Four ways to use shells & sea glass from the beach in craft projects this summer
LIFE’S a beach when you can make treasure out of things you find on the shore.
If you’re heading to the seaside this summer, keep an eye out for shells and sea glass to use in craft projects.
Here are some ideas . . .
STICKING POWER: You can transform a range of objects by using hot glue to stick cleaned-up shells on to them. Try adding them to the edge of a plain photo frame — and complete it by putting a beachy scene picture in there.
Or, if you have an old wooden mirror, paint the frame white and stick on some shells. It will make the perfect addition to a bathroom. You could also use shells on the top of keepsake boxes or jars to create storage for trinkets.
GET ARTY: You can use almost anything you find at the beach to create art at home.
Use your imagination to guide you, but as an example, you could use pretty pieces of sea glass stuck on card to form the centre of a flower and then paint or draw petals around it.
Or recreate a beach scene by gluing pebbles to card and painting the waves lapping up to it.
PRETTY PRINTS: Sea shells make pretty patterns that can be used for pressing into playdough.
You could also paint the shells and use them to print on to scrap bits of material. Or why not mould a small plant pot out of air-dry modelling clay (£4 for 1kg, Hobbycraft) and then use the shells for imprinting on it before painting it?
STRING IT UP: Shells can also make lovely hanging ornaments or jewellery.
You will need to put a hole in them so you can feed a ribbon, wire or thread through.
You can do this with an electric drill if the shell is quite thick.
Otherwise, you can use a drawing pin or needle on more delicate pieces.
Gently press and twist until it makes its way through. Keep twisting to make bigger.
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
Deal of the day
HAVE friends over to stay with this Click Clack sofa bed, down from £250 to £125 at Homebase.
SAVE: £125
Cheap treat
JOT down your best thoughts in this polka dot notebook, £1.49 from Wilko.
What's new?
McDONALD’S Despicable Me 4 Happy Meals celebrate the new movie.
Plus, you can get one meal for £1.99 every day via the chain’s app until July 30.
Top swap
MUGLER’S Alien eau de toilette, £68 from lookfantastic.com, is a delicious mix of floral and sensual notes.
Meanwhile, B&M’s similarly scented Exotic Affair is a snip at just £3.99.
SAVE: £64.01
Little helper
GET on top of your laundry pile with selected half-price Surf products at Iceland. A 24-wash pack of liquid detergent is down from £6 to £3.
Shop & save
ENJOY Magnum pink lemonade ice cream.
Clubcard customers can get a three-pack for £2.50 at Tesco, reduced from £4.
SAVE: £1.50
Hot right now
GET 20 per cent off outdoor toys at The Works including bubble wands and sports balls.
PLAY NOW TO WIN £200
JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.
Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.
Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.
The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!