Photo frame made of fabric and seashells

/Accessories and decor/Decoration/

It is best to preserve shells as a reminder of carefree days at the beach in the form of interior items, decorations and souvenirs. After all, they are such a beautiful, completely free, natural and durable material. In this material you will find 50 inspiring photos, 8 ideas and the same number of step-by-step master classes on making crafts from shells with your own hands for beginners.

Frame of branches

You can create a wonderful eco-style photo frame if you use thin twigs and twigs to make it.
It is noteworthy that the material is easy to collect simply by leaving the house. Also prepare cardboard for the base, a glue gun, varnish and additional decor in the form of flowers, beads, cones or ribbons. Form a rectangular blank from dark-colored cardboard or paint it (the main thing is that it does not remain white). Dry twigs need to be lightly peeled, freed from excess bark, and cut to the same length to fit the sides of the frame.

Now you can start gluing the twigs, slightly intertwining their ends in the corners. Finally, glue on the decorative ornaments and varnish the craft.

Idea 6. Making a flower candlestick

If you have enough bivalve shells, you can use them to make beautiful flower-shaped candle holders.

Today we propose to make such a craft from mussel shells.

Bivalve shells;
Any round base of small diameter;
Glue gun;
PVA glue (optional);
Glitter (optional).

Step 1. Prepare the shells - wash them with soap, remove any remaining organic matter and, if desired, bleach them using chlorine-containing products (see instructions at the beginning of the article).

Step 2: Paint the round base of the candle holder a neutral color such as white.

Step 3: While the base is drying, sort your sink set by size.

Step 4: Start gluing 1 row of shells to the sides of the base using hot glue.

Step 5. Once the first row is slightly dry, begin creating the second row, placing each new shell overlapping the previous one so that it is located between the two shells of the first row. As a result, you will have a checkerboard layout of shells in two rows as shown in the photo.

Step 6. Glue the third and all subsequent rows using the same principle, but not on the base, but on the joints of the shells of the previous row (the place is highlighted by the arrow in the photo below).

Step 7. Once you have glued the last row, look around the candle holder and add another row or two where you think it is needed.

Step 8. Hooray, the shell candle holder is ready! If you wish, you can additionally decorate it with sparkles. To do this you need to do the following:

Treat the shells with PVA glue on the inside or just around the edges. Sprinkle glitter generously onto your craft, let the glue dry, and then shake off any excess.

Decorating the mirror

The bathroom will be transformed beyond recognition if you decorate the mirror with seashells. To create the background of a composition made in a marine style, use gold or turquoise acrylic paint.

Seashells, pebbles, small, beautifully shaped beads will be an excellent decoration for mirrors.

When gluing shells, you need to take care of the strength of such fastening. The glue should be suitable for damp rooms, because water and fumes will constantly fall on the mirror.

Anyone can make such an original decor on their own.

Seashells in a bedroom interior will look no less impressive, but here it is better to stick to a pastel color palette.

The decor of the mirror should be more restrained and match the style of the room.

Seashell decor is a beauty that is very easy to create. To decorate the mirror you will need:

Seashells of different shapes and sizes;
Thermal gun for needlework;
Double sided tape;
Imitation pearls;
Pebbles;
Clear varnish.

Decorate the frame with shells of different sizes and colors.

Before starting work, wash and dry the shells. Protect the mirror surface from damage by covering it with cloth or paper.

Choose the smallest shells. It is desirable that they be of a similar size. Glue them along the inner rim of the mirror using a glue gun or double-sided tape.
Proceed to decorate the second row with larger shells. The distance between them should be approximately the same. For better adhesion, apply glue to both the mirror frame and the shell itself.
Fill the space between the shells with pebbles and pearls.
Let the glue dry, then coat the resulting composition with colorless varnish.

Enjoy the resort atmosphere from the comfort of your own apartment.

