Throughout the centuries shells have always fascinated people. They have been used as symbols in art and religion, been made into jewellery, used to adorn tribal costumes, and have been collected by wealthy travellers to put in curio cabinets. During the Victorian period shell craft or shell art became popular with all classes of people, including Queen Victoria. Stately homes often had shell decorated furniture and Grottoes, which where highly decorated with exotic shells and pebbles worked into patterns and pictures. Some society ladies took up shellcrafting as a hobby often buying kits to make exquisite shell dolls and dolls house furniture. Those from a more working class background found there was money to be made by making and selling shell craft souvenirs to tourists. Sailors would often buy 'Sailors Valentine's' to give to their love ones. These wooden boxes or framed pictures, sometimes octagonal in shape, were highly decorated in shells, starfish, seahorses, corals and pearls. Depending on who the gift was for some would come with names, hearts, shell flowers or sea themed scenes including carved mermaids.
Inspired by Victorian Shellcraft here are two fun shell projects to try.
First project is a 'Sailors Valentine'. This ornamental seafaring keepsafe has two scenes. On the left a giant sea monster is attacking and pulling down a ship to it's watery doom! The other side a more gentle scene of a beautiful mermaid who in my heart rescued the human crew and maybe fell in love with the Captain! I am a romantic!
The second project 'The Octopuss Garden' is a lavishly adorned bauble of seacreatures and shells enjoying their underwater home.
You will need.
https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/plain-atc-wood-blank-with-boat-on-waves-frame.html
https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/plain-atc-wood-blank-with-seashells-frame.html
https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/sheet-of-mini-mdf-nautical-motifs-style-6.html
https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/mermaid-mdf-wood-shape-style-2.html
https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/MDFSEAHSE06-60x30S.html
https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/MDFSEAWD09-60x27S.html
https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/MDFSEAWD03-60x32S.html
https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/MDFANCHOR04-60x42S.html
Beads and glitter in sea colours.
Clear cabochons for bubbles.
Metallic paints.
Textured paste.
Liquid pearlised drops, used in card crafting, or gems stones.
Watercolour or acrylic paints.
Paint brushes.
Water colour paper and sheet of glitter foam.
Reindeer moss and natural string.
Tacky glue.
For 'The Octopuss Garden' you will need these additional mdf shapes.
https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/MDFOCT01-90x69M.html
https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/MDFJFISH02-60x40S.html
https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/MDFBAUBLE01F-60x48S.html
https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/plain-bauble-mdf-wood-shape-style-1.html
Another amazing blog posting. You describe the make process in such detail. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your lovely comments. I am glad you are enjoying my postings.
DeleteA very creative idea, gorgeous. Love your explanations and story behind your project!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your lovely comments. Glad you enjoyed my blog posting 😊
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