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We often save seashells along the shoreline, either to just admire them, or, in many cases, we just collect them up, as we like the feel of them. I often save them with the thought that I will probably do something arty including them at a later time. As a contemporary artist I find that projects with shells always seem pretty popular just like canvas paintings.

In my opinion boxes are fairly a good choice, as you can make use of these to store things in. For example, jewellery, little treasures, mail, needles and pins, in fact, any number of items really. What you aim to use them for is dependent on the size of the box, obviously.

There are all types of wooden and paper mache boxes too, readily available in the stores and art suppliers now. Some are designed specially for people to embellish themselves. Obviously what materials you require to do this will depend totally on the sizing of your chosen article.

However, what you choose to cover your box does not have to end at seashells. For example, if you are using theocean theme, why not incorporate some fake starfish, tiny beads that will reflect, small glass nuggets are lovely, as are small pearls and even one or two shiny sequins. This will add a touch of realism!

Now, if you do not have access to a local beach you can more often than not buy various shells in the stores, so this should not be too much of a predicament. You might even use a bit of raffia to look a bit like jetsam. There are certain to be an assortment of boxes you could use for this, ranging from old empty cigar boxes, ready prepared wooden chests for decoration and even linen boxes.

So, now I have given you a few suggestions let’s move on, you can always adapt your box consequently! As for your basic needs for this project, you will need a wood or paper mache box to work this on. Added to this a sponge, which is fairly small, a few acrylic paints, plus a paintbrush, craft varnish, a palette to hold your paints and a suitable adhesive that will adhere well.

You may decide to use a different paintbrush to apply the adhesive and then, yes, there will be any further items to embellish your box and an assortment of seashells of a suitable size for your project. So how do you begin? Youmight ask!

First of all, pick up your sponge, wet it, and after that squeeze out any spare water. Now take your palette and distribute small amounts of paint into the tray. Should you be working on a trunk type of box, in the paint tray for colours, I would in all probability select some gold, a sand colour, purple, several types of blue and perhaps a green.

Seize the sponge and you should now dab on layers of paint to in essence cover the box, both inside and out. While you do this you can actually see how many varying shades you can in reality produce. When you have achieved this leave it somewhere to become dry.

Next step, fish out your seashells and take a crack at working out a design to put on to your box. Continue by using your paintbrush to spread glue all over the box before moving on to painstakingly press the shells downward into the adhesive firmly.

There is no reason why you cannot cover the whole box with shells. Nevertheless, you can dot your other trimmings here and there, especially if you are trying to give the impression of a real treasure trunk!

Clearly then, this needs to dry off before you can later apply a coating of the craft varnish. This therefore will give out a soft shine appearance to the box. I am sure that at the conclusion you will be very pleased with the result.

Not just this, I am sure that your friends and relatives will deem that this is, in fact, delightful. They will also be hopeful that you will make up one for them in the not too distant future. On the other hand, now you have tried this, you could basically do this to further items, such as wooden picture frames or even all-around mirrors!

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