Wow! The hot weather outside is doing nothing to encourage me to stay inside and craft. So.... why not take the crafting experience outdoors and combine a nature experience as well? Temperatures this week in central Maryland have reached the 95-degree mark, and even with the air conditioning running full blast, it's still a bit too close for comfort in my house. Sounds like a good time for a trek to the local beaches.
I decided to amuse the kiddies and invite them into my crafting world again. My four-year-old loves hunting for seashells, so we began to scour the shoreline for the prettiest and most unusual small to medium-sized shells. Once we had gathered a half-bucket full, I poured about a quart of sand into the other container. A job well done. As we scanned the shells quickly, we discovered that we had collected a nice array of bleached white, gray, and spotted brown shells in all shapes. My mind was clicking along as I devised a way to preserve the memory of the day and craft a lovely object to add to the home decor. This is also another craft idea that goes over big with the children, so you'll definitely get some enthusiastic help for this simple project.
If you can't get to the beach right away, no problem. Local dollar stores now stock collections of seashells in small baskets to be had for a very cheap price. You might want to check these resources out when trying to add to your crafting materials selection. Sand can be found at most home improvement stores.
MATERIALS:
- Assortment of small to medium-sized seashells.
- Glass containers, old wineglasses, mason jars, vases, wine bottles.
- Quart or more of clean beach sand.
- Tacky glue.
- Raffia or wire-edged ribbon (any color, but beige is a nice enhancement for the sand).
- Old picture frames.
DIRECTIONS:
1. Rinse shells lightly in cool tap water. Pat dry with a towel.
2. Clean glass container and dry thoroughly.
3. Pour sand into the bottom of the container, creating a one-inch layer.
4. Sprinkle seashells on top until they fill three quarters of the container.
5. Accessorize the container with raffia bows or ribbons, giving Mother Nature's beauty a gentle boost.
PICTURE FRAMES:
1. Clean the frame and dry.
2. Spread a thin layer of sand over the surface of the frame.
3. Sprinkle sand until the entire surface is coated.
4. Allow a few hours drying time.
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