Transform ordinary shells into stunning decor with our guide on how to decoupage shells using paper napkins in a few easy steps! You will absolutely love the effect! Although we used holiday napkins for our craft, you can use any printed paper napkins you have on hand.
Decoupaged Seashells for All Year Round Crafting
Do you have a collection of shells from your beach adventures just waiting to be turned into beautiful decor pieces? Get ready to have a little fun crafting with napkins and mod podge.
Decoupage is such a great way to transform ordinary shells into stunning works of art! No worries if you don’t have a collection of found shells. You can easily find some for cheap at your local craft store or even the dollar store.
So get ready to take your shell collection to the next level and add a touch of seaside charm to your home with these simple steps!
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Materials Needed
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- Seashells and clam shells with curved “dish” shaped
- Decorative paper napkins (holiday themed) – these are fun bundles of paper napkins we’ve used for our decoupage crafts
- Mod Podge
- Paint brush
- Gold metallic paint
These are just about the same supplies needed to make these beautiful seashell trinket dishes as well!
How to Make Festive Decoupaged Shells
I shared the tutorial for these decoupage shells craft on a recent Facebook Live which you can watch here. All of the step by step instructions can be found in the video or keep reading for the photo instructions below.
Start by removing the additional plies from the paper napkins. You will just be using the printed layer for this craft.
Apply a thin layer of mod podge to the outside of the seashell. Press the paper napkin onto the shell and gently flatten with your fingers.
Place a top coat of mod podge onto the napkin and continue to smooth any wrinkles. Leave it to dry.
Trim any excess paper and use a sanding block to smooth the edges.
Once dry, use a fine tip brush to apply a thin gold line around the edges. This gives it a nice touch of elegance.
Let dry and then enjoy the beauty!
Wasn’t that so easy? There are so many beautiful napkins available online, at craft stores, or even at your local Dollar Tree. Think about all the different ways you can transform the ordinary into extraordinary with the art of decoupage.
You can carefully place a small hole at the top of the shell and add a ribbon for hanging on a Christmas tree or to use as a gift tag. Or simply place the shells in a decorative bowl or on a table for a bit of holiday decor.
How will you decorate with your decoupaged shells?
More Seashell Crafts
Let us know in the comments below if you give these beautiful decoupaged shells a try. Please share it with us by tagging us on Facebook or Instagram. It really does make our day!
Want to receive a ton of inspiration and money saving ideas for decorating, gift-giving and crafting? Join HERE!
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How to Decoupage Shells
Materials
- Seashells and clam shells with curved “dish” shape
- Decorative paper napkins holiday themed
- Mod Podge
- Paint Brush
- Gold Metallic Paint
Instructions
- Remove the additional plies from the paper napkins and dispose. Just use the printed layer. Leave it to dry.
- Apply a coat of mod podge to the outside of the shell.
- Press the paper napkin onto the shell and gently flatten with your fingers.
- Let dry.
- Trim excess paper at the edges. Sand smooth.
- Use a fine tip brush to apply a thin gold line around the edges.