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Table of Contents
What kind of paint do you use to paint oyster shells?
Step 1: prepare oyster shells and designs for trinket dish
If your shells have darker spots on the interior surface, it is helpful to give them a coat of white acrylic paint, especially if you are using napkins or tissue paper later.
How do you clean and paint oyster shells?
- Soak freshly shucked oyster shells in half water, half bleach solution for up to 24 hours. …
- Dump out the bleach solution and refill with a warm water and dish soap solution for cleaning.
Can you spray paint oyster shells?
Personally, I love them and have repurposed some into a glamorous oyster shell ornament. I say “glamorous” because I spray painted the oyster shells gold and added some shiny beads to the thread. Add a touch of gold and a bit of bling and the oyster shell ornament goes from plain to glam!
How do you make oyster shell shiny?
- You can also use mineral oil to give the shells a shiny coating.
- Let the oil dry completely before you start crafting with your oyster shells.
Quick Tutorial To Make A Glamorous Oyster Shell Ornament
How do you Mod Podge oyster shells?
- Directions:
- Wash and dry your oyster shells.
- Paint the pit of your shell white and allow to dry.
- Paint a generous layer of mod podge onto the pit of your shell.
- Gently lay your patterned tissue paper onto the wet adhesive and smooth down.
Quick Tutorial To Make A Glamorous Oyster Shell Ornament
Materials:
oyster shells
Liquid leaf in gold
Paint brush
Patterned napkins or tissue paper
White acrylic or pearl paints
Gloss Mod Podge
Nail file or fine sandpaper
DIY Oyster Shell Trinket Tray – Home & Family
directions:
1. Wash and dry your oyster shells.
2. Paint the core of your shell white and let it dry.
3. Spread a liberal coat of Mod Podge onto the pit of your clam.
4. Carefully place your patterned tissue paper onto the wet glue and smooth out.
*If using napkins, only use the top layer by dividing the layers with your thumbs starting from the corner. *
5. Once the Mod Podge has dried, use your fingers to remove the excess material.
6. Use your nail file to gently file the edge of the pit until smooth.
7. Take your fine brush and paint the rim of your oyster shell with the liquid gold leaf.
8. Seal the pit and leaf edge with glossy Mod Podge if desired.
9. Let it dry and enjoy!
More information about this episode is available >>
Do oyster shells become toxic?
It is all right to eat and swallow oyster shell it will not harm you. However, if you take that oyster shell and cut it with a saw blade it will create a dust, that dust is highly toxic.
Quick Tutorial To Make A Glamorous Oyster Shell Ornament
Will bleach ruin seashells?
Some people warn against bleaching because the shell might absorb the smell and that can’t be gotten rid of. Also, it can ruin the color. So, if you are bleaching your shells, don’t leave them in the solution too long.
Quick Tutorial To Make A Glamorous Oyster Shell Ornament
How to clean seashells after your beach trip…don’t skip this step.
Look at all those beautiful blue shells! As an east coast girl, I had never seen blue conch shells on the beach before. Needless to say, some of these came home with me. I always find it surprising how quickly clams start to have a foul smell. Today I am going to share with you my method on how to clean seashells.
As I mentioned earlier in THIS post and THIS post, I love collecting seashells on the beach. The moment my feet touch the sand, it’s like my head is pulled down by a magnet. Before I knew it, a few hours had passed and my hands were full of collected shells.
Like this photo below – my hands were already full and I had only been on the beach for about 10 minutes.
Be a good steward
I never collect live shells. Those harboring crabs, clams, clams, or other creatures are left in their natural habitat. I only collect non-living seashells from the beach. But live shells harbor enough things that make it necessary to clean shells after your trip to the beach.
Why do you need to clean clams?
periostracum [per-ee- os -tr uh -k uh m]
noun, plural per i os tra ca [per-ee- os -tr uh -k uh ] /ˌpɛriˈɒs trə kə/ . the outer, chitinous covering of the shell of certain molluscs that protects the calcareous part from acids.
