Photo frame made of shells as a gift. Master class with step-by-step photos

Frame of branches

You can create a wonderful eco-style photo frame if you use thin twigs and twigs to make it.
It is noteworthy that the material is easy to collect simply by leaving the house. Also prepare cardboard for the base, a glue gun, varnish and additional decor in the form of flowers, beads, cones or ribbons. Form a rectangular blank from dark-colored cardboard or paint it (the main thing is that it does not remain white). Dry twigs need to be lightly peeled, freed from excess bark, and cut to the same length to fit the sides of the frame.

Now you can start gluing the twigs, slightly intertwining their ends in the corners. Finally, glue on the decorative ornaments and varnish the craft.

How to make a ship from shells with your own hands: instructions

A ship made of shells
Take 2 rapana shells, a larger and a smaller one, a pebble, large round shells in the form of a spiral, glue, several toothpicks, skewers, varnish and thick thread.

• First glue the stone and rapana shell together securely
• Place a skewer inside a smaller shell to create the bow of a ship.
• We connect the two obtained parts. So, we have the base and the nose
• Place three more skewers so that they are perpendicular
• Now you need to trim the outer ones so that they are slightly lower than the one left in the middle
• Use large shells to make sails at the front and place toothpicks for the slats at the back. For each mast we use three shells
• The ropes are made of dense threads - we tie the initial end from behind and pull them over the top to the nose
• We stretch the thread along the top and fasten it to the yardarm. If necessary, fix the threads with glue
• The top of the masts is made from spiral shells

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, small, beautifully shaped beads will be an excellent decoration for mirrors.

When gluing shells, you need to take care of the strength of such fastening. The glue should be suitable for damp rooms, because water and fumes will constantly fall on the mirror.

Anyone can make such an original decor on their own.

Seashells in a bedroom interior 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.

Seashell decor is a beauty that is very easy 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.

1. Choose the smallest shells. It is desirable that they be of a similar size. Glue them along the inner rim of the mirror using a glue gun or double-sided tape.
2. 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.
3. Fill the space between the shells with pebbles and pearls.
4. Let the glue dry, then coat the resulting composition with colorless varnish.

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

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.

Related article: How to choose roller blinds: advantages and disadvantages

In this way, you can give new life in your home interior to objects of different sizes:

• mirrors;
• coffee tables;
• lamp shades or night lights;
• dressers;
• jewelry boxes;
• photo frames.

A variety of trinkets of similar themes will serve as an excellent addition to the main material. These can be sea horses, corals, stars, pebbles, and many other small objects. 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 that the material is selected correctly.

Workplace and safety

The workspace must be properly organized.

Recommended use:

Under	What
Tools and materials	desktop drawer, separate boxes possible
pebbles and shells	plastic containers
threads and ribbons	plastic bags
small and bulk materials	banks

You need to cover your work table with old oilcloth or newspapers. The workplace should be provided with a light source. A work robe or apron will help keep your clothes clean. An old T-shirt is enough for a child. In summer and in the fresh air, you can work by sitting on the veranda or balcony.

Special attention should be paid to safety precautions, especially if children are involved in the work:

Work Precautions With a drill Goggles or eye protection mask, gloves (cannot be given to children) With salt dough Electric or gas oven (only under adult supervision) With varnish Do not keep the container open for a long time. You can pour a little varnish into a plastic cup and close it again

The room should be well ventilated. After work, the brush should be washed in a solvent. Working with a 10% solution of hydrochloric acid. Working with acid should be done using an old toothbrush, wearing gloves to protect your hands. You should protect your eyes

How to decorate a photo frame with shells?

To create a photo frame decorated with seashells, you will need several types of seashells, glue and the frame itself. The creative process also allows for the use of additional decorations. This refers to various beads, stones, sand, seed beads, crystals, corals, wood twigs, and sequins. In addition, you will definitely need a special varnish to cover the finished shell frame.

It is recommended to start designing the frame by preparing the working material. The shells should be thoroughly washed under cold running water and dried. Some craftswomen use water with the addition of lemon juice for rinsing. Next, be sure to sort all the shells by color, size, and type. After this, make a pattern out of them without using glue. Just place them in a certain order on the surface of the frame. For example, you can first lay out large shells and fill in the gaps with small ones. Don't start gluing until you have created a beautiful pattern that you like.

