How to Make Seashell Figures

Whether you have extra seashells from a trip to the beach or want an activity you can do with the family, make seashell figures. They come in a variety of sizes and colors, making them a versatile material to use for craft projects. The hard exterior coating of seashells ensures that your craft project will last for years to come. Make an inexpensive project by using items found around your house to construct the seashell figure.

Things You'll Need

• Newspaper
• Plastic bags
• 2 3-by-3-inch clam-shaped seashells
• 4 1-by-1-inch seashells
• 2 1/2-by-1/2-inch seashells
• 2 popsicle sticks
• Scissors
• Green paint
• Brush
• Orange paint
• Glue
• 2 2-by-2-inch clam-shaped seashells
• 2 1-by-1-inch clam-shaped seashells
• 2 1/2-by-1/2-inch clam-shaped seashells
• White paint
• 2 small seashells
• 2 toothpicks
• Small black stones
• Orange colored pencil

Instructions

Bullfrog

1. Cover your work area with newspapers. Then, sort your seashells by size and shape, and store the sorted seashells in plastic bags for future use.

2. Make the front and back body of the bullfrog: Find two 3-by-3-inch clam-shaped seashells. Make the feet of the bullfrog: Find four 1-by-1-inch seashells. Make the eyes of the bullfrog: Find two 1/2-by-1/2-inch seashells. Or substitute the sizes according to the seashells you have available. Make the front legs of the bullfrog: Cut two popsicle sticks to 1 1/2 inch using scissors.

3. Paint the front body shell, legs and feet with green paint and a brush. Then, paint the eyes with orange paint. Let the paint dry for two hours.

4. Place the front body shell and back body shell together. Position the shells, so the outside portion of the shells face outwards. Glue around the inside edges of the shells using quick adhesive glue. Let the glue dry for 20 seconds.

5. Place the bottom of the body shells on a level surface. Tilt the top of the body shells at a 45-degree angle upwards. Place the ends of the legs vertically under the body shells, and have the opposite ends of the legs touch the level surface. Glue the legs to the body shells. The legs will support the weight of the body and hold the shells upright.

6. Place the two eyes on the top of the back body shell using quick adhesive glue. Space the eyes evenly. Place two feet on the bottom sides of the front body shell and two feet on the ends of the legs.

Snowman

1. Make the lower body: Find two 2-by-2-inch clam-shaped seashells. Make the upper body: Find two 1-by-1-inch clam-shaped seashells. Make the head: Find two 1/2-by-1/2-inch clam-shaped seashells. Or substitute the sizes according to the seashells you have available.

2. Paint the seashells with white paint and a brush. Let the paint dry for three hours.

3. Place the upper body, lower body and head shells together, respectively. Position the shells, so the outside portion of the shells face outwards. Glue around the inside edges of the shells using quick adhesive glue. Let the glue dry for 20 seconds.

4. Glue the top of the lower body to the bottom of the middle body, and glue the top of the upper body to the bottom of the head. Let the glue dry for 20 seconds.

5. Position two small clam-shaped shells, so the inside of the shells face upwards. The two small shells are the feet of the snowman. Place the bottom edge of the lower body onto the top edges of the feet. Glue the lower bottom and feet together. Position the shells, so the feet support the weight of the body shells.

6. Make the arms. Place two toothpicks on the sides of the upper body. Glue the ends of the toothpicks to the side edges of the upper body.

7. Decorate the face with small black stones to make the eyes and mouth. Cut the tip of a sharpened orange color pencil to make the nose. Glue the ends of the stones and the pencil tip to the face.

Tips & Warnings

• Change the colors of the bullfrog to your desired colors.

• Use a hot glue gun to glue the snowman if it does not stay upright using quick adhesive glue.

• The nozzle of a hot glue gun is extremely hot and can burn your skin on contact.