The periostracum is the scaly, leathery covering that encases most mussels. Every nook, crevice, and ridge of the shell can harbor bacteria, algae, and more. After collecting clams, the most important thing is to clean them immediately before they start smelling. Trust me – it doesn’t take long for the smell factor to kick in either!
Deliveries:
bleaching
water
Glass or plastic bowl
Old toothbrush or small brush
detergent
paper towels
Mineral oil intended for food use only – like THIS, THIS, or THIS. Please do not use oils such as vegetable or olive oil. These become rancid and spoil. You can also use an oil meant for wooden cutting boards. Click on the following photo links:
How to clean clams:
In a glass or plastic container, mix equal parts bleach and water. I used 1 cup of each.
Add clams
Leave to soak for 1 hour
Take 1 seashell from the bleach mixture and try to clean it. Cleans up easily – continue to the next step. If the shell isn’t clean, place it back in the bowl with the other shells and let it soak for 1/2 hour more.
Discard the bleach and water mixture. Rinse and wash the clams thoroughly in hot, soapy water while scrubbing with the old toothbrush. Be sure to remove all dirt, grit, etc., especially from crevices.
Rinse and wash again in hot soapy water to ensure all bleach, dirt and grit are removed.
Air dry on paper towels.
When the shells are completely dry, buff them with some mineral oil.
Display mussels in a bowl, tray, or container.
This photo clearly shows the difference between an uncleaned bowl and a clean bowl.
Some warn against bleaching because the skin could absorb the odor and make it impossible to get rid of it. Also, it can ruin the color. So when you bleach your mussels, don’t leave them in the solution for too long. I have personally never had this problem and have been using this clam cleaning method for decades.
Don’t worry – the shells will only shine after the first application of the mineral oil.
I love displaying my blue seashells in this vintage silver sugar bowl.
Aren’t they beautiful?
Are you exhibiting your shell collections? We’d love to see them!
Don’t forget to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board!
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Coastal inspired succulent garden DIY nautical shell napkin rings
Beach inspired coffee table decoration
How do you bleach oyster shells for decorating?
Place the oyster shells inside the bucket and use a stick to push them down into the water until fully submerged. Let the shells soak, stirring them every 30 minutes to an hour, until the particles from the outside of the shells dislodge.
Quick Tutorial To Make A Glamorous Oyster Shell Ornament
Tip
Follow local laws when harvesting fresh oysters. A fishing license is required in the Bay Area, although at the time of publication there is no limit to how many oysters you can catch.
Oyster restaurants can hand out empty shells upon request.
What to use to make seashells shiny?
To make your seashells shine for a polished look, rub them with mineral oil or baby oil and allow that to dry for 24 hours.
Quick Tutorial To Make A Glamorous Oyster Shell Ornament
Make your souvenirs sparkle, shine and last forever.
Here are some tips to help you clean and polish your beach shelters
wipe clean
To clean your clams, remove most of the dirt and debris by simply wiping them with a paper towel or dishcloth. You may also want to rinse them off with your garden hose. Try to remove as much sand before bringing them into your home.
toothbrush
Use a toothbrush to scrub visible dirt off your clams. Don’t forget to clean the inside as well.
Anything inside?
If the previous owner’s body is still in the shell, it must be removed, otherwise there will be a very strong stench. You can use tweezers to remove things, or use tweezers in conjunction with any of the methods listed below.
1) Bury the clam at least 12 inches deep in your garden and let it decompose there for at least 1 month.
2) Place the mussels in a saucepan covered with room temperature water and bring to almost a boil, then turn off the heat and let sit until it comes back to room temperature. This should release whatever is left inside, however not all clams respond well to such hot water.
3) You can put your clams in a plastic bag, put water in the bag to cover the clams, and then put them in the freezer. After they’re completely frozen, thaw them and anything inside should come out easily.
