Making a Seashell Picture Frame

Hello out there!!
    I hope you are enjoying the end of April and these April Showers. I cant wait for those May flowers to start springing up!!! So in search of bright colors of spring flowers, I chose to use some bright nautical materials I had laying around the house to make Tye dyed Seashells Picture Frames!!!
    I have a shoe box full of shells that a friend had left over from her own crafting. I didn't dye them either, my friend did, she used Rit Dye, available in various colors at crafting locations large and small such as JoAnne Fabrics.
    Be sure to wear latex gloves when dyeing the shells or else your hands will become a rainbow themselves. :-)

• What you need:
• Rit Dye, in various colors
• Water, very hot 140 degrees
• A container to soak shells in (Glass Jars work well)
• Latex gloves
• Paper towels 
• Picture Frame
• Glue Gun
• Extra Glue sticks for Glue gun.
• Newspaper/old magazine to cover workstation
• Note: You can set up multiple containers at one for each color to quicken the process.
• Please Note: Water will need to be hot, approximately 140 degrees, be very careful, Please Adults only with this HOT HOT Water.
• Preparation: Be sure containers are thoroughly clean
• Preparation: Be sure to cover all work stations with Old Newspapers to prevent dye from getting on your table.
• Steps to dyeing
• Add Rit Dye and Water to container
• Use 1 tablespoon Rit dye for every 1 cup of hot water
• Leave room in container for water displacement from shells
• Stir Well
• Do this in each container for each color you us
• Immerse shells in water and let sit for 30-60 minutes and you will have a nice color
• Note: the longer the shells sit in the dye the brighter the color
• I know the shells I used were soaked over night in the Rit Dye.
• Color to your liking, light or Bright
• Dyeing your seashells is most similar to dyeing your  Easter Eggs
• Once you remove the shells form the dye solution, rinse shells until water runs clear.
• Place shells on paper towels and allow them to dry completely before use
• Hint: shells dye best if they are cleaned thoroughly before the dyeing process

Now that your shells are dry and dyed you can start making your frame:
Please reference the photos within this blog.

• What you need:
• Dyed seashells (See Instructions above on how to dye sea shells) 
• Picture Frame
• Glue Gun
• Extra Glue sticks for Glue gun.
• Newspaper/old magazine to cover workstation
• Preparation: Be sure to cover all work stations with Old Newspapers glue from getting on your table
•  Prepare Picture Frame for crafting
•  Remove backing and Glass. Set aside
• Plug in Glue Gun to heat up
• Place extra glue sticks near by for easy access
• Place shells along the frame to get an idea of how many you'll need and the positions in which you want to glue the seashells
• I usually like to have two frames, one to glue one and one to do a mock up of my shells
• Gluing on shells
• I have found its best to place glue on the frame and on the seashell for durability
• Glue only on the shell is much less sturdy
• Adding first seashell
• add glue to the location on the frame you which to place the shell
• I like to start in a corner of the frame, but pick any area you like
• add glue to the side of the shell that will be resting on the frame
• Carefully place the shell on the prepared section of the frame
• Note: Use of too much glue will make it easier to burn yourself. Be careful!
• Repeat around the frame shell by shell until frame is covered by shells
• Let frame sit on newspaper until glue is thoroughly dry

Now that your frame is all finished and dry its time to add a photo and place the glass & backing back into the frame that you had set aside early in the gluing process.


And TA DA you now have a beautiful homemade bright she shell frame.


Save any extra dyed shells for other crafting activities like making more house goods, jewelry making etc...


Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed crafting with me!!


Cheers!!
The Preppy Vixen