Decoupage

If you manage to find a large stone, smooth and flat, on the seashore, you can decorate it using the napkin technique. It is called "decoupage".

Materials required:

• white water-based paint;
• napkins in 3 layers with a bright large pattern;
• PVA glue.
• acrylic paints.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. The stone must be painted with water-based paint.
2. Separate all layers of the napkin and cut out the design from the first.
3. Soak the picture with glue (it is recommended to start from the middle) and carefully glue it to the stone so that wrinkles do not form.
4. Wait until completely dry.
5. Draw with acrylic paints, paint, if necessary, add sparkles, rhinestones, and other additional decorations.
6. Varnish the surface.
7. Dry for 2 days.
8. Varnish the other side.

How to make earrings from shells with your own hands: instructions

Earrings made of shells
Take two identical shells, a pair of pearl beads, earrings, a ring, a pencil, an awl and glue.

• Start by making small holes in the center of each shell. An awl is perfect for this.
• After receiving the hole, stick the awl into it again, but this time from the front
• Place beads in the center of each shell
• Now attach the resulting shells to the rings and earrings

Now your earrings will be ready!

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, small, beautifully shaped beads will be an excellent decoration for mirrors.

When gluing shells, you need to take care of the strength of such fastening. The glue should be suitable for damp rooms, because water and fumes will constantly fall on the mirror.

Anyone can make such an original decor on their own.

Seashells in a bedroom interior 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 is a beauty that is very easy 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.

1. Choose the smallest shells. It is desirable that they be of a similar size. Glue them along the inner rim of the mirror using a glue gun or double-sided tape.
2. 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.
3. Fill the space between the shells with pebbles and pearls.
4. Let the glue dry, then coat the resulting composition with colorless varnish.

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

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:

1. 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.
2. Secure the template or stencil to the canvas using masking tape, and then trace its outline with a pencil.
3. Start gluing the shells onto the drawing without going beyond its boundaries.

Photo frame made of fabric and seashells

It is unlikely that you know a person who does not like the sea

And it doesn’t matter if this is someone who regularly goes to resorts, has been there at least once in his life, or just dreams of warm waves and golden sand under his feet. What do they bring home from the sea? Souvenirs, bronze tan, shells from the coast and, of course, unforgettable memories of your vacation in numerous photographs

And for them to constantly warm you with their solar warmth even in winter, it’s enough to choose one of the brightest ones and place it in a frame you’ve made with your own hands from shells collected on the beach.

So, what will you need to create an original photo frame from seashells?1. Three metal hangers for a metal profile for a frame with a stand.2. Thick cardboard, maybe from an ordinary box, to make the base.3. A piece of fabric with a nautical print or like a vest.4. Seashells of different shapes and sizes that you have.5. A page with film from an old album for inserting photos.6. A piece of foil and cardboard of medium thickness to make an anchor.7. Beads, decorative small flowers, bows - whatever you want to decorate the composition with. If you have all this in your household, find the necessary tools for the work - scissors, a needle and thread, a pen or pencil, as well as PVA glue. You don't need anything more than creativity and perseverance. Therefore, you can immediately begin pleasant handicrafts. Take metal hangers, which are often left behind after repairs using drywall. If you don’t know what it is, ask your husband, he will help. If such parts are not available, you can buy them inexpensively at your nearest hardware store. From these slats, make approximately the same frame as in the photo.

Popular articles Chest made of plastic bottles

You can experiment and come up with something of your own. They bend very easily even with your hands, but to make the structure strong, it is advisable to press it well with pliers at the junction of the side posts and the partition. Cut several long strips of fabric up to ten centimeters wide.

Wrap your metal frame tightly with these flaps so as to completely hide it, leaving only the stand at the back. When one piece is finished, secure it with a few stitches using a needle and thread, then take the next one and continue until you get what you want.

From cardboard, cut out a rectangle or square a little wider and higher, about five centimeters, than the manufactured frame. But not necessarily, in this case any shape is acceptable, even asymmetrical. Make a hole in the cardboard blank suitable for the photo. It should be smaller than the photo itself.

On the back of the cardboard, attach a pocket for a photo, which can be taken from an old unnecessary photo album. Place it on glue, and for security, go around the edges with tape. If there is no pocket with film, make one out of plain paper, but in this case the photo will not be protected from dust.