Please do not take living beings from their home in the ocean J
bleaching
To ensure the clams are free of germs and nasty stuff, soak them in a solution of water with 10% chlorine bleach. Make sure the water and bleach solution completely covers the clams. When using bleach, take reasonable precautions not to spill it on anything that may be affected (e.g. your clothes). After about an hour, remove the clams from the bleach and water and rinse thoroughly with clean water. Let them dry. If you want your clams to look white (or whiter than they currently are), soak them in a 50% water/50% bleach solution and let them soak longer.
mineral oil or baby oil
To give your shells a shine for a polished look, rub them with mineral oil or baby oil and leave to dry for 24 hours.
polyurethane
If you want to use polyurethane for extra polish on your shells, skip the oil step and spray them with aerosol polyurethane instead. Make sure you do this in a well-ventilated area. You will most likely have to wait for one layer to dry (per the time listed in the manufacturer’s instructions), then flip the mussels and spray the other side. Each side may need two coats or more.
Posted on Tuesday March 24, 2015
How do you decoupage oyster shell?
You can use Matte or glossy, your preference. Cut out a rough shape of your oyster shell on the tissue paper/napkin. If you use napkins, be sure and remove the white outer layer and just use the colored part. Press down with your paintbrush and mold it to the shell.
Quick Tutorial To Make A Glamorous Oyster Shell Ornament
Today’s post is a fun craft idea. I’m not much of a crafter but occasionally something comes along that catches my eye and I loved this one and thought you would too. This oyster shell craft has been around for a long time and I’m definitely not the first blogger to share it, but since it’s my first time making it I’m sharing it with you too. I’ve noticed them everywhere over the last few years and many of them are sold in online shops.
Happy May Day! A few weeks ago I went to a women’s retreat in St. Simons, GA with a local friend, Pat. In a coastal area and as part of the weekend activities, Pat had a local St Simons girl come over and share this craft with the ladies. When I heard we were going to make these I was very excited because I had seen these oyster shell ring holders for sale at construction sites and knew they had to be easy to make. And you are!
These are the 3 oyster shells I made on this weekend craft adventure. I thought she was so cute so I brought home extra oyster shells that she offered to make more. The girl who made the craft is Small Town Table. Angie is the cutest single mom and she has an online gift box and craft business. She has spa gift sets, subscription boxes, soaps and more. You can find her DIY Oyster Shell Craft Box here for $15 if you want to try this craft at home and don’t want to buy all the components. One box is enough for many oyster shells. I still have enough material left in my crate. Many of us probably have oyster shells at home that we have collected for years. Make sure your oyster shells have been thoroughly cleaned before painting them.
Let’s get started and be sure and save my collage for future reference. It’s so easy you’ll want to make lots of them.
I had 4 extra oyster shells that I brought home to do more crafting with. Your kit includes the brushes, white paint, gold paint, and decoupage (mod podge) you need to make this.
Step One: Paint your oyster shell with white craft paint, especially if it has dark spots. You don’t want these bleeding through your paper. Let dry.
Angie provided us with several options in tissue paper. The thin paper is best for such projects. I had the bird napkins left over from my Easter egg decoupage project I did a few years ago.
Painted white and dried.
Step 2: After the white paint has dried, paint the inside of the shell with Mod Podge. You can use matte or glossy depending on your preference. Cut out a rough shape of your oyster shell on the tissue paper/napkin. When using napkins, be sure to remove the white outer layer and use only the colored part. Press down with your brush and shape it to the shell.
Step 3: Put more Mod Podge on the paper and spread it out with your brush, brushing down the edges and smoothing it out as best you can.
Step 4: Once you’ve smoothed it out and stuck it well around the edges, make sure it’s sufficiently wet with Mod Podge, then start tearing the extra napkin/tissue paper off the edge of the dish. It tears easily when wet.
Once the edges are sealed, let everything dry thoroughly. Don’t worry about small imperfections in the napkin or tissue paper, they dry flat and look amazing.
