Seashell Frame

I am mistified by the ocean and I love walking on a quiet beach, especially at sunset. The surroundings are so serene - the sounds of the waves coming ashore, the squish of the sand beneath your feet… those alone make for a relaxing day.

Why do we love the sea?  It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think. 

                                                        ~Robert Henri

Of course, along my walks I love to pick up seashells. Along with the pure beauty of them, these wonderous creations once housed a living thing (which makes me feel slightly bad for crafting with them, and I had to remind myself they aren’t alive any longer). So to bring the beauty and serenity of the ocean into my home, I have created a shell frame to hang in my bathroom.

This project is easy and takes about 20 minutes (probably less if you are smart and gather your supplies ahead of time – a true fault of mine).

Supplies:

Frame

Ribbon to hang frame (I used a scrap approximately 45″ long)

Ribbon for inside of frame (2 pieces, length depends on frame size)

Shells

Hot Glue Gun

Marker & Ruler

Hammer & Finishing Nails (or staple gun)

1. Remove backing, glass and any prongs/staples from the back of the frame. If you want to paint your frame, you should do it now. I chose to leave it as is.

2. On the back side of your frame, measure and mark where you would like the ribbons to hold the seashells. If you are using a ribbon to hang your frame you will want to also mark for your finishing nails (about 1″ in from the edge of the frame).

3. Cut your ribbon pieces – both for the top of the frame (if desired) and the inside.

4. Gently hammer in your finishing nails (you can skip this step if you are using a staple gun).

5. Tie a knot in both ends of your hanging ribbon. Place down on frame and bend the nail over above the knot. Trim any excess ribbon so it won’t be seen behind your frame.

6. Using your glue gun, attach your ribbon pieces to the inside of the frame where you marked. I used a 12″ frame and placed my ribbon 6″ in from each side. You will need to pull it tight so it doesn’t gather inside the frame once it is hung.

7. After your ribbon has dried, flip the frame over and glue your seashells to the front.

Be sure to lightly slide your frame around after you glue down your shells – you don’t want them glued to your worksurface before you can hang it up.

And you are all done! Hang it up, then sit and think about the ocean. Mine is hanging in the yellow bathroom (the wall color is really awful for me lately, but it won’t be getting a new coat of paint anytime soon). I have other plans for incorporating more seashells into the decor, but for now this will have to do. I even glued a small seashell to the top to cover the unsightly nail.

If you are inspired by this and create something similar, please share – I would love to see it!