Generously coat the cardboard with glue on the front side, carefully lean the frame covered with fabric, press and place under the press for half an hour. When they stick together, you can start decorating.

Draw an anchor on cardboard, cut it out, transfer exactly the same design onto foil, maybe from a cigarette pack, and cut it out too. Glue them together.

Place the anchor anywhere in the frame, preferably at the bottom. Lay out the shells to choose the most beautiful ones and get an idea of ​​what you will do with them.

It is important that the shells are dry, otherwise they will not stick. Create a patterned scattering of them, generously covering the cardboard and fabric surfaces of the future frame with them.

To ensure that they stick firmly and quickly, when placing them on cardboard, apply a layer of PVA directly to it, and to fix them on the fabric, smear the shells.

When you like the resulting picture, you can stop. Or take the extra beads, beads or flowers available in the house and complement the composition. If you use them sparingly and tastefully, the frame will turn out to be very impressive and unusual. In any case, no one else will have such decor except you, and a vacation photo in an exclusive frame made by yourself will decorate your home, fill it with comfort and delight you with pleasant emotions.

How to make a frog from shells with your own hands: instructions

Frog made of shells
So, to get this beauty you will need a pair of shells 5, 3 and 1 cm long, 4 shells 2 cm, glue, and a couple of black beads for the eyes.

• Use the largest frogs to make a frog mouth. It should look like it's open
• Take 3 cm shells and make a body
• Next, connect both parts together
• 2 cm shells are intended for creating paws
• Fix the smallest shells at the top and place the frog's eyes

Master class 1: DIY sea shell frames

Creating crafts with shells is not a difficult process, but it requires special and careful attention.

Even children can make bracelets and beads from shells, so we invite you to make more interesting crafts.

Traditional photo frames will look much more interesting if you decorate them with sea shells.

We will need:

• sinks of different sizes
• glue Moment or heat gun
• consumables – newspapers, paper
• scotch
• decorative elements for decoration - beads, marine-themed figurines

Procedure for creating a frame:

1. We prepare a place to work - cover the surface of the table with paper or newspaper, secure it with tape.
2. We sort the shells by size.

3. We decorate the first row of the frame using large shells, and use medium-sized material as the second row. We decorate the top layer of the photo frame with the smallest shells.

4. We decorate the remaining space between the shells with decorative figures - starfish, anchor, sun, colored sand.

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.

Types of stone crafts and their purpose

The variety of shapes, colors and available materials allows craftsmen to create unsurpassed works of art. Most often, children are involved in making crafts, but adults also excel at this activity. Stone products are needed not only for school exhibitions and children's rooms, they are also an element of home improvement, garden and yard.

Popular Articles Large spiral paper wicker vase

Making crafts for children

The peculiarity of childhood is an increased interest in objects. It is in childhood that talents, love for beauty, and handicrafts manifest themselves.

When raising a child, it is important to teach him to create. Together with an adult, a child can create a wonderful craft that may become his “best friend” for many years

There are several types of crafts:

Young children really like bright toys. To do this, you need to take a stone of the required size and paint it with acrylic paints. The following products received great love and demand: various cars, animals, fairy tale and cartoon characters, fruits and vegetables.

Compositions

This option involves the use of several stones and other available materials.

— “Miniature houses.” Choose pebbles that resemble a cube or parallelepiped. The stones are painted and decorated with paper or fabric. From such buildings you can build an entire settlement or castle;

- Animals. Children really like recreating the animal world. You can make a frog by painting a pebble green and drawing the outline. The frog can be planted on a kind of water lily sheet made of cardboard. And let the frog swim against the background of a blue sheet of paper, in this case water. In this way, you can make a ladybug by painting a stone red or orange, then drawing black spots;

— Crafts for elementary school students. They really help the child master counting and learn to read. All you need to do is draw a number, letter, or mathematical sign on a pebble. A set of smaller pebbles will allow the child to count them. This unique game will perfectly prepare your child for classes.

Sea stones are very original. They are found very often and in various shapes, sizes, they are well polished by sea water and in contact with sand and other stones. Particularly valuable are flat stones with holes, pebbles, and stones with peculiar colors and relief.