Step 5: Let everything dry well before the last step (or if you are in a hurry I find the gold paint is ok to go ahead and paint on the edge then let everything dry). But if you have more time, let everything dry well. I did that with this batch and came back to them dry.
Step 6: Get out your gold paint and brush and brush along the edges of the paper to give the oyster shells a shiny look. Be sure to cover the hinge part of the shell as it is usually larger. It’s so easy, just use your brush and apply the gold paint to give the bowl a finished look.
Enjoy your finished jewelry tray/ring holder. They are so cute, it was fun figuring out what designs I wanted on each shell. This will all be a unique and fun project to do with those little girls in your life.
Each shell is a different shape, some flatter and some rounder with a deeper scoop in the middle, but they’re all fun and unique. I will give some of these away to family and friends and keep some for myself. I love them all!
What do you think is this one craft project you want to try? It really is that simple that anyone can do it! These oyster shells have been quite the trend over the past few years, have you noticed?
How do you paint oyster shells on canvas?
- First, you will need to paint your canvas one color. …
- Once the paint is dry, paint a thick layer of mod podge over the canvas. …
- While the Mod Podge is drying, paint a thin layer of gold metallic paint around the outside of your oyster shell.
Quick Tutorial To Make A Glamorous Oyster Shell Ornament
My two favorite oyster creations are the burlap and the ring dish! I love the ring dish for a friend who recently got engaged.
Before we start, be sure to follow me on Instagram and click the DIY highlight on my profile to see my latest video tutorial on oyster shell decoupage.
YOU NEED THE FOLLOWING:
oyster shells
Mod Podge
gold leaf
Clear Gorilla Glue
acrylic paint (canvas background)
Gold metallic acrylic paint
3×3 canvas
acrylic brush
Oyster Canvas
1. First you need to paint your canvas with a color. Be sure to paint the sides as well. I love using metallic colors for a more glamorous look. Another pretty look is to paint the canvas white. White and gold also look gorgeous together.
2. Once the paint is dry, paint a thick layer of Mod Podge over the canvas. Be sure to include all four sides.
3. While the Mod Podge dries, paint a thin coat of gold metallic paint around the outside of your oyster shell.
4. Before the paint dries, peel pieces of gold foil from the foil and place them on top of the wet paint so that it sticks to the rim of the dish.
5. When all of the gold foil is added, cover your oyster shell with Mod Podge. Be sure to apply the Mod Podge around the bottom edge where gold foil is wrapped to ensure it dries in place.
6. After your shell has dried, apply Gorilla Glue to the center of our canvas and place the shell in the glue. The Gorilla Glue foams and dries on the shell to hold it in place.
7. Once the glue dries, you’ll have a super cute little oyster on a canvas. You can even buy gold thumbtacks and attach them around the outside of the canvas.
Oyster ring dish
This one is super easy! You basically follow steps 3 to 5 above. Choose an oyster shell that can stand upright on a counter and is deep enough to hold a ring, or if you’re working for your office, one that can hold a couple of paper clips.
Want to share this little project with your friends?
Pin the “pinnable” image below.
How do you stick shells to canvas?
Plug in your hot glue gun and let it start warming up. Next, you will use your hot glue gun to run a thin line of glue along the backside of the shells, one at a time. Be sure to get glue on every edge. After applying the glue, quickly, but carefully, press the seashell down into the center of your canvas.
Quick Tutorial To Make A Glamorous Oyster Shell Ornament
When we go on vacation to the beach, one of our favorite things to do is hunt and find seashells. Only problem is we get home and I have tons of clams and have no idea what to do with them! I recently decided to turn some of my seashells into pretty pieces of art for my bathroom and bedroom as they are themed around nautical elements, but I wasn’t quite sure how to go about it. I was walking down the craft aisles at Walmart and saw these cute mini-wrapped canvases and instantly knew what I wanted to make!
