The seaside can be an endless source of fascinating finds. The next time you and the children come home from the beach with a bucketful of pebbles and shells, try turning your natural treasures into art with the following ideas.
SHELL PENDANTS
You will need:
spiral shells; Fimo modelling material (available from art shops); thin knitting needle; PVA glue; beads; leather thong or ribbon
What to do:
Roll a piece of Fimo into a lump and press it into the mouth of the shell, leaving a small amount sticking beyond the edge of the shell. Carefully skewer a hole through the top of the lump and then gently ease all of the Fimo out of the shell, making sure that it keeps its shape. Bake the shape according to the instructions on the pack. When the Fimo has cooled, stick it back into the shell using lots of PVA glue. Leave the glue to dry, then string the pendant on to a leather thong or ribbon for a necklace. Make the necklace more decorative by threading a couple of large beads on either side of the shell.
* Tip: do a practice run to check that your oven is the right temperature (if it is too hot, the Fimo will discolour).
SHELL ANIMALS
You will need:
shells; Plasticene; string; PVA glue
What to do:
Using coloured Plasticene, turn your collection of shells into different animals. Roll some Plasticene into a sausage shape and stick it underneath a spiral shell to create a snail. Roll four little legs and a head and press them underneath a limpet shell to make a tortoise. Glue a length of string to the underside of a squat spiral shell and add Plasticene eyes and ears to make a shell mouse.
* Tip: if the Plasticene does not stay attached to the shell surface, stick it on with PVA glue.
SHELL CASTS
You will need:
shells with strongly ridged patterns; Plasticene; plaster of Paris (available from art and craft shops); paint; thin brushes; PVA glue, glitter glue, small beads and sequins (optional)
What to do:
Roll the Plasticene into a thick slab and press a shell into the surface of the slab so that it leaves an impression. Gently ease out the shell, taking care not to smudge the impression. Mix the plaster of Paris with water to make the consistency of double cream and pour it into the mould. When the plaster has dried, peel off the Plasticene to release the cast. Paint the cast to look like a real shell or use bright colours and decorate with glitter glue, sequins and small beads.
* Tip: use shallow shells for this activity; if a shell is too long and pointed it will get stuck in the Plasticene.
PAINTED PEBBLES
You will need:
smooth pebbles; ready mixed or acrylic paint; thin paintbrushes; hole punches and thin coloured card (optional); PVA glue or craft varnish (for adult use only); felt
What to do:
Paint the surface of the pebble with patterns or pictures. Simple motifs such as flowers or patterns of lines work well, and you can also stick on small punched shapes. When the paint is dry, glaze the surface with a layer of PVA glue or use craft varnish for a shiny finish. Stick a piece of felt on the bottom of the pebble and use it as a paperweight. If you have any large pebbles, they can be turned into decorative doorstops.
* Tip: let very young children create a colourful abstract pattern on the surface of a large pebble. They are less likely to mix up the colours if they dab on the paint with a cotton bud rather than a paintbrush.
PEBBLE SCULPTURES
You will need:
a collection of flat-shaped pebbles; PVA glue; heavyweight card; gravel and sand
What to do:
Build up a pebble sculpture, using larger pebbles at the bottom to create a firm foundation. Work on a base of heavyweight card and stick the pebbles together using lots of PVA glue. When the sculpture is finished, decorate the base by spreading on glue and sprinkling with sand or gravel. Glaze the entire sculpture with a layer of PVA glue to bring out the colours and markings of the stone.
* Tip: challenge nimble-fingered older children to recreate Stonehenge, or try building a miniature stone hut.