Photo frame "heart"

Romantic decor ideas involve the use of interesting fittings, bright colors and appropriate symbols. The “heart” frame will undoubtedly attract the attention of others.

You need to draw a heart on the background paper and cut it out. Then you should attach the blank to the front paper and circle 1 centimeter more. Now we cut out the final piece again.

Glass frame decor

On thick paper we trace a small heart and cut out a window for a future photo. We attach all the blanks to the frame, trying to arrange the elements as organically as possible. You can stick a variety of decorations on top of the paper frame:

• Lace;
• Ribbon;
• Paper flowers and bows;
• Pearl;
• Buttons.

Silver or gold plating will help add a special texture and “rich” gloss. The main thing is not to overdo it with decorations.

Textile frame decor

Wind chimes made from sea shells

There should be a ring at the base, but this is not necessary. Forms may vary.

Materials required:

• shells, starfish, beads, corals, pieces of glass;
• jute twine or any other thread;
• wire for beads;
• willow branches;
• crochet hook;
• knitting threads;
• scissors;
• varnish;
• glue gun (you can use a drill with a small drill bit, nail scissors or a needle).

Manufacturing instructions:

1. Willow branches must be boiled for 2 hours, then cooled and the bark removed.
2. Form a ring from the branches, braiding some branches with others (the branches should be wet), level it and leave it to dry overnight.
3. Prepare flowers using clear nail polish and wire.
4. Tie the shells (let them be openwork).
5. Prepare several beads by stringing each one onto a wire and securing it.
6. Cut 8 ropes of 120 cm each.
7. Attach the parts to a string: some you simply tie, some you glue, and tie it to the base ring, leaving the end hanging down. Do the same with the rest of the ropes.
8. Collect the loose ends into a bun and tie it with a separate thread. If the ropes are unevenly loaded with parts, it is difficult to achieve balance. And this is necessary before making the craft correctly. So, when distributing beads, fragments, stars and shells along the rope, you will have to monitor your balance.
9. From the resulting start, tie a braid up to 10 cm long and form a loop from it. Wrap one of the threads around the base and cut off the rest.

Sealing wax: new life for a simple material

You can make an amazing decorative element from postal sealing wax. Select material of different colors and a stamp.

The sealing wax is melted to a semi-liquid state, but not to a boil. Then several impressions are made on the frame. The composition will be incomplete without packaging twine, which is best tied with a bow or even shaped like a flower.

Mediterranean style frame decor

Original ideas for crafts

In general, shells can hardly be called a material: they are independent objects with their own unchangeable shape and size, from which a product is assembled, or they themselves serve as a finished decor item, painted and trimmed with rhinestones and sparkles.

As you can see in the photos presented, any craft made from shells is structurally understandable and it is not difficult to figure out how it works - the most valuable thing is the design of the craft, the idea, the direction for creative thought.

Applications and surface decoration

The easiest way is to make various kinds of applications from shells. Even a child can cope with this task; all you need is a piece of colored cardboard with a drawn outline of the future picture, which is pasted over with shells of suitable shape and size, pre-painted in the desired colors.

The most successful applique paintings should be placed in a frame under glass!

A more complex and practical type of decoration is the decoration of photo frames (ready-made or pre-made independently), mirrors, and picture frames with all kinds of shells and other starfish.

It’s a good idea to use photographic examples to learn a creative approach to solving such a problem. You can try to repeat the design you like, but to do this you should especially carefully select the shells in shape and size, having previously finished their surface accordingly.

In the same way, you can create valentines, original Christmas wreaths on the door or fireplace, even Christmas tree decorations!

You can breathe new life into your favorite cup by covering its outer surface (preferably the lower half or third) with a composition of small shells. An option is a stand for pens and pencils instead of a cup, as well as a flower vase.

Among the many famous crafts made from shells, an important place is occupied by all kinds of boxes, boxes and chests decorated by these inhabitants of the seabed. Moreover, surfaces can be covered with shells either completely or fragmentarily, creating all kinds of ornaments, floral patterns, etc.

Candlesticks for regular and decorative candles are also popular as “shell” decor. There are two possible solutions here: either paste over the lower half or third of the candle itself, assembling a symmetrical structure from different shells, expanding downwards to give the candle a stable position,

or cover a cardboard cylinder the thickness of a candle with shells, and it will be a real candlestick.