This Easy Seashell canvas art is so easy, it won’t take you time to make it! I left my canvases white because it suited my decor better, but you could always paint them one color before attaching the shell if you want to achieve that look.
Deliveries:
4 Pack Mini Square Wrapped Canvases
Four Shells
hot glue gun
To get started with your Easy Seashell Canvas Art, you must first wash all the sand and dirt off your seashells. Rinse them well and rub them with your fingers to remove the sand from them. Use a paper towel to dry them completely before proceeding to the next step. Plug in your hot glue gun and let it warm up.
Next, you’ll use your hot glue gun to run a thin line of glue down the back of the shells, one at a time. Be careful to get glue on each edge. After applying the glue, quickly but gently press the shell into the center of your canvas. Allow two minutes to dry before moving the canvas.
Repeat these steps until you have all your Easy Seashell canvas art ready. Hang them on a nail in the wall or put them on a shelf. They look cute with any beach decor. These would also make a cute gift for birthdays or Christmas!
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What is oyster shell?
What Are Oyster Shells? As the name implies, oyster shells are the hard exoskeleton of a variety of mollusks that are in the family Ostreoidea. Most oysters live in saltwater or brackish environments. Additionally, their shells tend to contain high levels of calcium carbonate (about 96%).
Quick Tutorial To Make A Glamorous Oyster Shell Ornament
In particular, those empty oyster shells from your last seafood feast have some surprising benefits for your lawn and garden. It may seem like too much time and effort to get these trays into a shape your plants can pull nutrients from, but the truth is the process is easier than you might expect. With just a little pre-planning and effort, you can add the nutrients of one of the best natural forms of calcium and minerals right where your plants roots can benefit.
We know many of you land on this page to buy oyster shells and we apologize but we do not sell them. However, you can purchase them here from our partner.
What are oyster shells?
As the name suggests, oyster shells are the hard exoskeleton of a variety of mollusks belonging to the Ostreoidea family. Most oysters live in salt or brackish water. In addition, their shells tend to contain high levels of calcium carbonate (about 96%). When oysters die in the ocean, their shells form reefs that are home to dozens of other creatures. Because of this, they are considered a key species.
Oyster shells also have many advantages on land. Ground into a fine powder, they are a valuable soil conditioner due to their calcium and micronutrient content. Adding crushed clams to the soil creates a sustained release of nutrients. This results in pH regulation and increased fertilizer uptake for your garden plants. Crushed husks also help create habitat for soil microbes in compost piles, which helps them break down compost piles faster.
Where can you get oyster shells?
Crushed oyster shells can be purchased from most landscaping companies. However, the quantities they are sold in mean that getting enough shells for your lawn or garden can get expensive. However, a better idea is to collect them yourself if you live near the ocean, or simply contact a local seafood restaurant to see if they’re willing to provide you with some of their daily clam junk.
If you collect your own clams, be sure to wash and cook them before adding them to your soil. This is important because the sea salt that naturally crusts onto these shells can burn your plants if it builds up too much. After washing them thoroughly, you can break the clams into smaller pieces by covering them with a cloth and crushing them into a powder with a hammer.
Rather than using whole oyster shells and having to grind them up yourself, using oyster shell flour may offer the same benefits.
How does the oyster shell benefit the soil and plants?
There are many ways oyster shells are useful for your garden. Their calcium content helps balance soil pH, improves nitrate uptake, supports enzyme formation, and strengthens plant cell walls. If you’re growing leafy greens like lettuce and spinach, or cruciferous vegetables like kale and broccoli, adding powdered oyster shells to your soil will make a world of difference in your plants’ overall growth rates and vigor. The coarse texture of oyster shells also helps reduce soil compaction. And it helps prevent potted plants from getting soggy by allowing water to run through the soil without trapping it along the way.