Items that we will decorate

Decorating with your own hands is a very exciting and rewarding activity. You can give free rein to your imagination and create something new, unique with your own hands. This option for transforming a room will be very economical.

Workplace and safety

The workspace must be properly organized.

Under	What
Tools and materials	desktop drawer, separate boxes possible
pebbles and shells	plastic containers
threads and ribbons	plastic bags
small and bulk materials	banks

You need to cover your work table with old oilcloth or newspapers. The workplace should be provided with a light source. A work robe or apron will help keep your clothes clean. An old T-shirt is enough for a child. In summer and in the fresh air, you can work by sitting on the veranda or balcony.

Special attention should be paid to safety precautions, especially if children are involved in the work:

Work Precautions With a drill Goggles or eye protection mask, gloves (cannot be given to children) With salt dough Electric or gas oven (only under adult supervision) With varnish Do not keep the container open for a long time. You can pour a little varnish into a plastic cup and close it again

The room should be well ventilated. After work, the brush should be washed in a solvent. Working with a 10% solution of hydrochloric acid. Working with acid should be done using an old toothbrush, wearing gloves to protect your hands. You should protect your eyes

Golden nuts

If you have an inconspicuous photo frame lying around the house, you can transform it in an amazing way using walnuts and golden spray paint.

The future decor is laid out on paper and generously sprayed from the bottle. Once the gold decoration has dried, the shell is carefully glued to the surface of the photo frame. If during work there are gaps on the surface of the canvas being decorated, they can be masked with a scattering of beads of the same golden hue.

Stucco frame decor Metal frame decor

Decoupage

If you manage to find a large stone, smooth and flat, on the seashore, you can decorate it using the napkin technique. It is called "decoupage".

Materials required:

white water-based paint;
napkins in 3 layers with a bright large pattern;
PVA glue.
acrylic paints.

Step-by-step instruction:

The stone must be painted with water-based paint.
Separate all layers of the napkin and cut out the design from the first.
Soak the picture with glue (it is recommended to start from the middle) and carefully glue it to the stone so that wrinkles do not form.
Wait until completely dry.
Draw with acrylic paints, paint, if necessary, add sparkles, rhinestones, and other additional decorations.
Varnish the surface.
Dry for 2 days.
Varnish the other side.

Eco-style for aesthetes

Eco-trends are incredibly popular now. To transform the surface of old frames you will need the simplest available material:

Eggshell;
Tree branches (the smallest);
Dry leaves of bright colors;
Seeds.

The shell is broken into small pieces. Tree branches are painted white. The surface of the photo frame is covered with good glue and fragments of eggshells are carefully attached. White branches are additionally attached to the edges of the frame.

Marine decor frames

Given the aesthetics and style of this frame, it can be used for more than just photographs. There are a lot of ideas for promoting extravagant eco-culture.

For example, you can place a large unusual shell in the center and create an installation from natural minerals. A flower arrangement, a minimalist herbarium, or even dried beetles, butterflies and other living creatures look impressive in such a frame.

Frame decor with sequins

Decorating the mirror

The bathroom will be transformed beyond recognition if you decorate the mirror with seashells. To create the background of a composition made in a marine style, use gold or turquoise acrylic paint.

Seashells, pebbles, small, beautifully shaped beads will be an excellent decoration for mirrors.

When gluing shells, you need to take care of the strength of such fastening. The glue should be suitable for damp rooms, because water and fumes will constantly fall on the mirror.

Anyone can make such an original decor on their own.

Seashells in a bedroom interior will look no less impressive, but here it is better to stick to a pastel color palette.

The decor of the mirror should be more restrained and match the style of the room.

Shell decor is a beauty that is very easy to create. To decorate the mirror you will need:

Seashells of different shapes and sizes;
Thermal gun for needlework;
Double sided tape;
Imitation pearls;
Pebbles;
Clear varnish.

Decorate the frame with shells of different sizes and colors.