The first option is more decorative, so make sure that the candles are high-quality and expensive-looking.

There are also many solutions related to using the shell itself as a candlestick.

To do this, paraffin melted in a hot water bath is poured into the internal volume of a more or less large shell,

Using tweezers, hold the wick pre-glued to the bottom of the shell in a vertical position. As a rule, after 15 minutes the paraffin completely hardens and such romantic candles are ready for use.

Volumetric crafts made from shells

Creating three-dimensional crafts from shells can be even more fun than “flat-surface” decor. Children especially agree with this, from under whose skillful fingers come funny little animals, birds and people.

As a rule, once you have some experience in “shell” modeling, you want to start creating flowers, three-dimensional Christmas tree decorations and other New Year’s decor, various kinds of sailboats, lamps and three-dimensional panels.

Often, many very complex and quite simple, but created with taste and imagination, crafts made from shells amaze the imagination. The following photo shows a lot of such crafts, each of which can be repeated if you have the appropriate experience in working with the material and a trained eye for needlework.

In principle, the same super-or hot-melt adhesive, double-sided tape and plasticine are used everywhere, and the surface is painted with acrylic paints, gouache, and varnished. Any beautiful and simply curious little thing that experienced craftsmen thriftily collect in their creative “bins” will come in handy; You can have a good time searching for suitable jewelry and decor in art and craft stores.

Popular articles Congratulations on March 8th. Beautiful and funny SMS from March 8

Just start making crafts from shells, and you will very soon see that it is not very difficult, but so much fun!

Processing shells before starting creativity

We bring back from our vacation a reminder of the sea in the form of a whole scattering of various shells. Shells can have different shapes, colors and even patterns - this depends on the glands that the mollusks have. The surface of the shells can also be different - rough, smooth, twisted, with stripes, fan-shaped, etc.

How to clean shells from foreign odors and shellfish residues

Processed shells can be bought at the market or in a store.

If you brought them from the seashore or ocean, or found them in a lake or river, then the shells must be processed.

If there are no shellfish remains in the shell , simply soak it in a chlorine-containing solution (water and “Whiteness” in a 1:1 ratio) for half an hour. If the shell is not clean, you can keep it in the solution longer. Next, scrub the sink with a small brush to remove the dark layer.

If the shell contains mollusk tissue and there is a foreign odor, then it is necessary to thermally treat it: boil the shell for 5 minutes or heat it in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. After these procedures, you should remove everything unnecessary from the sink with scissors or tweezers. Next, you can proceed to the above-described procedure for processing the sink.

There is another way to clean the shell from the remains of the mollusk. Place the shells in a bag in the freezer for several days. After the freezing procedure, it is necessary to remove the mollusk tissue from the shell.

Post-processing of shells

After cleaning and drying, the shells have a dull matte surface. You can give them an artificial shine (this will be discussed below), or leave them as is.

Use them as decoration for baskets, boxes, etc.

Photo from homedecordesigns.info

And also as independent interior items, such as stands, vases and flower pots:

Spectacular vases made of shells

Flowerpots

Decor with glass

Stands for small items

Using the universal Moment glue, it’s quite easy to create various interior compositions with shells and starfish...

...decorate mirrors:

Shells look especially organic in tandem with natural materials, such as wood and twine:

And children can take part in creating simple crafts from shells. In this work you will need glue and thick cardboard for applications:

Author: BeachDaisyJewelry

Varnishing shells

Seashells that have dried out from water look a little dull and lose their attractiveness. Glossy varnish gives them shine and a certain gloss, so they look brighter and more impressive.

With the help of mother-of-pearl coating, shells are transformed and shine as if they had just come out of the water.

Pearlescent gloss

Very impressive presentation

To cover the shells, you can use acrylic varnish (transparent or with mother-of-pearl), which is applied to the shell with a regular art brush. Acrylic adheres well and dries quickly, making it great for decorating shells.

When covering the shells with acrylic varnish, you can simultaneously cover them with loose sparkles (glitter), they will stick to the varnish and will stick well, giving the shell additional texture and volume:

Spray varnish is also suitable for covering shells. Aerosol varnishes are colorless, as well as with golden and silver glitter.

It is better to work with aerosol varnishes in specially designated, well-ventilated areas or outdoors.

