Gilded Seashells: Two Ways
In celebration of beach season, I’m showing off my seashell collection and a craft I first shared last year in a guest post at seven thirty three.
Aren’t these gilded seashells the prettiest things ever? So beachy glam!
I experimented with two methods to give my shells the heavy metal treatment. I tried out liquid gilding and gold leaf sheets (which I’ve used for projects like my Gilded Valentine’s Day Plates), and I love the results you get from both.
Seriously, I can’t pick a favorite.
Gold leaf sheets really work well on shells with smooth surfaces. So luxe!
But liquid gilding looks bling-tastic on textured sells, like the ones you see in the forefront of the photo above. The painted on metal leafing really highlights the knobby bits of the shells.
The quickest, easiest method, by far, is to use liquid gilding.
(The supply list below includes affiliate links; if you make a purchase from my referral, I will receive a small commission.)
I used the Martha Stewart Crafts Liquid Gilding, which comes in four colors: gold, brass, copper and silver. I used brass and silver to create my seashells.
Just brush it on with a paintbrush, and you are done! The liquid gilding dries quickly, which is a bonus. But it does have a strong smell.
When gold leafing, first coat the shell with a thin layer of adhesive size — a thin, ultra-sticky glue. Allow the adhesive size to dry for 20 to 40 minutes, until the surface of the shell is tacky or sticky, but not dry.
Gently lay a sheet of gold leaf over the shell. The leafing is super thin, and a bit tricky to handle. Make sure you’re not sitting near a fan or a vent when working with it or your gold will blow away!
Use a soft, dry paintbrush or a soft rag to burnish the gold leaf onto the surface and remove any excess.
You will probably have to follow up with a second layer of adhesive and gold leafing to cover any spots you missed on the first pass.
Over time, gold leaf will develop a tarnished patina, like many metals, so you need to seal it. Most metal leafing starter kits come with a clear sealer. You can also use a spray sealer.
There are all kinds of ways you can decorate with gilded seashells. They look great in a bowl, mixed with natural seashells, or scattered on your coffee table atop a stack of books.
Use larger gilded seashells as bookends or cover a frame or mirror with clusters of smaller gilded shells. Or you could just put them in a jar on the back of the toilet, which is where seashells go when you don’t know where else to put them. Right?
If you want to make these seashells, don’t forget to pin this post so you can easily find the tutorial.
For more ideas on going for the crafting gold, check out out these other gilded projects:
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