Before starting work, wash and dry the shells. Protect the mirror surface from damage by covering it with cloth or paper.

Choose the smallest shells. It is desirable that they be of a similar size. Glue them along the inner rim of the mirror using a glue gun or double-sided tape.
Proceed to decorate the second row with larger shells. The distance between them should be approximately the same. For better adhesion, apply glue to both the mirror frame and the shell itself.
Fill the space between the shells with pebbles and pearls.
Let the glue dry, then coat the resulting composition with colorless varnish.

Enjoy the resort atmosphere from the comfort of your own apartment.

Charismatic denim

Decorating frames and other home attributes will not take much time and does not require any investment. For example, you can successfully use old unnecessary denim items for this.

Jeans are cut into pieces. The wooden surface of the frame is covered with scraps. You can attach twine to the edges. You don't have to use the same fabric. The combination of denim and leather elements looks great.

If there are pieces of unnecessary leather or leatherette lying around the house, blanks are cut out of the canvas that will allow you to create an interesting appliqué. For a particularly impressive frame, you can even create floral arrangements with your own hands from scraps of leather, attaching them to the base of the frame.

Frame decor with shells

Frame decor with roses

Photo frame made of fabric and seashells

It is unlikely that you know a person who does not like the sea

And it doesn’t matter if this is someone who regularly goes to resorts, has been there at least once in his life, or just dreams of warm waves and golden sand under his feet. What do they bring home from the sea? Souvenirs, bronze tan, shells from the coast and, of course, unforgettable memories of your vacation in numerous photographs

And for them to constantly warm you with their solar warmth even in winter, it’s enough to choose one of the brightest ones and place it in a frame you’ve made with your own hands from shells collected on the beach.

So, what will you need to create an original photo frame from seashells?1. Three metal hangers for a metal profile for a frame with a stand.2. Thick cardboard, maybe from an ordinary box, to make the base.3. A piece of fabric with a nautical print or like a vest.4. Seashells of different shapes and sizes that you have.5. A page with film from an old album for inserting photos.6. A piece of foil and cardboard of medium thickness to make an anchor.7. Beads, decorative small flowers, bows - whatever you want to decorate the composition with. If you have all this in your household, find the necessary tools for the work - scissors, a needle and thread, a pen or pencil, as well as PVA glue. You don't need anything more than creativity and perseverance. Therefore, you can immediately begin pleasant handicrafts. Take metal hangers, which are often left behind after repairs using drywall. If you don’t know what it is, ask your husband, he will help. If such parts are not available, you can buy them inexpensively at your nearest hardware store. From these slats, make approximately the same frame as in the photo.

Decorating with shells

I won’t reveal any America to you, and I won’t even invent the wheel, but suddenly someone didn’t know, and someone knew, but forgot... Surely, almost every house has a bag or box with shells brought from the sea. I don’t know why we fill our already heavy suitcases with beautiful shells and stones before leaving; perhaps we want to take a piece of salty happiness with us and take it home. But, as a rule, when we return, we are again faced with everyday problems and everyday worries, and the bag of shells remains forgotten somewhere in the closet until we stumble upon it while cleaning. Yes, there are “lucky” people who have the sea with these very notorious shells within walking distance, and they have absolutely no need to keep them at home. But do not confuse tourism with emigration, for them the sea is more commonplace than a fairy tale, and some do not even manage to swim during the entire season.

I am one of those who “lock” the sea in the closet and happily forget about it. Let's let the sea elements break free and see what happens.

Decorating with shells

I am an addicted person and if I get carried away with something, then that’s it, the trouble is, neither I nor those around me will have a calm life. Well, what can you do, this is the peculiarity of the body. And at the moment I am carried away by the new year, not only my circle knows about this, but even you are well aware. It is not known for certain who sent the signal to my cockroaches from outer space, but according to this signal, my mission is to decorate everything I can reach, the deadline is December 31, 2022.

