Candle Jar Shellcraft
- Project 4 -
Coquina Flowers
Introduction
In this candle jar shellcraft project, a recycled candle jar is used as the canvas. Using a recycled candle jar not only keeps it out of the landfill but it also adds a beautiful piece of handcrafted art to your home décor.
The jar needs to be clean both inside and out, and undamaged. The jar's lid is also used in this project. Once complete the lid can be used to keep wanted "stuff" in the jar and unwanted "things" outside of the jar.
For more information on cleaning jars visit:
How to Clean & Recycle Candle Jars
(opens in new window)
Materials
Coquina seashells (or similar seashells
Scallop seashells
Rhinestones
Sand
Glass candle jar
White, all purpose glue
Hobby brushes
Newspaper or other paper
Coquina Seashell Flower
Making the coquina flower for this candle jar shellcraft project is fairly simple and only takes the most basic of coordination to place them in a pleasing pattern. To begin, pick out a rhinestone in your favorite color. Place the rhinestone down. It will form the center of the flower.
Go through your coquina seashell collection and pick out 5 of them. These 5 seashells will form the petals of the flower. I try to match the color as best as possible by searching within the collection of seashells I have available. For instance, pick out 5 pinkish coquinas to form 1 flower, then perhaps 5 yellowish coquinas to form another flower.
Set them out on your paper and form the flower pattern. This will also help you to figure out the general size of the flower and how it will fit on your jar.
Putting the Coquina Flower on the Jar
To start placing your flower on the candle jar shellcraft, place the jar on its side in front of you. You may need to put props on the side of the jar to keep it from moving around. I used small old trophy bases from which the trophies had long disappeared. They just happened to be lying around and were handy in keeping the jar in place.
Next put a small "glob" of glue on the glass, centered where you want the coquina flower to be placed. Use a hobby brush to spread it out in a circle just slightly bigger than the size of the arranged flower.
Place the rhinestone in the center of the circle of glue. Place the coquina seashells around the rhinestone, more or less evenly spaced out. Move them around until you are happy with the result. Sprinkle sand over the flower to cover the exposed glue. Leave the candle jar shellcraft project sit for 15 minutes or so, to allow the glue to set and partially dry.
Remove loose sand by tilting the project over to the sides. Before starting the next flower, gather up the loose sand and return it to your container.
Repeat above with the next flower you want to place. As you can see on the accompanying photos, I placed them in a rather staggered design.
Be careful not to accidentally damage one of the other flowers which placing the new one. Allowing sufficient time for the glue to dry between placements would be your best defense against damage.
Adding a few Scallop seashells
You don't have to add anything more to the candle jar shellcraft unless you want to. I added a few small scallop seashells both for the added interest and colors. They also filled in some of the empty space between the flowers. Mostly I added them because I liked they way they looked on the jar with the coquina flowers.
Pick out a few scallop seashells. They should be fairly small ones, around the size of a nickel. If you don't have scallops try some clam seashells. Use the same method as for the coquina seashell flowers, putting a small glob of glue on the glass then spreading it out. Place the seashell in the center of the spread out glue, then sprinkle sand over the exposed glue.
The Jar's Lid
Place the lid in front of you, top side up. Design a coquina seashell and rhinestone flower. Just like for the candle jar, put a "glob" of glue on the lid. This glob should be as close as you can get to the center. Use a brush to spread the glue around.
Place the rhinestone you picked for the jar lid in the center of the spread out glue. Place the flower petals (coquina seashells) around the rhinestone. Move them around the candle jar shellcraft until you are like what you see.
Sprinkle sand over the glue until it is all covered. Set aside to allow time for the glue to dry. Remove the loose sand by tilting the lid. Set aside to finish drying.
Finishing Up
 Finished Project
used as a
Lantern
Now that you have placed all your coquina seashell flowers and maybe some accessories it is time to clean up the project and add some protection to the seashells and sand.
Start by removing any loose sand on the candle jar shellcraft. I just pass a larger, dry hobby brush over the jar and the design. This will knock off any loose sand easily. If you happened to have got glue on top of the seashells and rhinestones that got glued in place you can probably scrape them off. I use a pair of tweezers to clean them off.
Finally, get out your polyurethane and paint the seashells and sand with it. Try not to get any polyurethane on the rhinestones as it will make them dull.
When the candle jar shellcraft is dry it is ready for use. You can just pop the lid back on and use it as a knickknack. Or take the lid off, like in the photo, and place a votive candle in a holder inside to make a candle lantern. You can also use it to store small items, such as seashell collections, marbles, or polished stones.
Try Another Jar Project
Project 1 – Horizontal pattern
Project 2 – Vertical pattern
Project 3 - Jar Lid
Project 5 - Clams & Scallops
How to Clean & Recycle Candle Jars
Return to Main Jar Page
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