How to Make a Sailboat Picture Using Shells

Seashells can be used in various craft projects.

Use seashells to easily make many different crafts. They are versatile and offer a true touch of natural beauty to any project, including seashell-filled pictures on canvas. Break down seashells to size to fill the shapes needed without taking away from their beauty. Creating a sailboat picture using shells may take a bit of patience, but the final product is well-worth it and can be used to decorate any room to give it a "beachy" feel.

Things You'll Need

• Canvas
• Pencil
• Seashells
• Hammer
• Hot-glue gun
• Tweezers

Instructions

1. Purchase a canvas in the size of your choice and draw the outline of a sailboat on it. Add any extra details that you'd like, such as a wave beneath the boat or a stripe across the sail.

2. Sort various seashells by color, grouping them together. Arrange the seashells within the lines of the sailboat drawing on the canvas. If you need smaller pieces or want to change the shape of another piece, use a hammer to gently break up the seashells as needed.

3. Secure the shells by dabbing a small dot of hot glue on the underside of the shell and pressing it down on the canvas. If necessary, use tweezers to handle the smaller pieces to avoid getting burned.

4. Allow the glue to dry completely, making any necessary touch-ups to empty or sparsely shelled spots before hanging the picture.

References

• Drago Art: How to Draw a Sailboat
• Watermelon: Shell-on-canvas example craft

Resources

• Island Crafts: Seashell craft ideas