I prefer not to argue with my cockroaches and am slowly making New Year’s decor from everything that isn’t nailed down. And then the turn came to the shells, with great pleasure I made a Christmas tree from them and for a while it was as if I was back at the sea.

Christmas tree made of shells Decor made of shells

Seeing what happened, and in my opinion, it turned out very well, Svetka squealed loudly that she also needed something like that, she didn’t know what yet, but she really wanted it. I sent her to think carefully about her wishes and sleep with this thought. I really liked this meditative-vegetative activity with immersion in pleasant memories, and I didn’t even mind decorating something else, especially since there were still a carload of shells and a small cart left. The next day Svetka returned with the painting. These were “The Watchers” by a little-known artist from St. Petersburg, Olga Shemchuk.

Inscription on the painting It so happens that life quite often confronts us with people involved in art to one degree or another. And some of them even give away their works. Some present their works immediately in a frame, while others give the choice of framing to the new owner. Moscow talented photo artist Tasha Nairievna, frame - plaster (the work of her father Nika) In general, it so happened that some of the works in Svetkina’s “gallery” were in frames, and some had been waiting for years for their “outfit”. Let’s return to “The Watchers”, Svetka couldn’t find a frame for them since 2003, but I myself really like this work, and I was incredibly happy to be involved at least in the frame.

Master class 1: DIY sea shell frames

Creating crafts with shells is not a difficult process, but it requires special and careful attention.

Even children can make bracelets and beads from shells, so we invite you to make more interesting crafts.

Traditional photo frames will look much more interesting if you decorate them with sea shells.

We will need:

sinks of different sizes
glue Moment or heat gun
consumables – newspapers, paper
scotch
decorative elements for decoration - beads, marine-themed figurines

Procedure for creating a frame:

We prepare a place to work - cover the surface of the table with paper or newspaper, secure it with tape.
We sort the shells by size.

3. We decorate the first row of the frame using large shells, and use medium-sized material as the second row. We decorate the top layer of the photo frame with the smallest shells.

4. We decorate the remaining space between the shells with decorative figures - starfish, anchor, sun, colored sand.

2nd idea: photo frame

A stylish photo frame can make every photo unique. It will add a certain charm.

Making a unique frame is quite easy. For this you will need:

glue;
shells;
rhinestones;
glitter;
pebbles;
pearls.

When all the components are ready for work, you can begin the process itself. Take a wooden frame. Mark on it the locations of shells and other decorative items. Then use glue to bring the idea to life.

Types of stone crafts and their purpose

The variety of shapes, colors and available materials allows craftsmen to create unsurpassed works of art. Most often, children are involved in making crafts, but adults also excel at this activity. Stone products are needed not only for school exhibitions and children's rooms, they are also an element of home improvement, garden and yard.

Making crafts for children

The peculiarity of childhood is an increased interest in objects. It is in childhood that talents, love for beauty, and handicrafts manifest themselves.

When raising a child, it is important to teach him to create. Together with an adult, a child can create a wonderful craft that may become his “best friend” for many years

There are several types of crafts:

Young children really like bright toys. To do this, you need to take a stone of the required size and paint it with acrylic paints. The following products received great love and demand: various cars, animals, fairy tale and cartoon characters, fruits and vegetables.

Compositions

This option involves the use of several stones and other available materials.

— “Miniature houses.” Choose pebbles that resemble a cube or parallelepiped. The stones are painted and decorated with paper or fabric. From such buildings you can build an entire settlement or castle;

- Animals. Children really like recreating the animal world. You can make a frog by painting a pebble green and drawing the outline. The frog can be planted on a kind of water lily sheet made of cardboard. And let the frog swim against the background of a blue sheet of paper, in this case water. In this way, you can make a ladybug by painting a stone red or orange, then drawing black spots;

— Crafts for elementary school students. They really help the child master counting and learn to read. All you need to do is draw a number, letter, or mathematical sign on a pebble. A set of smaller pebbles will allow the child to count them. This unique game will perfectly prepare your child for classes.

