When we visited Cape Charles in 2021 Aoife and I saw lots of decoupaged oyster shells that were being sold in gift shops. They were beautiful but pretty expensive and we wondered if we could make them.
After a lot of trial and error, we have come up with a process that produces beautiful shells!
If you are interested in the process - here's a basic outline:
1 - clean and sterilize the shells - scrub them with a stiff brush and warm water and dish soap. Soak the shells in a bucket of water with about a cup of bleach overnight. Scrub the shells again and scrape off any barnacles or loose material. Once the shells are very clean, run them through the dishwasher.
2- Once the shells are clean and dry, paint the inside surface with white tempera paint. You may need 2 coats. Let completely dry.
3- Cover the back of the shells with three layers of modge dodge - gloss finish - letting each layer dry in between applications. Let shell dry completely overnight.
4- chose the paper napkin with the pattern that you would like to apply to the shell. Peel off the top layer of the napkin.
5 - Paint a thin layer of modge podge on the inside surface of the shell - over the white paint - and lay the printed napkin over it, smoothing out wrinkles as you go. Allow to dry an hour. Trim off the extra napkin.
6 - apply three layers of modge podge - glossy finish - over the napkin, sealing it to the shell - allowing each layer to dry between applications.
7- once the shell is completely dry, apply two layers of spray clear acrylic sealer or spray clear enamel to front and back of the shell, allowing to dry between applications.
8 - allow shell to dry completely - this may take 2 days
9 - paint a thin layer of gold leaf paint around the edge on the front and back of the shell. Allow to dry completely.
10 - enjoy!!
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