{Guest Post} Me, My Shells, and I: Crafting with Seashells Part 2

I'm happy to have Joanna Campbell Slan guest posting again today. You can find part one here. This week's baby quilt linky party is here. 

Me, My Shells, and I:

Crafting with Seashells

By Joanna Campbell Slan

~ Part 2 ~

A beach is not only a sweep of sand, but shells of sea creatures, the sea glass, the seaweed, the incongruous objects washed up by the ocean.
-- Henry Grunwald

In my last post, I shared four cool ways I’m using seashells in my crafts. Here are four more:

5. Purse. The papier-mâché base of this purse is readily available at most Michaels Craft Stores for a pittance. It’s made by Darice. Crushed jingle shells create the glittery surface. (Put the jingle shells in a mortar and crush them with a pestle.) I drilled holes through flat oyster shells for the white “tags” that I embellished with orange scallop shells. Of course, this isn’t a very sturdy purse, but it would be a terrific case for keeping family photos!

6. Miniature Room Setting. The room is actually a small wooden cabinet I found in the “scratch and dent” area of Home Goods. I turned the cabinet upside down and decorated it with miniatures, including tons of small seashells. To find tiny shells, sift sand and shell mixtures through pieces of net or a kitchen sieve.

7. Hurricane Jar Filler. Okay, I confess: These are not seashells. They are actually the shells left behind by apple snails, a large invasive, non-native species here in South Florida. The empty shells are originally brown, but if you soak them in a mixture of one part bleach to four parts hot water, the brown comes away, leaving you these lovely white shells. I think I’ll also use some of these on papier-mâché letters to spell out my grand-nephew’s name.

8. Decorative Jar Filler. These are seashells, Lettered Olive Shells to be exact. My friend and I spent many hours beachcombing and collecting them. Aren’t they gorgeous? What I love is the idea that each of these shells represents time spent with a friend. How many are there in this jar? I don’t know, but it weighs about twenty pounds.

Next, I’ll share with you my best tips for finding terrific shells.

~To be continued Tomorrow~

About the Author: As soon as she finishes her writing chores for the day, Joanna Campbell Slan hooks the leash onto her dog, Jax, and they go for a walk on the beach. Her most recent book—All Washed Up—is set on the Treasure Coast of Florida and features Cara Mia Delgatto, an entrepreneur who recycles, upcycles, and repurposes décor items with a coastal theme. You can see a few of Joanna’s favorite things at www.Pinterest.com/joannaslan or contact her at JCSlan@JoannaSlan.com You can read two of Joanna’s books free here: http://booklaunch.io/joannaslan/teardownanddie and http://booklaunch.io/joannaslan/inkreddead