Daily Handy Tips

We often collect seashells along the beach, either to just admire them, or, in lots of cases, we just gather them up, as we like the texture of them. I often save them with the idea that I will most likely do something arty including them at a later date. Projects with shells always seem pretty popular just like canvas art.

In my view boxes are rather a good choice, as you can make use of these to keep things in. For example, jewellery, little treasures, letters, needles and pins, in fact, any number of items really. What you intend to use them for is dependent on the size of the box, of course.

There are all types of wood and paper mache boxes too, readily obtainable in the stores and art suppliers now. Some are designed specially for people to decorate themselves. Obviously what materials you require to do this will depend completely on the sizing of your selected article.

Nevertheless, what you select to cover your box does not have to end at seashells. For instance, if you are using the sea theme, why not include some fake starfish, tiny beads that will glisten, small glass nuggets are lovely, as are miniature pearls and even one or two shiny sequins. This will add a feel of realism!

At this point, if you do not have access to a local beach you can more often than not buy various shells in the stores, so this should not be too much of a predicament. You could even use a bit of raffia to look a bit like jetsam. There are certain to be an assortment of boxes you can use for this, ranging from former empty cigar boxes, ready prepared wooden chests for embellishment and even linen boxes.

So, now I have given you a few suggestions let’s move on, you can always alter your box consequently! As for your essential needs for this task, you will want a wooden or paper mache box to work this on. Added to this a sponge, which is quite small, some acrylic paints, plus a paintbrush, craft varnish, a palette to hold your paints and a suitable glue that will bond well.

You may decide to use a different paintbrush to apply the glue and then, of course, there will be any further items to elaborate your box and an assortment of seashells of a suitable size for your task. Hence how do you begin? You may well ask!

To begin with, pick up your sponge, wet it, and then squeeze out any excess water. Now take your palette and distribute small amounts of paint into the tray. Should you be working on a trunk type of box, inside the paint tray for colours, I would in all probability select some gold, a sand colour, purple, several types of blue and maybe a green.

Seize the sponge and you should now dab on layers of paint to when all’s said and done cover the box, both inside and out. While you do this you can really see how many varying shades you can in fact produce. When you have achieved this leave it somewhere to become dry.

Next stage, fish out your seashells and take a crack at working out a pattern to apply to your box. Continue by using your paintbrush to spread glue all over the box before moving on to carefully press the shells down into the glue firmly.

There is no reason why you cannot cover the whole box with shells. However, you can dot your other embellishments here and there, particularly if you are trying to give the idea of a real treasure chest!

Clearly then, this needs to dry off before you can then apply a glaze of the craft varnish. This therefore will provide a soft sheen appearance to the box. I am certain that at the closing stages you will be very satisfied with the end result.

Not just this, I am convinced that your friends and family will think that this is, in fact, delightful. They will also be hoping that you will make one for them in the not too distant future. Then again, now you have tried this, you could ultimately do this to additional items, for instance wooden picture frames or even surrounding mirrors!