As it turns out, the oyster shell has many other benefits for your home in addition to adding fertility to your garden. Being almost pure calcium carbonate, oyster shells are a useful addition to poultry farmers who want their hens to lay thick-shelled eggs. You can also use oyster shells to keep garden pests away. When applied to the openings of their tunnels, the sharp shards and grainy texture also act as a deterrent in the soil to keep moles and voles away from your plants.
Buy supplements for your garden
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There are many different strategies for installing oyster shells in your garden. The best time of year to add oyster mulch is in late spring or early summer when the soil has warmed. Apply the crushed clams over your garden in thick layers, depending on how much you need. When using for garden plants, about four to six pounds per 100 square feet is ideal. Although when used as a mulch, layers about two inches thick are best.
After adding oyster shells to your soil, be sure to water it thoroughly. This allows the pieces to chemically interlock and root in the ground so they don’t get blown away.
Prepare oyster shell tea
Another clever strategy for using oyster shells is to brew them into vinegar tea. Once you’ve crushed your clams, soak them in an apple cider vinegar mixture (one part clams to three parts vinegar) to draw out the calcium carbonate. After brewing for two to three weeks, you can mix a quarter cup of the mixture into a gallon of water and apply directly to your soil.
Compost oyster shells
Another method of getting garden benefits from oyster shells is to use them in your compost. Not only do they balance the acidity in your soil, but they also create a quality habitat for beneficial microbes. This allows the microbes to eat through your pile, converting it into available and delicious soil nutrients.
Before adding oyster shells to your garden, clean them thoroughly by boiling them, then break them into small pieces that resemble crushed gravel. Add a layer of carbon material like dry leaves and twigs, then add nitrogen material like grass clippings or leftover food. Next, add a layer of oyster shells and cover with a 2-inch layer of manure. You can create as many layers of compost as you like. Also, water the mixture at least twice a week to keep it moist but not saturated. Sift the pile every few days to increase air circulation. Finally, add the entire mix to your garden when individual peel or vegetable scraps can no longer be identified.
Additional tips for using oyster shells
Keep these suggestions in mind when using oyster shells to get the best results for your garden.
DIY Oyster Shell Jewelry Tray – Home \u0026 Family
See some more details on the topic hand painted oyster shells here:
Anthropologie Style DIY Oyster Shell Trinket Dish
Anthropologie Style DIY Oyster Shell Trinket Dish
Transform an oyster shell into a beautiful jewelry tray, paperclip holder, tray to catch all items, jewelry tray and ring holder. Great handmade gift for mom and anyone who loves unique home decor and crafts!
These oyster shell jewelry and trinket sets are so Anthropologie-in-style! You know those beautiful dishes with unique hand-painted designs and metallic gold details?
I’ve selected some of my favorite timeless designs for these oyster shell jewelry bowls: Delftware, romantic chinoiserie and vintage illustrations. I will share them as free downloads at the end!
These jewelry trays/ring holders would look as pretty as coastal home decor in a beach house. They would also be such a lovely gift for people who love vintage, anthropology and bohemian decor!
* Some resources in the article are affiliate links. Full disclosure here.
Our reader Kathy just shared such a wonderful idea: “…make simple stud earrings out of thrift/garage/clearance beads. These shells would be a great container to give away!” Thank you Kathi! 🙂
Materials and tools to make a jewelry shell from oyster shells
One important thing about oyster shells: Oyster shells are the finest and most natural material used to rebuild oyster reefs. We can use a small amount for crafts and take extra shells to local oyster shell recycling where they reuse this ecologically important by-product and keep them out of landfills. 🙂
Watch the video tutorial or skip to the written tutorial below!
Step 1: Prepare oyster shells and jewelry shell designs
Make sure your oyster shells are clean. If your shells have dark spots on the inside surface, painting them over with white acrylic paint is helpful, especially if you’re going to use napkins or tissue paper later. Allow the paint to dry before the next step.
If you use printed napkins, they are usually double-sided. Peel off the back layer that doesn’t have the designs.
When printing your own designs or our free designs here, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of using tissue paper versus regular copier paper.
