Turn Your Seashells Into Artwork!
Last October I had my parents visiting me from Germany. They loved to go to the beaches here and walk along the shores of the Indian Ocean. On their leisurely holiday strolls they also found quite a collection of seashells (well, most of them were collected by two very keen little shell seekers, also called grandchildren 😉 ). Because of that fact, even quite unsuspecting seashells were treasured very much by my parents.
Now, I have to say that both of them are not very artistic (sorry, guys!). Not at all. So I was even more surprised when my dad emailed me a few months after their visit and attached a picture of what they had done with all these shells. It literally blew me away! Why hadn’t I had an idea like that?? – Here is what they did:
Seashell Art
Seashell Art
Now isn’t that absolutely amazing? Can you see how even quite ordinary seashells, when put together like this, can turn out to be a work of art? Now, my parents “glued” the seashells into a kind of white paste (you will have to ask at a craft store) which dried and the seashells stuck to it. They then had it professionally framed.
I know, this can cost quite a lot of money, but I have to be honest with you: Seeing the result, I doubt if it would have looked similar stunning if just framed with a cheaper frame. Sometimes it pays off to pay a little more, you will enjoy the end result so much more.
I take my hat off to my parents – usually I am the “artistic” one in the family!
Category: Beach Decor Craft Ideas
About the Author (Author Profile)
Petra is German and absolutely loves the beach and the ocean. She is living in sunny Perth, Western Australia, with her partner, 2 children and 2 Jack Russell dogs and takes every opportunity to go for long walks at the beach, or go beach combing, or just watch the sunset at the beach with friends and a glass of wine. With this blog she wants to help you bring the precious beach into your home to relax and enjoy!Subscribe
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That’s very cute. Seashell as art became quite popular again. There is a seashell art competition in Sanibel, Fl every year. Check out my favourite seashell artist does with simple shells – http://www.allaexpression.com.
Eugene, Thank you for sharing this site with us! Very interesting!
This is beautiful. Is there glass mounted over the seashells? I love it.
@Debbie, no, there is no glass over the seashells, but I guess you could do that, too! 😉
I enjoyed reading this post about Beach Theme Home Decor » Blog Archive » Turn Your Seashells Into …. Really interesting. I will come back to visit this blog again.
The beach and the seaside are a huge inspiration to me and feature strongly in my artwork – like your seashell pictures, it is the fresh, light feel that makes the beach so inviting.
That looks like something I would like to do with my daughter, with the shells we collected on our last holiday. It really is lovely.
Your parents did a beautiful job with the seashells. It looks like they really had a great time with you picking up those seashells or they wouldn’t display them so proudly. By the way my husband is from Germany also. We spend lots of time at the beach or saltwater fishing. You have a great blog.
It is a nice idea and i think it is artistic one
so, i appreciate your parents for this nice work
and this frame give it a high value
It is really nice post and provide great ideas for seashell art
Happy SITS Wednesday! Your seashell art is lovely! If I lived near the ocean I’d ahve to try this!
I think in addition to beautiful and artistic, but it makes a fabulous idea, sometimes we find a lot of things on shore, but do not know how to use it, it’s become a very creative idea at all.
So most probably being artistic is in your genes. The artwork doesn’t look like its made from home. It looks very beautiful, neat, and clean.
Wow, you have done a good job here. Your master piece is really beautiful and professionally done. Looks like it is made by an expert. Thank for sharing this wonderful work of art.
Wow – what a great idea. We often go to the beach and my kids love to collect shells. Instead of bringing them home, leaving them in a bucket and finally throwing them out because they stink, you’ve given me a great idea for another activity on a not so sunny day they can then use to decorate their bedrooms. Thanks!
Thanks to your this post it is a very grate theme use to decorate the house.it is very nice them.
I am glad I have inspired you!
I feel great artwork can be valuable for a number of reasons. The skill of the painter sometimes but I feel the way the art makes us feel is what moves us the most. If the image doesn’t move us immiediatly then the story behind the picture should be all the more interesting and if the art work itself doesn’t offer a good story then the story behind the painter will determine the value of the work they do.
For a Christmas gift, I wanted to turn my boyfriend’s favorite picture of us into some kind of art (sketching or painting or pop art or something). I know there are a lot of websites that offer these services, does anyone have experience with any one in particular, what did you get done and would you recommend it to others?
You can choose an unframed seashell print or we would be happy to frame your
seashell art so you may hang it. and it is a good Sea Shell Art Project Ideas. After a seaside vacation, visitors often return home with a collection .I like it.
I live in a rented apartment and my landlady permits no nails in the wall.How else can I hang a picture canvas apart from using blue tack and some sticky kind of tape from B&Q (tried both and they failed miserably)?
I am glad you have inspired with me.
We here in Australia have something called “Command Hooks” which you can fasten to the wall with a sticky strip, and they come clean off when you want to remove them again. Have you ever heard of that?
Hi there.. I am quite new to blogging world and I been doing some research to get some ideas. Your wordpress blog definitely has given me some inspiration. Thanks a lot for that!.. and not to mention I’vebookmarked your Turn Your Seashells Into Artwork! | Beach Theme Home Decor .
Have you ever been to Germany. if so what do u think about it. What do you think of the language? Is there a lot of slang in it?
Hi, I am trying to find out what the white paste is called that they glued their shells into first. Thank you!!
Hi Lynn, I am actually not sure, but if you go into a craft supply shop, I am sure you will be able to find out! Sorry that I can’t be of more help. 🙁
Yes, I have been to Germany as I was born there, and I love it. I am not sure what your question has to do with the theme of my blog, but I decided to answer it. There is not much slang in German, I think.
You’ve the choice of several substances that will work well and cleanly: Hot glue; araldite (epoxy resin) and pva will all work well and give a clean background on a wooden frame. You could also consider making up plaster of paris (Polycell or similar) coat the frame and force the shells in to the mixture, finishing with a sprinkling of clean sandpit sand for a seaside finish.
I have an idea for an artwork and i want to use oyster shells, now that i have leaned them up they have dried out and become quite brittle. any suggestions for what kind of glaze i could use to essitially re-hydrate them and bring back and keep their beautiful colour?
It is really nice post and provide great ideas for seashell art
Good info on seashell art. Thanks !
Nice One. I have bookmarked and looking to get more information