirror using glue gun or double-sided tape.
Proceed to decorate the second row with larger shells. The distance between them should be approximately the same. For better adhesion, apply glue to both the mirror frame and the shell itself.
Fill the space between the shells with pebbles and pearls.
Let the glue dry, then coat the resulting composition with colorless varnish.

Enjoy the resort atmosphere from the comfort of your own apartment.

Decorating photo frames

Even the simplest photo frame can become a stylish and original accessory. Shell decor will help you achieve this effect. In addition to sea shells, your assistants will be the same acrylic paint, as well as pebbles, sand, beads and sparkles. Details made from rope thread or starfish will also look interesting.

A frame made of shells will remind you of warm sunny days.

Arrange them on shelves, hang them on the wall or place them above the fireplace. Such frames are simply created to place photographs from the seashore in them and remember the happy moments of your vacation on cold winter evenings.

You will not see such a frame among your neighbors - it exists only in one copy and is a manifestation of your individuality.

Vase with shells

Even a simple one will look interesting glass vessel filled with seafood. Pour some sand into a vase, aquarium or wide glass, add sea pebbles and shells. Such used for table setting for a holiday or simply placed on shelves, cabinets and bedside tables.

This vase will decorate any setting.

Look original flower pots, decorated with seashells inside or outside. Unusually shaped shells can be placed inside the pot next to the flowers. And if you have many identical shells of the correct shape, then it is better to stick them on the outer walls or rim.

A vase decorated with multi-colored shells will add originality to the interior

Unusual seashell decor ideas

Above we described the most popular ways to use shells in the interior. . In fact, there are many more of them, and among them there are quite unusual options.

Shell topiary is a round tree with a foam base, which is covered with shells, pearls and other decorative elements.

Today, topiary is a fashionable decoration for any interior, which is becoming increasingly popular.

Panel - wood, plywood, cardboard, mesh or burlap are used as a background. Sometimes it is sprinkled with sand or laid out with pebbles. The shells are arranged in a chaotic manner or arranged in a certain shape.

This product can decorate any room.

Decorative letters – stencils are cut out that can form a word or represent the first letters of the owners’ names. The finished letters are decorated with seashells using the same principle as regular photo frames.

If there are a lot of shells and they are very large, then you can make individual letters by gluing them together.

Candles – take one or more voluminous shells. Secure the wick inside and fill it with wax. A stylish accessory for the bathroom or bedroom is ready.

Shells are almost ready-made miniature candlesticks that are just waiting to be supplemented with paraffin and wick.

Garlands - shells are hung on a string in one or several rows or attached to a Christmas tree garland in place of light bulbs. The second option looks more festive and is useful for party decorations.

They will not only decorate the interior, but will also prevent sea gifts from turning into a pile of garbage.

A dream catcher is a popular Indian amulet that wards off bad dreams and can be made in a nautical theme. It is somewhat complicated to perform, but the result looks very impressive.

Decorations in the form of beads, feathers and shells make the Dreamcatcher bright and elegant.

No matter how many shells you bring from vacation, there will always be a use for them in the interior. Working with such material is easy and interesting.

Exclusive decor with shells, made with your own hands, will all year round remind you of the best moments of your holiday at sea.

Posted from: 9-21-2016

How to glue shells to glass

Many people ask me how and what kind of glue can be used to glue shells to glass. I will say with all responsibility that you can’t think of a better glue than PVA glue.

You need to glue shells like this: you squeeze PVA glue onto the surface (it should be thick and create a layer of 3 millimeters on the surface. This is exactly how many people do it - they simply spread it on the surface with a brush. In the latter case, your shells will fall off almost immediately.

Look at the shells themselves in macro photography - you can’t see the glue at all!

This is how the mirror was originally.

Well, this is what it became after decorating with shells.

The next idea to implement is to make one out of shells. Fortunately, after my last trip I have a lot of them.

Basic instructions for preparing shells

Cleansing

Before you start making crafts from shells, you need to prepare them well.

If the shells are “dead” and there are no remains of mollusks left in them, then they just need to be soaked in a solution of water and any chlorine-containing product (for example, bleach, “Duckling”, etc.) in a 1:1 ratio for 30 minutes. If the shells are very dirty or you want to remove the dark outer layer (periostracum), soak them longer. After soaking, brush the shells and rinse in clean water.
If the shells are “live”, that is, they have the remains of mollusks (even if they died long ago) and have an unpleasant odor, then they need to be thoroughly cleaned. To do this, put the shells in boiling water for 5 minutes, and then remove the remains of the shellfish using tongs, nail scissors, etc. There is a second way: heat the shells in the microwave for 30 seconds, then try to remove the remains with tongs. If unsuccessful, continue heating the shells in the microwave, checking the result every 10 seconds. When all remains have been removed, treat the sinks with a bleach solution according to the first instructions.

Drilling holes

Therefore, remember the main rule: the thinner the shell, the smaller the hole should be in it and, accordingly, the thread/accessories of the decoration.