It’s much easier to print on regular paper. The paper is also more durable and tears less. The slight downside here is that when you decoupage a flat piece of paper onto a curved surface, the creases will be a bit more visible than when using tissue paper or napkins.
Printing on tissue paper can be challenging. You need to fold over the edges and glue to a piece of plain paper. I still find it causes printer jams half the time. So I prefer to either use office stationery to print designs or buy pre-printed tissues or napkins.
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Step 2: Decoupage the oyster shell trinket shell
Cut out your motif on paper slightly larger than the oyster shell.
If using copier paper, brush the back with Mod Podge to soften the paper a bit. Skip this if using tissues or napkins.
Spread a layer of Mod Podge on the inside surface of an oyster shell. Now starting at a spot on the inside of the bowl, place the paper or napkin on the spot and gradually press the paper down until it covers the entire surface.
I found that a gentle tapping motion works really well and minimizes paper tearing. See the video tutorial for more explanations.
While the paper is still damp, gently tear off the excess paper along the edges.
Brush a generous coat of Mod Podge over the entire decoupage surface. This creates a water-repellent surface and makes the jewelry tray more durable.
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Step 3: Finishing touches
After the Mod Podge has dried you will have a beautiful jewelry or jewelry ring dish with a shiny finish. Here is an optional step if you want to add a nice gold rim to the jewelry piece or ring dish:
Take some gold acrylic paint – I used this one – and dab all the way around the edges.
That’s it! Pretty easy right? Each oyster shell jewelry dish looks like a hand-painted ceramic dish in a unique organic shape with rich gold rims.
As you can see I was having too much fun and it was hard to stop! I’ve made quite a few of these in no time and can already think of many friends and family members who would love them as gifts!
Download free designs and templates for this project.
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Do you love creative DIYs? See more >>
Have fun creating! See you soon!
DIY Oyster Shell Dishes
DIY oyster shell dishes
Living in New Orleans, seafood is plentiful, so every year my husband and I get a box of 100 oysters and throw an oyster shelling party. After a few times, I realized I could make some crafty crafts with the leftover oyster shells. A friend of mine bought me a hand painted oyster jewelry shell, that was my inspiration for these oyster shell shells. You can use them as collection containers, jewelry trays for your rings or small jewelry, or even as a soap dish near your sink.
Check out the before and after below:
The hardest part of preparing these oyster shell shells is cleaning the freshly soaked oysters. I’ve done a lot of research online to make sure my oyster shells don’t smell and I’ve found a very good way to get the shells completely clean.
Here are the steps to properly clean the oysters to prepare them for painting. You will want to do this outside:
Soak freshly shucked oyster shells in half water, half bleach solution for up to 24 hours. I’ve cleaned a lot of clams, so I used a big bucket, but you can use anything that completely submerges your clams in water and that you don’t mind getting dirty/smelling like seafood. Empty the bleach solution and refill with warm water and a dish soap solution to clean. Wear protective gloves such as rubber gloves to protect your hand from odor and scuffs, take a stiff-bristled nailbrush or toothbrush and scrub excess dirt and membranes from each shell. Each oyster has a hinge connecting the two shells and you must remove this completely before crafting. If the toothbrush doesn’t work, you can use an exact knife or something hard to scrape it off. I just used my nails and toothbrush. Place the clean shells outside of the bucket. Once you’ve cleaned the bowls, discard the dish soap solution and refill with a half white vinegar, half water solution. Place the cleaned mussels back in the bucket and let sit for up to 3 hours. Scrub each shell with a nailbrush or small scrubbing brush, rinse under water and lay to dry. This will remove excess black and dirt from the outside of the shell. Place the mussels on a clean, dry surface and let them dry
The hardest part is over. Now your shells are ready to paint. See the photo below, but here’s what you need:
Brushes of different sizes
Iridescent acrylic paint
Gold and silver acrylic paints
Clear high gloss finish or glossy color
I started with the leftmost iridescent color first, covering the entire shell in a thin coat but going very lightly over the dark grout area. I’ll let this dry. Next, I took one of the thin brushes and some gold paint and outlined the edges of the inside of the shell. There are grooves on the inner shell to help you follow a line. I used both shades of gold and layered them until I liked the look.