Photo from seathingsventura.com

Photo from dekorella.hu

An alternative to the above varnishes can be nail polish . Even the one that doesn’t fit well will do.

In order not to stain your hands and the surface of the table, and also to avoid sticking the shells to the kaolin surface, it is best to paint and dry by placing the shells on pencils or knitting needles standing in a pencil holder.

Galina Pchelka demonstrates in her video tutorial how you can transform the most ordinary shells using nail polish:

In your crafts, you can combine both matte and varnished shells.

Initial letter

Photo frame

Turtle

How to make a through hole in shells

When making crafts, it becomes necessary to make small holes in the shells. This work is almost like jewelry, since the shell is a fragile material and can crack or delaminate during the drilling process.

One rule must be observed: the thinner the wall of the shell, the smaller the hole and the accessories used (thread, fishing line, wire, etc.) should be.

A hole in a shell can be made using automated and manual methods.

When using a drill or screwdriver, you must select a drill with a diameter of 0.8 - 2 mm. The shell should be placed on a wooden or plastic board and secured with masking tape. The hole must be drilled directly along the tape. This will help the shell not break.

The hole can also be made using a nail and a hammer . To do this, secure the shell with masking tape and apply a mark on its inside. Next, place the nail against the mark and gently tap it with a hammer to create a starting hole. Next, move the nail back and forth until you get a hole of the desired diameter.

If you don’t have a nail and a hammer at hand, you can replace them with a needle , knitting needle or other improvised means.

It is necessary to follow safety rules and protect your eyes, as shell fragments can fly in your direction and cause injury!

Having learned how to make holes, you can create very beautiful jewelry from shells, for example, pendants, earrings, bracelets:

Author: KaliaKaiDesigns

Massive earrings in a marine style

Original pendant

Accessories for jewelry can be bought at a handicraft store.

Posted by Prim Rose Hill

Author: HappyEverythingElse

Chips on the shell can be cleaned with sandpaper or a sanding block and an original decoration can be made from such elements.

Author: Wildestier

To make a sea “breeze” or a dream catcher, all you need is the shells themselves, fishing line or rope, as well as a base made of driftwood or other material. In this case, you can combine shells of different colors and shapes, complement them with other elements:

Mini curtain for home

Island Dreamcatchers

To liven up your interior decor, “build” beautiful sailboats from shells:

Author: Irina Smolkova

How to make a cross section of seashells

Both whole shells and their cross-section are used in decoration. Of course, without having certain skills, it is difficult to make such a cut yourself. To do this, use a stone cutting machine.

Photo from seathingsventura.com

Oleg Yaremchenko shows in his master class how you can make a cross section of a shell using a machine:

The cross section of the shell resembles the outline of a snowflake, which is why they are used to create Christmas tree decorations.

And also in the manufacture of jewelry: earrings, pendants, pendants and even wedding accessories.

Author: SimpleHearted

How to make an unusual panel

You can make the panel abstract, that is, simply stick on shells of various shapes in a chaotic order, or you can arrange the shells into a pattern.

For example:

• Flowers;
• Tree;
• Ship;
• Doll;
• Car;
• Seascape, etc.

The next stage is a sketch of the panel, made in any way. You can not only draw a picture by hand with a pencil or paints, but also find a photo you like on the Internet or scan a beautiful picture, photo or even a postcard. Using Adobe Photoshop, you need to outline the image.

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.

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.

How to prepare shells for crafts?

Preparing the Shells
Before you do anything, you must first prepare the shells. If they are not too dirty and there are no shellfish left in them, then simply rinse them.

If there are shellfish left on the shells, then you should boil them for a few minutes and remove all the remains using tweezers. If you don’t do this, the craft will gradually start to smell bad.

If you need to bleach and disinfect the material, make a solution of water and bleach. They need to be added in equal quantities. Soak the shells in it for half an hour and you can even scrub them with a brush.

You can sand the edges so that they are not so sharp, and if you want the surface to shine, you can apply a clear varnish to it.

Photo frame made of shells. Master Class

Materials needed: 1. Shells of various shapes and sizes. There must be an asterisk (shell) present. 2. Small parts of seashells (crumbs). 3. Beads, crystal balls. 4. White beaded ribbon. 5. Ruler. 6. Glue gun. 7. Rods for glue gun – 4-5 pieces. 8. Pearlescent or clear varnish. 9. Stationery knife. 10. Handle. 11. White plastic. 12. Photography. 13. PVA glue.