There are two ways to make holes in shells - manual and automated.

If you don’t have a nail or a hammer at hand, then use an ordinary needle, nail scissors or a knife and “drill” the hole by hand. The result will appear in about 10 minutes.

Idea 1. Inlay frames, frames and frames

You can decorate the frame of a mirror, painting or photo frame with shells. We present examples of such crafts in the following collection (scroll the photo to the right).

Today we suggest you decorate a mirror frame with shells, but using the same principle you can decorate any photo frame or painting frame.

Materials:

Shells of small, medium and large sizes and, if desired, additional decorations (eg starfish, pearls, figurines of skates, etc.).
Glue gun and several sticks of glue or clear epoxy glue.
Newspaper or any unnecessary paper to protect the mirror from glue.
Masking or regular tape.

Instructions:

Step 1: Protect the mirror with paper and secure it with masking tape. At this stage, the frame can be painted if you are not satisfied with its original appearance.

Step 2. Sort the shells by size to make it easier to create your future composition.

Step 3: First glue the first row of small to medium shells (about the same size) around the mirror.

Idea 2. Making a Valentine panel

Materials:

Glue gun or any strong adhesion glue;
Collection of river and sea shells;
Cardboard;
Scissors;
Leg-split.

Instructions:

Step 1. Cut out the base for the heart-shaped panel from cardboard.

Step 2. Using a knife or awl, make two holes for the twine.

Step 3. Start gluing the shells, trying to leave minimal gaps between them. Leave the loop holes open.

Step 4. Cut the twine to the desired length, thread the two ends of the rope into the holes on the back of the panel and tie with double knots.

In the next video you can see a visual master class on making crafts from shells with your own hands in the form of a Valentine panel.

Below are more ideas for creating a shell panel.

Idea 3. “Painting” a picture on canvas

Here is another idea for creating a wall craft from seashells.

Materials:

Canvas on stretcher;
Shells;
Glue gun or other strong adhesion glue, for example, “Moment”;
A template or stencil of the desired design, printed on paper;
Acrylic paint to create a background (optional);
Brush (optional).

Instructions:

If you want to repeat the idea of the painting in this master class, then first create a background for the composition from shells. To do this, use a brush and acrylic paint of the desired color. Wait for the background to dry and proceed to the next step.
Secure the template or stencil to the canvas using masking tape, and then trace its outline with a pencil.
Start gluing the shells onto the drawing without going beyond its boundaries.

Also see our other materials:

Idea 4. Cooking candles for mini-candlesticks

Materials:

Sea or large river shells;
Small round candles in tin molds;
Water and a saucepan for a water bath;
PVA glue or double-sided tape.

Instructions:

Step 2. Glue each wick with double-sided tape or PVA glue in the center of the shell.

Step 3. Now we need to melt the paraffin until it is completely liquid. You can do this in three ways:

Bring the water in the pan to a boil, then reduce the heat until the water stops boiling and lower the ramekins into it.
Place the candles on the stove over low heat, and make sure that the paraffin does not burn.
Warm up the paraffin using a hairdryer.

If the shells are too unstable and you are afraid that the paraffin will harden unevenly, then it is better to arrange the candles in the cells of the egg packaging or fix, for example, with soft plasticine that does not leave marks.

After about 20 minutes, the paraffin will completely harden and you will be able to enjoy the light of the shell candles.

Idea 5. Making topiary in a marine style

Topiary is a small decoration in the form of a tree in a pot. You can learn the principles of making topiary from shells with your own hands in our master class or from the following video lesson.

And in this selection of photos you can get ideas for decorating a topiary made from shells with your own hands in a traditional round shape or in the form of a Christmas tree.

Idea 6. Making a flower candlestick

If you have enough bivalve shells, you can use them to make beautiful flower-shaped candle holders.

Today we propose to make such a craft from mussel shells.

Materials:

Bivalve shells;
Any round base of small diameter;
Glue gun;
PVA glue (optional);
Glitter (optional).

Instructions:

Step 2: Paint the round base of the candle holder a neutral color, such as white.

Step 3: While the base is drying, sort your sink set by size.

Step 4: Start gluing 1 row of shells to the sides of the base using hot glue.

Step 7. Once you have glued the last row, look around the candle holder and add another row or two where you think it is needed.

Step 8. Hooray, the shell candle holder is ready! If you wish, you can additionally decorate it with sparkles. To do this you need to do the following:

Treat the shells with PVA glue on the inside or just around the edges.
Sprinkle glitter generously onto your craft, let the glue dry, and then shake off any excess.

Idea 7. Create wind chimes

Shells are an ideal material for making wind chimes, because the “chime” of such sea bells is very pleasant to the ear.

Materials:

Twine, fishing line or any thread.
A twig or wooden stick.
Scissors.
Hot glue gun or a tool for drilling small holes (drill with a 2 mm drill bit or just a needle and nail scissors).
Seashells.

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