It started with a shoe box...
And some paint...
(a certain little boy wanted a letter Z glued on with Razor Clam shells)
(the sweet little door knob is Zach's favorite part)
Some tips if you want to make your own shell house...
We used a VERY sturdy shoe box and yet the weight of the shells almost proved too much. The home improvement crew had to come in and shore up the place. Consider getting a simple wooden house shape from the craft store a (or build it yourself) or be prepared to put some reinforcements in the house.
Painting the house first helped make the shells pop and meant we didn't have to cover the whole thing.
We put "hinges" tied on to the side of the house so the whole wall could open and close making it easier for the wee inhabitants to come in and out. You could also do a removeable roof, but again the weight of the shells might take it's toll after a while.
Since both Zach and I managed to singe our fingers with the hot glue gun, we ended up with a system where I glued and he held the shells in place for 20 seconds to get them to stick. Find some sort of division of labor so your little ones have a job while an adult uses the glue gun.
And yet after all of this... we still have a huge pile of shells left over... any ideas?
8 comments:
Very colorful house for the gnomes! I love it. :)
What about a wind chime or a mobile for the new baby?
you could suggest public art:) Funny how we both posted on the same subject today. Maia was intrigued by the house idea--although she's thinking something grander now...
Cindy, you had said that you are not crafty yet you are the best kind of crafty! You are truly *creative* in the things that you do and I love that about you! This little house of shells is too sweet, of course my little beach babes will be making one too! You probably have done this... with a tiny drill bit make holes into the tops of the shells and create a garland or a mobile from drift wood... xoxo
I love seashell wreaths (maybe someone on your gift list does too)!
http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/easy-summer-crafts-0609
it's the second picture in the line up. I've been wanting to do this for some time... but, don't have enough shells :o(.
I agree with garden mama! Your creativity is so authentic and sincere! Zach what a gorgeous shell house. It makes me think of your wonderful holiday in Hawaii earlier this year and I love that your snowy looking folk live inside! Wonderful job :-)
With the pile of shells we have collected my kids made furniture for their gnomes and pipe cleaner people. Goop glue works best. The kids made tables, chairs, beds, bath tubs.... The drying time is a little long. My kids used blue painters tape to hold the shells together so they didn't have too:)
Post a Comment