Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- oval paper mache hanging plaque
- acrylic paint, antique white
- acrylic paint, tan
- black craft or Sharpie pen
- assorted sea shells and starfish
- sand
- 1 large starfish
- scruffy paintbrush
- flat paintbrush
- hot glue gun
- white craft glue
- water
- acrylic sealer spray, matte
Step1
Using the flat brush, paint plaque with antique white. Repeat with a second coat and let dry. Hot glue the large starfish to the left side of the plaque, and glue the seashells and remaining starfish around the right side and bottom of the plaque. Refer to photo for placement. Pull excess strings off left over from hot glue.
Step2
In the center of the plaque, use black craft pen to write "gone swimming".
Mix together a nickel size amount of white craft glue and a little water, just enough to thin the glue out and make it "paintable". Using the flat brush, paint on the glue mixture wherever you would like the sand to stick. This must be done in about 3-4 sections so that the glue doesn't dry before you add the sand. Start at the top of the plaque and work your way to the left, painting the glue mixture around the large starfish. Pour sand over the glue, let sit for a moment, then tap off the excess. Repeat this process around the shells and other starfish, wiping off any glue that may get on the tops of the starfish or shells (before adding the sand).
Step3
Dip scruffy brush into tan paint and dab off all excess onto a paper towel. Paint brush should be almost dry. Add tan touches around the words and along the edges of the sand.
Spray entire surface with acrylic sealer and allow to dry completely. Hang!
Image copyright Amanda Formaro
Authority 