Sea stones are very original. They are found very often and in various shapes, sizes, they are well polished by sea water and in contact with sand and other stones. Particularly valuable are flat stones with holes, pebbles, and stones with peculiar colors and relief.

Wind chimes made from sea shells

There should be a ring at the base, but this is not necessary. Forms may vary.

Materials required:

shells, starfish, beads, corals, pieces of glass;
jute twine or any other thread;
wire for beads;
willow branches;
crochet hook;
knitting threads;
scissors;
varnish;
glue gun (you can use a drill with a small drill bit, nail scissors or a needle).

Manufacturing instructions:

Willow branches must be boiled for 2 hours, then cooled and the bark removed.
Form a ring from the branches, braiding some branches with others (the branches should be wet), level it and leave it to dry overnight.
Prepare flowers using clear nail polish and wire.
Tie the shells (let them be openwork).
Prepare several beads by stringing each one onto a wire and securing it.
Cut 8 ropes of 120 cm each.
Attach the parts to a string: some you simply tie, some you glue, and tie it to the base ring, leaving the end hanging down. Do the same with the rest of the ropes.
Collect the loose ends into a bun and tie it with a separate thread. If the ropes are unevenly loaded with parts, it is difficult to achieve balance. And this is necessary before making the craft correctly. So, when distributing beads, fragments, stars and shells along the rope, you will have to monitor your balance.
From the resulting start, tie a braid up to 10 cm long and form a loop from it. Wrap one of the threads around the base and cut off the rest.

Basic instructions for preparing shells

Cleansing

Before you start making crafts from shells, you need to prepare them well.

If the shells are “dead” and there are no shellfish remains left in them, then you just need to soak them in a solution of water and any chlorine-containing product (for example, bleach, “Duckling”, etc.) in a 1:1 ratio for 30 minutes. If the shells are very dirty or you want to remove the dark outer layer (periostracum), soak them longer. After soaking, brush the shells and rinse in clean water.
If the shells are “live”, that is, they have the remains of mollusks (even if they died long ago) and have an unpleasant odor, then they need to be thoroughly cleaned. To do this, put the shells in boiling water for 5 minutes, and then remove the remains of the shellfish using tongs, nail scissors, etc. There is a second way: heat the shells in the microwave for 30 seconds, then try to remove the remains with tongs. If unsuccessful, continue heating the shells in the microwave, checking the result every 10 seconds. When all remains have been removed, treat the sinks with a bleach solution according to the first instructions.

After processing, inspect the sinks for chips and, if any, sand them with a sanding block, disc or sandpaper. If desired, you can add shine to them using clear nail polish or furniture polish, as well as using oil or rich cream. True, in this case, before treating the shells with glue, the gluing areas will have to be additionally degreased with alcohol.

Drilling holes

To make some types of crafts from shells (for example, wind chimes, garlands, beads, bracelets and other jewelry), you need to drill a hole in them. This task is quite simple, the only difficulty is that the shells can crack or delaminate at the drilling site.

Therefore, remember the main rule: the thinner the shell, the smaller the hole should be in it and, accordingly, the thread/accessories of the decoration.

To make these beads, you need to drill holes in the shells and string them on a silk cord, securing the location with knots. Next, all that remains is to clamp the ends of the laces in the crimp ends and attach the fasteners to them
To make these beads, you need to drill holes in the shells and string them on a silk cord, securing the location with knots. Next, all that remains is to clamp the ends of the laces in the crimp ends and attach the fasteners to them

There are two ways to make holes in shells - manual and automated.

Method 1. Select a drill bit for a drill, screwdriver or straight grinder with a diameter of 0.8 - 2 mm. Place the shell on a wooden or plastic board and secure it with masking tape. Drill a hole directly through the tape - it will prevent the shell from splitting or delaminating.

