Daily Wire Tip Mar. 29: Seashell Jewelry with an Underwater Finish

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
March 29, 2011

Question:

Hi Dale! While at the Wire-Sculpture 2010 Florida Wired Retreat, I took some time to collect some seashells. Many of them already have a hole in them, perfect for making jewelry. Is there a way to protect the surfaces of the shells from flaking? Also, is there a way to brighten the colors of the shells so as to make them look like they’re underwater? Thanks so much for all you’ve taught me!

-Meredith in Springfield, Missouri

Answer:

Hi Meredith – oh yes, the Florida Retreat was fun! I’m glad you took some time for a walk on the beach.

The best product I have found for preserving sea shells and giving them a permanent “wet” appearance is Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Spray. Not a paint, this spray is a safe and easy way to preserve many organic items, even dried flowers! Of course, always read the product label first, work in a well-ventilated area, and to avoid fingerprints, don’t touch your shells until they are dry. (When I lived on the beach, I would string my shells on a piece of fishing line, then hang it from the clothesline while spraying, and then just let them dry for about a half hour.)

Krylon’s “Spraying Safe” article has great tips on working with sprays. For further information about the safety of the product, the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is available on the Krylon product page (here is a direct link to the PDF). Once dry, the coating is completely safe.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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10 Comments

1. 

   Lynne

   March 29, 2011 at 8:43 am

   Wow, I was just thinking about asking the same question! I’d picked up some beautiful shells on the Outer Banks last fall and just keep dreaming about using them. Thanks, Meredith for asking.
   And thanks to Dale for the complete answer.
2. 

   Lori Crawford

   March 29, 2011 at 10:17 am

   Meredith I use Krylon spray too on all kinds of crafts. But I have found that clear fingernail polish works great on small shells because is thicker. It makes them look like they came right out of the ocean and it last forever. I have used it for years on small shells to make them more stable when making crafts with them. I use the Harder than Nails kind that is made for strengthening your nails and it works great. I hope this helps.
3. 

   Joanie

   March 29, 2011 at 10:38 am

   Dale, I too am glad to hear about the Krylon spray. I have used a clear nail polish in the past. It really brings out a lot of color in shells but takes toooo long to dry one at a time.
4. 

   Diana

   March 29, 2011 at 11:08 am

   May I also suggest, if the piece is not for you, that you intend to sell it, make sure you include a note about what you used to coat and preserve it.
   Diana L.
5. 

   Alex

   March 31, 2011 at 1:02 am

   Dale and friends;
   I have always been the curious type, and years ago found what makes those perfect holes in the tiny (and some not so tiny) seashells. While working at an education center on the beach, I discovered that those holes were bored perfectly by a Moon Snail. I have tried in the past to bore tiny holes in the shells, and always managed to break them. Nice that a hungry Moon Snail was kind enough to bore them for me. Oh, yes, the Moon Snail is a predator, and bores the hole, sucking the body out of the clam, leaving a perfectly round hole.

   Have fun!
   • 

     dalecgr

     March 31, 2011 at 9:39 am

     Thanks so much for the additional and interesting info Alex!
6. 

   Mary Phillips

   April 2, 2011 at 6:56 pm

   My favorite coating for “sea beads” including sand dollars is DesignaSeal Clear Gloss by La Dore Inc. It hardens and has a nice natural gloss, is also water based so my little artists brush I use for application cleans up easily and thoroughly. It also dries in under an hour. A reminder would be in order that if anyone is inclined to drill their shell (with a dremel using a diamond tip drill), be sure to do it under water. The dust is toxin so you don’t want to be breathing it. I love encasing locally found shells with seed bead bezels and just got done encasing a sand dollar in a wonderful earthy necklace.
   • 

     dalecgr

     April 2, 2011 at 11:30 pm

     Mary, thank-you for recomending a new product for sealing seashells : )
   • 

     Diane

     April 10, 2013 at 6:33 am

     Mary, after hearing you talk about your jewelry, I decided to take a look at your etsy shop. Your jewelry has such a nice relaxed feel to it. I spent most of my life living on or near various beaches. Even the beautifully dressy pieces have that relaxed beachy feel to it. I can feel your inspiration when look at you work. Great job!
7. 

   Gail

   April 5, 2011 at 2:58 am

   Thank you Alex for the information on the little shells with holes in them. I had thought someone changed their mind about making jewelry and discarded them. Now all of you have me wanting to go to the beach again. Thanks for recommending the Krylon Spray.