wolfie28311

I've been searching the net & can't decide on anything, so I thought I'd ask all you crafty people. Here goes....

My sister & her family camp all the time at the same camp ground in Myrtle Beach, well a bunch of people there make & sell things at the campground. She comes home with something new all the time.She suggested since I'm crafty I make some thing and she'd sell it for me.I don't really specialize in anything,so I was looking for something unique.People sell fish & apples made out of 2 liter bottles, whirly-gigs, crocheted dish clothes,wooden light houses,the lights made of solo cups, really all kinds of stuff.

I'm looking for some ideas.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks a bunch!

Big_G

If you have a snow globe kit, these projects are very easy--just follow the instructions that came with the globe, using sand instead of glitter and shells instead of a figurine (figure A). Leave the water out if you chose (figure B)--that gives the sand globe a different look and makes it even more fun to shake.




Figure A


Figure B




You can also make your own sand globes using decorative jars like jelly jars or baby food jars.

First, soak the sand and shells you'll be using in distilled water for about a day. Swirl the sand around a few times and use a spoon to scoop out any sandy debris that doesn't sink when the rest of the sand settles.

Pour the soaked sand and shells into the glass globe or jar and submerge it, open side up, into a larger container of distilled water. When water fills the jar the rest of the way, dip the lid into the water as well and then screw it onto the jar. Keeping the glass and the lid completely submerged while screwing it on will help prevent bubbles in the finished jar.

Tips:

Use small shells if you're using water in your globe, because the water will magnify them several times (figure C).

Make sure the shells are clean when you use them in a snow globe or the water might turn murky in time.

Make sure there isn't so much sand in the globe that it covers the shells when the sand settles in the bottom.

Don't use especially brittle or fragile shells like sand dollars or starfish as they will break when the globe gets shaken.

Big_G

Here is one i thought was nice

Sea shell Mirror

Materials:

1/2" foam core
X-acto knife
hot glue gun and glue
flat mirror
acrylic paint and brushes
tile adhesive and putty knife
sea shells, plastic cherubs, beads, etc.
sheer fabric and scissors (do not use pinking shears)
Mod Podge and bowl
silver leaf and sizing

Steps:

Cut foam core to size and shape then hot glue to flat mirror frame.
Apply acrylic paint and let dry.
Spread tile adhesive onto several areas of frame.
Press shells and other decorative items into adhesive before it dries.
Cut sheer fabric into strips, immerse in a bowl of Mod Podge, squeeze out excess glue and form it onto frame. Allow strips to dry thoroughly (a couple of hours).
Add more paint (use a different color if desired) to various areas using a dry brush.
Add silver leaf sizing and leaf to several areas on shells and fabric.

More Ideas


Hot-glue small uniform shells to the chair railing area of a wall to create a border.
Place a small amount of sand in a clamshell and top with a tea light (take out of metal). The sand will catch the wax so it won't mar the shell.
Hot-glue scalloped shells to a string of white lights.



==================================================
more ideas.

Big_G

******** Birdhouse












Birdhouses are all the rage lately. Charming wooden birdhouses can be found at most craft stores for less than $5, and then you can let your imagination take flight (no pun intended), decorating them however you wish.

For this birdie beach house, I had dozens of scallop shells in a variety of colors that just seemed perfect for birdhouse shingles, but you can use whatever you have . First divide your shells somewhat by size, so that larger shells will be at the bottom where you have more surface area and smaller ones will fit better near the peak.

I started at the base of the "roof," attaching the shells with hot glue, around and around. After the first row was completed, the second row didn't quite want to go on the same way--so it became a little more random after that, gluing in rows but still having to skip spaces here and there (figure A). I filled in those spaces later with smaller shells.

Next, I added a row of cowrie shells around the base of the birdhouse (figure B) and then topped it off with a spiral worm shell like a little birdie weathervane on the top (figure C).

I liked the natural wood with all the various colors of shells, but you could paint your birdhouse in a variety of colors. Paint it and let it dry before you start gluing on shells.

If you plan to hang your birdie beach house outside for real birds to enjoy, make sure you give it a layer or two of waterproofing weather repellent.

wolfie28311

Thanks for the ideas!