Method 2. If you do not have a screwdriver or drill, then you can make a hole in the sink using a nail and a hammer. To do this, first cover the shell with masking tape, put a mark on the inside of the shell, then place a nail and gently tap it with a hammer several times to make the initial hole. Next, widen the hole by moving the same nail back and forth inside it until you reach the desired diameter.

If you don’t have a nail or a hammer at hand, then use an ordinary needle, nail scissors or a knife and “drill” the hole by hand. The result will appear in about 10 minutes.

Original ideas for crafts

In general, shells can hardly be called a material: they are independent objects with their own unchangeable shape and size, from which a product is assembled, or they themselves serve as a finished decor item, painted and trimmed with rhinestones and sparkles.

As you can see in the photos presented, any craft made from shells is structurally understandable and it is not difficult to figure out how it works - the most valuable thing is the design of the craft, the idea, the direction for creative thought.

Applications and surface decoration

The easiest way is to make various kinds of applications from shells. Even a child can cope with this task; all you need is a piece of colored cardboard with a drawn outline of the future picture, which is pasted over with shells of suitable shape and size, pre-painted in the desired colors.

The most successful applique paintings should be placed in a frame under glass!

A more complex and practical type of decoration is the decoration of photo frames (ready-made or pre-made independently), mirrors, and picture frames with all kinds of shells and other starfish.

It’s a good idea to use photographic examples to learn a creative approach to solving such a problem. You can try to repeat the design you like, but to do this you should especially carefully select the shells in shape and size, having previously finished their surface accordingly.

In the same way, you can create valentines, original Christmas wreaths on the door or fireplace, even Christmas tree decorations!

You can breathe new life into your favorite cup by covering its outer surface (preferably the lower half or third) with a composition of small shells. An option is a stand for pens and pencils instead of a cup, as well as a flower vase.

Among the many famous crafts made from shells, an important place is occupied by all kinds of boxes, boxes and chests decorated by these inhabitants of the seabed. Moreover, surfaces can be covered with shells either completely or fragmentarily, creating all kinds of ornaments, floral patterns, etc.

Candlesticks for regular and decorative candles are also popular as “shell” decor. There are two possible solutions here: either paste over the lower half or third of the candle itself, assembling a symmetrical structure from different shells, expanding downwards to give the candle a stable position,

or cover a cardboard cylinder the thickness of a candle with shells, and it will be a real candlestick.

The first option is more decorative, so make sure that the candles are high-quality and expensive-looking.

There are also many solutions related to using the shell itself as a candlestick.

To do this, paraffin melted in a hot water bath is poured into the internal volume of a more or less large shell,

Using tweezers, hold the wick pre-glued to the bottom of the shell in a vertical position. As a rule, after 15 minutes the paraffin completely hardens and such romantic candles are ready for use.

Volumetric crafts made from shells

Creating three-dimensional crafts from shells can be even more fun than “flat-surface” decor. Children especially agree with this, from under whose skillful fingers come funny little animals, birds and people.

As a rule, once you have some experience in “shell” modeling, you want to start creating flowers, three-dimensional Christmas tree decorations and other New Year’s decor, various kinds of sailboats, lamps and three-dimensional panels.

Often, many very complex and quite simple, but created with taste and imagination, crafts made from shells amaze the imagination. The following photo shows a lot of such crafts, each of which can be repeated if you have the appropriate experience in working with the material and a trained eye for needlework.

In principle, the same super-or hot-melt adhesive, double-sided tape and plasticine are used everywhere, and the surface is painted with acrylic paints, gouache, and varnished. Any beautiful and simply curious little thing that experienced craftsmen thriftily collect in their creative “bins” will come in handy; You can have a good time searching for suitable jewelry and decor in art and craft stores.

