Shell Craft
Tealight Candleholder Sculpture
Project 5

Intro

For this shell craft project, I thought I'd better give a bit of an intro. This is a complicated project, which will involve quite a few different items. There is a mini candleholder holding center stage. There are colorful shell pieces on either side. A few bits of coral are also added along with a variety of seashells. There are also a couple of glass fish and a small red glass crab.

The base I used is a rectangular piece of beveled glass with smooth edges that's about 7 inches wide by 3 inches deep. You could substitute a similar size piece of wood if getting glass is a problem.

Materials:

Glass or wood base 3x7 Glass Votive Candleholder
Seashells
Shell Pieces
Cut shells
Sand
Coral pieces
Rhinestones
Fish figures minis
Crab figures minis
Glue (Elmers all purpose or equivalent)
Polyurethane
Hobby Brushes

Newspaper - 2 or 3 sheets
Tealights

Getting Started

First put together a shell craft mini candleholder such as in Project 1 - Miniatures
. This one has a small scallop in center stage with a purple rhinestone below, and a couple of small "volcano" seashells to either side. On the back are a couple of seashell pieces . Make something you like – it's going to be the center of your shell craft candleholder.

While you wait for things to dry on your mini candleholder, clean the glass or wood base. If it's wood give a light sanding and remove the dust. Soap and water will do for the glass – dry well. When you have the mini candleholder ready, glue it to the center of the base.

Add more glue to the top of the base, and "paint" it on. Cover the spread out glue with sand. Start selecting seashells and coral pieces for your arts and crafts project. Once dry, remove the loose sand and cover the sand with polyurethane.

Start applying the seashells and coral to the base. The larger pieces should be toward the mini seashell candleholder, even leaning against it and glued down. Let the larger pieces set in place so they don't get moved accidentally while putting the smaller items on the base.

Keep an eye on the photos. They will help you with placement of seashells. Don't worry if you do not have exactly the same types I used. Just use whatever you have and do the best you can. Set the small sea shells in place.

I would apply polyurethane to the all the seashells and coral now. This both protects them and brings out the patterns and colors, enhancing this shell craft. Finally, add the glass fish and a crab or two. Place the crab (or crabs) so they look like they are in hiding. Even the fish look nice if they seem to be in a natural nook in this artificial reef.

There you are – finished. Of course it's not all that simple. You need to gather everything, set some things up, and patiently wait for the glue to dry in-between stages. Still, when you are done with this shell craft project you'll have a beautiful piece of art for your home.

Photo Gallery

Check out the Miniature Candleholder Craft Photo Gallery. See the beautiful art I’ve created to inspire you in crafting your own shell craft candleholders.

Try Another Candleholder Project

Project 1 - Miniatures
Project 2 - Palm Tree
Project 3 - Reef
Project 4 - Island Reef

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