LET'S GET CRAFTY
with Rebecca Gurski
seashell "zoo"
Like many Florida families, a we enjoy going to a number of different beaches and collecting tons of seashells each time. Unfortunately, these shells end up tossed in a bucket or tub and pretty much forgotten. So, we decided to give them new life by turning them into different animals and plants!
You will need:
A number of different shells, found or store-bought
Tacky, quick-drying glue (or in our case, hot glue gun)
Polymer clay (optional)
Small brush for glue
Beads and/or googly eyes
How to:
1. Lay out all of your shells and experiment with different combinations to come up with animal or plant shapes before gluing everything into place. ( Unique looking shells might inspire a particular kind of creature, such as the spiky spiral one we used for our chameleon eye).
2. Use small bits of polymer clay to test out various arrangements. For assembly, a tacky, quick drying glue works best, or adults can handle the hot glue gun. Build heads and bodies separately. Before joining larger parts, use a brush to glue on small parts (like beads for eyes) and clay to support creatures while glue dries.
3. Display and enjoy!
We had a blast making our chameleon, flower, sea turtle, koala, and puppy. Have fun creating your own zoo!