On a recent beach trip, I saw a lot of art created using oyster shells. So, with Easter coming, I used the inspiration to create some crosses.
I could have asked some restaurants at the beach for their discarded oyster shells, but didn't want to drive home with the stinky shells. So, I ordered some from Amazon that were already scrubbed & sanitized.
The first thing I did was to give the inside of the shells a coat of white paint. This will keep the dark spot where the oyster was attached to the shell from showing through the design.
If you know me, you know I'm a hoarder of patterned napkins. I love using them in decoupage projects. So, I picked a pretty patterned napkin & separated the layers until I was left with a single layer. If you don't separate the layers, the napkin won't adhere properly.
I cut the napkin a little larger than the size of the shells. If you cut it the exact size, it will end up too small once pressed down into the curved shell. I cut the napkin about a half inch larger than the shells all the way around.
I added a coat of Dixie Belle Paint Company's Clear Coat to use as my decoupage medium. You could also use ModPodge. I covered the inside of the shells with the clear coat, & while wet, I added the napkin. I started pressing the napkin down from the center of the shells working my way out to the edges. I did not rub back & forth! This could tear the napkin. So, I gently pressed the napkin down with my finger.
Once the clear coat was dry, I wet my finger & rubbed along the edges of the shells to remove the excess paper.
I added more Clear Coat over the napkin to seal it. Once the clear coat was dry, I used my finger to add Dixie Belle's Gold Gilding Wax to the edges of the shells.
I also added the gilding wax to the edges of a wooden canvas that I had painted with Dixie Belle's paint color, Farmhouse Green.
Once everything was dry, I glued the shells onto the canvas using E6000. E6000 will hold things in place forever, but it takes awhile to set up. So, I let the canvas lay flat overnight.
I intended this project to be for Easter, but with the napkin I chose, it can stay out all year.
I never seem to be able to stop with just one project. And, since I had more shells, I made a couple more.
For one, I used a napkin that reminds me more of Easter since it features bunnies.
I added the bunny shells to a canvas that I painted with the color, Daisy.
I also created one where I reversed the paint & paper. I covered the wooden canvas with a black & white check napkin. I painted the shells with the color Peony, added gold to the edges, then added the shells to the decoupaged canvas.I have plenty more shells. Just waiting for more inspiration to hit to see what I do with them!
Linking To:
The Cottage Market, Funky Junk Interiors,
The Answer Is Chocolate,
Flutter Buster,
Our Hopeful Home,
My Thrift Store Addiction,
The Painted Hinge,
Yesterday On Tuesday,
Confessions Of A Plate Addict,
My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia,
Creatively Beth,
County Road 407,
Pieced Pastimes,
Southern Sunflowers,
The House On Silverado