No matter how many times I visit the beach, I always find myself coming home with clamshells. I am fascinated by their beauty and I just can’t help myself in bringing a few home. Most of them end up in the compost bin but where I can, I like to add them to my decor. This project turns simple shells into handy and very very pretty little bowls, perfect for catching small bits of jewelry or coins.

Difficulty level: Easy
Time required: 30 minutes plus dry time

Things you’ll need:
Clamshells
Acrylic paint in gold and turquoise
Paintbrush
Rubbing alcohol
Deep gloss glaze spray

Things to do:
1. Wipe down the shells with rubbing alcohol to remove any traces of sand or oils from the shells.

2. On a covered work surface, paint the inside of the shells with several coats of blue paint, allowing each to dry before adding the next.

3. Once the blue is painted and dry, flip the shells over and repeat with the outside, painting the gold right up to the rim of the shells. Allow the paint to cure overnight before spraying with gloss sealant.