In principle, from the presented list of necessary materials, almost everything can be found at home. Basically, the photo frame is pasted over not with the shells themselves (since they are very large), but with small particles. You can get them in two ways: on the beach (this is a mixture of sand with crushed shells right near the shore) or just take the shells, wrap them in a cloth and lightly crush them with a hammer.

So, take the photo you want to frame.

Tip: do not take a small photo, otherwise the image will simply be lost due to the volume of the frame.

Measure the width and length of the photo with a ruler. Write down the dimensions.

Now let's take the plastic. Move the image size of the photo to the center. Let's circle.

Add 2.5-3 centimeters on each side. You can adjust the frame width yourself.

Using a utility knife, cut out the frame along the outer edge. When cutting, try to use a ruler, keeping it firmly against the plastic. This way the edges will be smooth.

Cut out the inside of the photo frame.

Take small pieces of shells and a few large ones and place them on a flat surface.

We begin to paste over the photo frame from the upper left corner. Try to glue the shell particles so that there is as little free (white) space as possible.

Glue a starfish in the lower left corner. You can glue some decorative algae and a couple of spiral shells to the star.

We continue to glue small particles.

Well, the most dreary and time-consuming part of the work is done.

Select a photo. We will need white cardboard, larger than the photo.

Glue the photo to the center of the cardboard using PVA glue. If you want to periodically change the image, then simply apply a couple of drops of glue - a gun - to the edges of the photo.

We put our frame on top, make sure there are no white spaces and the photo is the right size.

Glue the base to the photo. Now take a string of beads. Measure the distance of the loop. Glue it.

Well, our shell photo frame is ready! This gift will be a wonderful addition to any interior.

Author of the master class: Svetlana.

More interesting works can be found on the website https://sam-sebe-molodec.ru/

Other photo frames on our website:

and other “DIY Photo Frames”
In order not to forget the page address and share with friends, add to your social network:

Decorating a photo frame with seashells

We will need: a photo frame, Moment glue, PVA glue, napkins, sea shells, semolina, rice, acrylic paints, brush, sponge, fixing varnish.

So, take out the glass and coat the frame well with PVA glue. Immediately tear the napkin into small pieces and, after squeezing it a little, place it on parts of the frame, covering it all with a continuous layer. Under the influence of glue, the napkin becomes very pliable - at this stage you can make small waves with your fingers.

We carefully fold the edges of the napkins to the sides and glue them.

Use “Moment” glue to randomly glue shells and pebbles and grains of rice. By making a flagellum from a wet napkin, imitating algae, you can add additional texture. Near the pebbles and shells, pour semolina onto PVA glue. Visually it will look like sand. Dry well again.

We begin tinting with paints. Take blue paint, a drop of black acrylic and mix well. It is better to do this not on paper, but, for example, on a plastic lid. Add a little water, mix until smooth and begin to apply it to the frame with a brush, covering the entire surface, including shells and pebbles. Dry it a little.

We add a little white paint to our palette, mix well - we get a light blue color. Now we work more carefully: we take a piece of sponge, dip it in paint, and, having blotted a piece of paper several times until it is semi-dry, with light movements we begin to touch the protruding parts of our “shore”. The result is a convex effect.

Next, we continue to highlight our tubercles: we again add white acrylic to the palette - the color turns out to be light blue. Also, use a sponge to apply a lighter tone to the protruding parts of the frame, grabbing the corners.

Let it dry and finish the work by applying small gold strokes to the shells.

Selection of materials

As you might guess from the name, a seashell panel is created using a variety of seafood. Ideally, of course, they are assembled with one’s own hands during the summer holidays, but it is also possible to purchase a ready-made set in a specialized store or even at the market. The shape of the shells is selected in accordance with your own preferences, but you should remember that the more unusual it is, the more unique the finished work will look. When collecting shellfish shells in a tight container with a closing lid, it is also worth putting several branches of exotic trees or even pieces of coral, as well as stones of different sizes that have changed their shape under the influence of water.

