Looking for a way to add some ocean inspiration to your walls? We’ve got you covered with this cute and easy seashell art project for kids.
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Longing for the days when you can walk the beach again? Maybe you’re just looking for a creative way to display the shells you collected during your last trip to the ocean.
Either way this easy seashell art project is a great way to add some ocean inspiration to your walls. And the best part? It’s a perfect project to tackle with your kids.
Quick and Easy Seashell Art for Kids
Ready to get started with our easy seashell art? Here are the supplies you’ll need:
Seashell Art Supply List
- Assorted seashells, clean and ready to use
- Wooden craft plaque (We used 10″ x 10″ plaques for ours.)
- Tacky glue
Once you gather the supplies needed for the project and have properly cleaned your shells, you can get started with your seashell art.
Step 1 – Arrange the shells.
The first step in this easy shell art is to choose a shape or general design for your shells. My kids chose to make an anchor and a heart, but there are countless options that will work for the project.
Need some ideas for the project? Here are some to consider:
- Letters (first or last initials are a great idea!)
- Sun
- Starfish
- Sea turtle
- Simple symbols
Once your kiddo has an idea of what to create, have him gently outline that shape onto the wood with a pencil. This light outline will provide guidance as he shapes his shell art and fills it in with shells.
With the outline in place, have your kiddo experiment with the placement of the shells. When he’s happy with their positions, move on to the second step.
Step 2 – Glue the shells in place.
Working one shell at a time, have your kiddo gently lift each shell and add tacky glue underneath. Also, moving from one end to the other — top to bottom or bottom to top — will make it easier to keep up with the shells that have glue underneath and the ones that don’t.
Keep in mind that the not-so flat surfaces of the shells means you’ll likely use a good bit of glue in this process, especially for shells with broken or eroded spots.
In a hurry? Glue guns work well and speed up this process significantly. That said, you’ll want to take over on this step or closely supervise your kiddo if you opt for hot glue.
Step 3 – Allow time for drying.
Once the shells all have glue underneath, check for any exposed spots within the shape and add smaller shells to fill them in. This is also a good opportunity to add some extra glue to secure any shells that need a bit more reinforcement.
Once the glue completely dries, your easy shell art is ready to display and enjoy!
As always, don’t forget to share your completed project with us! Be sure to include #masterpiecesociety in your caption and tag us so we can enjoy your seashell art. 🙂