How to make an unusual panel

You can make the panel abstract, that is, simply stick on shells of various shapes in a chaotic order, or you can arrange the shells into a pattern.

For example:

Flowers;
Tree;
Ship;
Doll;
Car;
Seascape, etc.

The next stage is a sketch of the panel, made in any way. You can not only draw a picture by hand with a pencil or paints, but also find a photo you like on the Internet or scan a beautiful picture, photo or even a postcard. Using Adobe Photoshop, you need to outline the image.

Most people bring a lot of shells from their seaside vacation, which eventually gather dust on a shelf and are forgotten about. Not everyone realizes that they can be used to make an excellent and original panel

It should be understood that the sketch should not have many small details, since the shells themselves are a very original and interesting material that looks impressive in various compositions. But if you really want to, you can use shell crumbs for small details.

Print the image in accordance with the dimensions of the panel being performed, the next step.

Then you need to apply the drawing to the board using carbon paper.

However, this is not a mandatory step; beginners usually do this. Or when the drawing is incredibly complex. You can simply create a composition directly on the panel.

Spring on the shelf

Many handmade lovers like not only to decorate interior elements or create design installations with their own hands, but also to make so-called blanks of various types. For example, paper flowers.

Fabric frame decor

The very process of forming a paper rose or other floral product calms and puts you in a peaceful mood. And if a fair amount of such elements have accumulated in the house, they can be used to decorate the frame. The paper elements are simply attached to the frame. In addition to flowers, you can use real dry leaves, painted tree branches, textile bows or pearls.

Spring frame decor

Stylish and exclusive photo frames will take their place of honor in the home, radiating joy, positivity and special charm. Time spent decorating an item will allow you to relax and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of creativity.

Photo frame made of shells. Master Class

Materials needed: 1. Shells of various shapes and sizes. There must be an asterisk (shell) present. 2. Small parts of seashells (crumbs). 3. Beads, crystal balls. 4. White beaded ribbon. 5. Ruler. 6. Glue gun. 7. Rods for glue gun – 4-5 pieces. 8. Pearlescent or clear varnish. 9. Stationery knife. 10. Handle. 11. White plastic. 12. Photography. 13. PVA glue.

In principle, from the presented list of necessary materials, almost everything can be found at home. Basically, the photo frame is pasted over not with the shells themselves (since they are very large), but with small particles. You can get them in two ways: on the beach (this is a mixture of sand with crushed shells right near the shore) or just take the shells, wrap them in a cloth and lightly crush them with a hammer.

So, take the photo you want to frame.

Tip: do not take a small photo, otherwise the image will simply be lost due to the volume of the frame.

Measure the width and length of the photo with a ruler. Write down the dimensions.

Now let's take the plastic. Move the image size of the photo to the center. Let's circle.

Add 2.5-3 centimeters on each side. You can adjust the frame width yourself.

Using a utility knife, cut out the frame along the outer edge. When cutting, try to use a ruler, keeping it firmly against the plastic. This way the edges will be smooth.

Cut out the inside of the photo frame.

Take small pieces of shells and a few large ones and place them on a flat surface.

We begin to paste over the photo frame from the upper left corner. Try to glue the shell particles so that there is as little free (white) space as possible.

Glue a starfish in the lower left corner. You can glue some decorative algae and a couple of spiral shells to the star.

We continue to glue small particles.

Well, the most dreary and time-consuming part of the work is done.

Select a photo. We will need white cardboard, larger than the photo.

Glue the photo to the center of the cardboard using PVA glue. If you want to periodically change the image, then simply apply a couple of drops of glue - a gun - to the edges of the photo.

We put our frame on top, make sure there are no white spaces and the photo is the right size.

Glue the base to the photo. Now take a string of beads. Measure the distance of the loop. Glue it.

Well, our shell photo frame is ready! This gift will be a wonderful addition to any interior.

Author of the master class: Svetlana.

