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Beachcomber Wreath

© Vickie Ferguson

For those of us fortunate enough to live on or near the ocean, the availability of thousands of seashells in every size, shape, color and type is part of our every day life. Strolling the beach at sunset or early morning, even if you're not a collector, you just can't resist picking up that colorful bit of coral or shell winking at you in the sand. You can't miss the vacationers/tourists, you'll see them with their little buckets picking up bits and pieces and sharing their findings with their fellow shell lovers.

Living in Florida, I confess to having collected buckets and buckets of seashells over the years and proudly display them in jars in my kitchen. You may be asking what does this have to do with dried flowers. Well, since we cover making crafts using an assortment of wreaths, I thought I would include what I like to refer to as the "flowers of the sea" and make a seashell wreath.

Seashells can be displayed in several ways; in jars, lamp bases, as a collage, to trim picture frames, etc. There is really no limit to the use of them if you use your imagination.

This project is so simple and only requires a straw wreath base; you select the size. An assortment of shells in varying sizes, hot glue gun and glue. Small piece of driftwood to use as an accent, if available, raffia or ribbon as additional decoration and to use as a hanger for the wreath and sea oats.

Snippet: (purchase or order sea oats through a reputable dried flower supplier only. It is against the law, in Florida, to snip these lovely flowers. They are critical to the environment and help with beach erosion.

Sort the shells in individual piles by size of shell. Starting with the largest shells, glue and put in place. Next, overlap with medium sized shells and fill in with smaller shells. Be sure to fill the inner rim and outer rim of the wreath but be careful not to place the shells so that they will interfere with the wreath hanging flat against the wall.

Look at each shell as a miniature piece of art and place it to show off its best "side". Use other shells to compliment the really unusual shells you use.

When you complete the wreath, check for balance and fill in where necessary. Adding a piece of beige, hunter green, bright pink or deep blue raffia (preferably) or ribbon will enhance the colors of the wreath.

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