I then took a larger brush and lightly brushed the different gold colors on the back of the shell to give it some texture. You can play with it and completely cover the crevices or make it look distressed.
After the gold paint dried I went right over the shells with the high gloss finish to seal the paint.
For some dishes I took another oyster shell, flipped it over and hot glued it together to create a stand. See the example below. Others like the example above worked better sitting alone.
Before and after oyster shell with stand
Stay tuned for my oyster shell mirror!
Quick Tutorial To Make A Glamorous Oyster Shell Ornament
Oysters are a bit like “Marmite”, you either “love them or hate them”! I personally love them and have repurposed some into a glamorous oyster shell ornament.
I say “glamorous” because I spray-painted the oyster shells gold and added some shiny pearls to the thread. Add a touch of gold and a bit of bling and the oyster shell ornament goes from simple to glamorous! To complete this fun oyster shell ornament I used a small cream felt ball as the bead.
My Christmas decorations usually consist of a simple, rustic DIY Christmas tree adorned with brightly colored and often sometimes glittery ornaments. For me, the ornaments are the star of the show. I love making new ones every year like my Frida Kahlo ornament.
How to make a glamorous oyster shell Christmas ornament in 15 minutes
If you don’t eat oysters, you might know someone who does and you can ask them to save you some clams. My local fishmongers sell fresh oysters for £1 each and you get 2 mussels with each oyster. Or if you’re lucky enough to live by the sea, you can scour your local beach for shells. I have made scallop jewelry as handmade gifts before.
This is a very quick craft and only took about 15 minutes. It’s one of my many Christmas nature craft ideas.
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What you need to make an oyster shell ornament
Oyster Shell – If you don’t have one, try your local fishmonger.
Gold Spray Paint – Different colors of gold give different results. If you are looking for a specific gold finish, read this review.
A selection of small colored beads. I keep the beads from old costume jewelry and delve into that stash for projects like this. Check out your local thrift store for an old pearl necklace. Or you can buy a cheap bag of assorted beads.
Small rotary bit like a dremel – I used a diamond bit like I had. However, I think a regular masonry drill would have worked just as well.
clear glue
How to make a Christmas Oyster Shell Ornament
First, use a rotary tool to drill a small hole in the top of the oyster shell.
2. Next, paint the back of the oyster shell with gold paint. Also, dab a small amount of gold paint onto a brush and paint the top piece of outer shell that is on the front of the oyster shell. I just make a small puddle of spray paint and dip the brush into it.
3. Not only did I use gold to add glamor to the oyster shell ornament, I also used some glass beads. Thread about half a dozen small beads onto some gold beading wire.
4. Attach the bead wire to the oyster shell through the drilled hole. Then add a bit of red satin cord to hang the oyster shell ornament. After all, no oyster is complete without a pearl. Glue the felt ball inside the shell to represent a large pearl.
Now only the oyster shell has to be hung on the Christmas tree as a Christmas tree decoration. I love how the old crust shell looks all bling now that it has been spray painted gold. The ornament sparkles as it catches the light from the gold, pearls and lustrous mother of pearl on the inside of the shell. Perfect for Christmas!
If you have any leftover oyster shells, you can use them to make some fabulous handmade oyster shell candle gifts. Or even decouple them with cards for a unique card shell gift. Find many more upcycled Christmas ornament ideas here.
You should check out some of my other repurposed Christmas ornaments.
Cute sweater upcycled Christmas decorations
Handmade felt Christmas ornaments
Angel Wings Christmas Decorations
Visit allfreechristmascrafts.com for more Christmas decoration ideas
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