More interesting works can be found on the website https://sam-sebe-molodec.ru/

Other photo frames on our website:

and other “DIY Photo Frames”
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Idea 4. Cooking candles for mini-candlesticks

Shells are almost ready-made miniature candlesticks that are just waiting to be supplemented with paraffin and wick. You can use the resulting candles for table setting, a romantic picnic, or simply for interior decoration.

Sea or large river shells;
Small round candles in tin molds;
Water and a saucepan for a water bath;
PVA glue or double-sided tape.

Step 1. Remove the candle itself from the tin container, and then remove the wick from it by pulling the metal base at the bottom of the candle (see photo). Set the wicks aside and return the candles to the molds.

Preparation of paraffin and wick

Step 2. Glue each wick with double-sided tape or PVA glue in the center of the shell.

Step 3. Now we need to melt the paraffin until it is completely liquid. You can do this in three ways:

Bring the water in the pan to a boil, then reduce the heat until the water stops boiling and lower the ramekins into it. Place the candles on the stove over low heat, and make sure that the paraffin does not burn. Warm up the paraffin using a hairdryer.

Step 4. Once the paraffin has melted, remove the molds from the heat and begin filling the shells. It is best to use some kind of tongs or a pair of Chinese chopsticks for this. Don't forget to protect the table surface with newspaper first.

If the shells are too unstable and you are afraid that the paraffin will harden unevenly, then it is better to arrange the candles in the cells of the egg packaging or fix, for example, with soft plasticine that does not leave marks.

After about 20 minutes, the paraffin will completely harden and you will be able to enjoy the light of the shell candles.

Selection of materials

As you might guess from the name, a seashell panel is created using a variety of seafood. Ideally, of course, they are assembled with one’s own hands during the summer holidays, but it is also possible to purchase a ready-made set in a specialized store or even at the market. The shape of the shells is selected in accordance with your own preferences, but you should remember that the more unusual it is, the more unique the finished work will look. When collecting shellfish shells in a tight container with a closing lid, it is also worth putting several branches of exotic trees or even pieces of coral, as well as stones of different sizes that have changed their shape under the influence of water.

First of all, all the material is boiled for at least 60 minutes in water to which vinegar has been added. A tablespoon of the product will be enough per liter of liquid. Then the shells of the mollusks are thoroughly cleaned of sand or the remains of their inhabitants, and also dried. It is recommended to treat broken edges with sandpaper or a regular nail file. If the color of any shells does not suit the master, then before starting work it would be good to tint them with acrylic paint, stain or varnish of any shade.

Any plywood or wooden board is suitable as a base for the panel. To decorate the background, fabric or a piece of burlap is most often used, but options using sisal, decorative mesh or even sand will be interesting. It is most convenient to fix individual elements of the composition using a hot glue gun. The finished work, additionally decorated with beads, feathers, buttons and rhinestones, is placed in a frame.

Idea 1. Inlay frames, frames and frames

You can decorate the frame of a mirror, painting or photo frame with shells. We present examples of such crafts in the following collection.

Today we suggest you decorate a mirror frame with shells, but using the same principle you can decorate any photo frame or painting frame.

Shells of small, medium and large sizes and, if desired, additional decorations (eg starfish, pearls, figurines of skates, etc.). Glue gun and several sticks of glue or clear epoxy glue. Newspaper or any unnecessary paper to protect the mirror from glue. Masking or regular tape.

Step 1: Protect the mirror with paper and secure it with masking tape. At this stage, the frame can be painted if you are not satisfied with its original appearance.

Step 2. Sort the shells by size to make it easier to create your future composition.

Step 3: First glue the first row of small to medium shells (about the same size) around the mirror.

Step 4: Now start gluing on the largest shells. Beforehand, you can play with the layout options and choose the best one. If you are using epoxy glue, once all the parts are glued, leave the frame to dry overnight.

Step 5: Next, fill in the gaps between the large shells, medium shells, and small shells.