DIY Decoupage Seashell Christmas Ornaments

Here's the easiest way to make Christmas ornaments with seashells.

It's a quick DIY, simple to customize to match your decor and get foolproof results every time.

Sometimes when I'm thrifting, I stumble upon items that have been on my wishlist for a long time.

And it's a great moment.

I get such a charge.

I mean, don't get me wrong, I enjoy browsing and finding things I never knew existed, but there's really nothing like the thrill of the spotting a treasure I've been itching to locate.

Sometimes for years.

For example, over the summer, I was in my church thrift shop and saw a box containing 6 large scallop shells for five dollars.


And they were huge.

As large as my hand.

Now, I live at the beach, so shells are not a novelty around here. They're literally everywhere.

I collect them and place them in my garden, craft with them and display them on their own.

However, they're not these shells. These shells are tropical.

Ideal for crafting, perfect for making ornaments.


So that's what I did.

Yes, yes, it's another decoupage project, but for some reason, it's the medium that's caught my attention this season.

Especially after I started decoupaging spoons.

It's so easy to get perfect results and you don't need to know how to paint or draw when there are so many gorgeous napkins out there.

It's been hard to stop.

How To Make Shell Ornaments For Christmas

Lots of people decoupage shells. Many use oyster shells. They make great Santa faces, the shape is just right for the beard and hat.

Fan scallop shells, like mine, give you more room for larger artwork. They're available, on the beach and in shops, in a variety of sizes. 

Of course the bigger the better in my book.

Supplies:

Step 1: Clean The Shells 

I started by wiping out each shell to make sure it was dust, debris and sand free.

If your shells are from the beach, you'll also want to wash them soap and water, to get rid of any salt water or stinky low tide smell. 

You might not notice that on day one, but trust me, it'll make itself known in time.

Step 2: Prepare Your Napkin

Once you choose your napkin, you need to decide on the part of the pattern you'll be using and cut that area out.


Then you need to separate the layers of the napkin, keeping in mind that some are two ply and some are three.

Make sure to get them all, otherwise your top, patterned layer will not stick when you add the Mod Podge.

Step 3: Mod Podge

Ok, so disclaimer, I don't use Mod Podge anymore. I just don't love it. I use Dixie Belle Satin Sealer, but it works the same.


Brush it on the shell.

Place the napkin on the wet Mod Podge.


Smooth it down with a gloved or baggie covered hand, so your fingers don't stick to the tacky napkin, while carefully removing all the bumps and wrinkles.


Then let it dry for a bit.

Step 4: Seal

Add another coat of Mod Podge or sealer over the napkin and again, use your plastic covered fingers to smooth out any bumps or lumps that may have reappeared.

Step 5: Add A Hanger

Lastly, you can add a hanger by hot gluing a small piece of ribbon to the back of the shell. You can also use a small rotary tool or drill to make a hole in the shell.

However, I've found that glue works well and there's no chance of damaging the shell which is always a possibility when trying to make a hole in the delicate  


Some people add glitter or gold leafing or paint to the edges of the shells for a bit of extra sparkle, however, I think less is more.

So I left my shells relatively unadorned.

When I was done I had three giant, and very festive, new seashell Christmas tree ornaments.

A holiday ode to my small beach community.


And Christmas at the shore.

Thanks to a fabulous little local shop.

And a very lucky find.

🎄

What have you found lately?

Ho-Ho-Ho, Friends!!