Seashell Lamp

Yep-you can use the same technique as the flower pots,on a lamp.

This started out as one of those clay colored ginger-jar lamps.You know the ones.The type everybody had back in the 70's and 80's.A new millenium,a new lamp!

You use the exact,same techinque,as the flower pots,except you don't have to use the concrete sealer on it.You need to make sure the shells are really tight together,or you're gonna get dust bunnies in there.And you don't want that.Yuck!
Spray it well with the polyurethane sealer at the end.That makes it easier to dust(if you are so inclined to dust.......which,I try to avoid,if I can.I'd rather make things than dust,but I digress).

Let there be light!

Sanibel Island Treasures...................

We just got back from 6 days on Sanibel Island,and I thought I'd share how I am going to display some of the shells I found.
This first is just an old white plate,with a candle I got on clearance(who doesn't love clearance items?).

In all reality,I got the idea from Sarah at ABeachCottage.Check out her blog,if you want to see some great ideas for displaying beach treasures.She's amazing!

The next one is of a tall jar that sits on our fireplace hearth.Of all the beach treasures I find.Not necessarily shells,mind you.Just the flotsam I find on the beach that appeals to me,and reminds me of where I have been.

All of the sea urchins I found,this trip(12,I think),have joined others in an antique wooden bowl that sits on the sideboard in our dining room.

Anf there you have it.........Just how we display our beach stuff.......

Framing Sea Life

I have been asked, "How do I frame sea life?" I shall tell you..................

These are the things you will need:
White glue
Sponge brush
Craft sand
Picture matting(the number of mats you will need will depend on the depth of whatever you are framing)
Heavy cardboard
Tray(or pie plate) Mark the inner most part of the heavy cardboard,which will tell you where you want to spread the glue.You don't want to go all the way to the outer edge.If you do,the mat won't stick to the cardboard.Using the sponge brush,Paint inside the lines with a heavy coat of the white glue.

Press the cardboard into the sand.You will need to really press the sand into the glue.

You may have to repeat this process,to get a good coating of sand.But be sure to let each layer dry thoroughly, first.Or else you will end up with gluey,sandy mess.I know-I did that the first time I tried this.

While the sand is still wet,lay the sand dollar on it(you may want to glue the back of the sand dollar first),and gently press it into the sand.I learned on that one,too.

Let it dry thoroughly.Then give it a coat or two of matte spray urethane.This will keep the sand from working it's way loose,after it is framed.Learned on that,too.Sand drifting down onto the matting doesn't look very good.

(This one doesn't look good,but,then it's just for demonstration purposes.)

This is a miniature whelk I did.I also put footprints in the sand,with the foot of a doll.

Some thoughts on this project:

You could use the sand from whatever beach you collected the shell,sea life,etc. on.I use craft sand,because it is finer.It just seems to work better.

The number of mats you will need will depend on the thickness of the sea life.

You can do this with a shell.If you do that,you will need to use a shadow-box frame,or a frame that has some depth. Or a ton of mattes!

My recommendation: stay with the shadow box frame.

What You Can do With Shells(as in sea)

It's incredible what you can do with sea shells,a glue gun(you can do almost anything with a glue gun,I might add!),paint,and some creativity.

Mirrors!

Flower pots!

This project takes quite alot(and I'm not exaggerating when I say alot)of shells and glue sticks,but the result is well worth the effort.

What I like to call yard art.




Mulch!






Container for a bromeliad.

This is a wild bromeliad from our yard,and it seems to love being in this whelk.

Picture Frame

(Gawd!Isn't that a handsome couple ?!)

I must add,all of these projects took a lot of glue sticks.Thanks to Michael's Crafts for their 40% off coupons!