First of all, all the material is boiled for at least 60 minutes in water to which vinegar has been added. A tablespoon of the product will be enough per liter of liquid. Then the shells of the mollusks are thoroughly cleaned of sand or the remains of their inhabitants, and also dried. It is recommended to treat broken edges with sandpaper or a regular nail file. If the color of any shells does not suit the master, then before starting work it would be good to tint them with acrylic paint, stain or varnish of any shade.

Any plywood or wooden board is suitable as a base for the panel. To decorate the background, fabric or a piece of burlap is most often used, but options using sisal, decorative mesh or even sand will be interesting. It is most convenient to fix individual elements of the composition using a hot glue gun. The finished work, additionally decorated with beads, feathers, buttons and rhinestones, is placed in a frame.

Scents of comfort

Continuing the theme of simple frame pasting, you can choose completely unexpected decorative elements. You can be inspired for new creative experiments and realize your craziest ideas and fantasies in the most ordinary place - the kitchen.

For example, beautiful anise stars can become a luxurious decorative material. The surface is covered with a thick layer of glue, carefully attaching one star after another. The gaps between the anise elements can be carefully masked using other elements. For example, using poppy seeds.

Cinnamon sticks are a little more difficult to work with. They should also be placed on a wooden canvas. The main difficulty lies in the fact that the work does not always turn out neat.

Frame decor in patchwork style

Crafts from shells using different handicraft techniques

Seashell painting

Shells can be bleached or painted with acrylic paints or enamel.

Before painting, the treated shell can be coated with a primer, but this is not necessary. You can apply paint directly to the surface of the shell - this way its natural pattern will be more clearly visible under the paint.

It is better to pour paint onto the palette in small quantities, adding in small portions if necessary, since acrylic paints dry quickly.

It is also necessary to have different types of brushes: wide - to paint over the shell completely and thin - to draw fine lines and inclusions. While working, periodically wet the brushes in a glass of water.

As long as the acrylic paint has not dried on the shell, it can be easily wiped off. If the paint has already dried and you decide to make adjustments, then it is easy to paint it with a different color.

All kinds of patterns (dots, squares or stripes) can be applied to shells in accordance with the relief pattern on its surface:

Photo left: Nica Sotiropoulos, right: Bidigo

You can also use porcelain or ceramic paint . Most often, after using such paint, products are heat treated in the oven. In the case of shells, this is not required.

Spray painting is a quick and easy way to give your shells the color scheme you want!

Photo from decoracion.facilisimo.com

Unique jewelry is made from shells and gold leaf

Photo from how-do-it.info

Master class on covering shells with gold leaf:

To paint shells, you can also use ordinary gouache , especially if you are introducing children to beauty in this way.

Katya Greben makes a rainbow shell using gouache:

Painting with permanent markers does not require a specially prepared workplace. This method is ideal for beginners.

Posted by Creative in Chicago

Decoupage shells

Decoupage of shells is absolutely no different from decoupage of any other surface, but not everyone realizes that shells can also be decoupaged!

Cover the surface of the shell with acrylic paint or primer and let it dry. Then we glue small pieces of paper napkins onto the shell. Then we cover the entire shell with acrylic varnish or decoupage varnish.

Excellent Idea - Shell Jewelry Keeper:

Shabby Chic style lovers can make these shells for themselves:

This shell by S andy Knodel is hand painted, but almost the same effect can be achieved using decoupage. A real find for those who can't draw!

Decorating a photo frame with your own hands: step-by-step photo tutorial

We present to your attention a small project that is easy to implement at home, on your own or with your children.

It will allow you not only to have fun and useful time with your family, but also to create a wonderful thing that will always remind you of the time you spent at sea in the summer.

Who doesn't love to relax by the sea! We often take various souvenirs, such as shells and pebbles, as souvenirs of a good vacation.

Gradually, quite a large number of them accumulate. There is usually nowhere to store them, and it’s a shame to throw them away. What to do? Decorate your photo frame with them!

To begin, the shells need to be thoroughly washed and dried (unless, of course, you store them already washed). This project will require a significant amount of shells!

You will also need a wooden frame, preferably one with a flat surface. There is little point in taking a frame with any images, since they will be covered with shells anyway.

Remember that the larger the surface of the frame, the more voluminous the composition you can create. The glass from the frame must be removed before starting work.