Wooden Box
Project 1
Cat on a Box
This seashell art project uses a hinged wooden box with the figurine of a cat as the main focal point. Here I will discuss how to set up and put together this Cat on the Box beach art.
Materials:
hinged wooden box 3" or 4" round
cat figure (this one is 3" high)
seashells
sand
glue,
paintbrush, hobby
paper
PUBLISHER INCOME SOURCE. Do you own a website or publish a blog? Consider adding Chitika. Google adsense compatible. Easy to use ppc. Earn $$.
Advertisers! Check out Chitika PPC for your campaign.
an affiliate site
The Box
The wooden box I used in this seashell art project is made from a light wood. It is about 3 inches in diameter and a couple of inches high. The box lid is hinged to the body so that it opens like a clamshell. This box was purchased at a craft store. When looking for a box, you want to find one that has a flat surface on the lid. A square or rectangular hinged box will also work for this seashell arts and crafts project.
Check the wooden box for stickers and remove them. Remove any dust and loose bits of material. If you want a darker background look, use a stain. I used an Oak stain to darken the wood slightly - both on the outside and the inside.
If you want to use it for a jewelry box, consider adding a felt or silk lining to the inside. You could also add rubber buttons to the bottom of the wooden box to protect whatever you put it on. These materials should be available from a craft supply store or craft website.
The Cat
The Cat is a figurine bought from a gift store. They were a having a clearance and I wandered in and bought this one. I like cats and their independent ways.
You can use any animal that appeals to you. The figurine should be between 2 to 4 inches tall and fit nicely on the box lid with a little room to spare.
Remove any stickers that are on the figure. Make sure to remove any that are on the bottom of the figure.
The Seashells
The seashells are natural seashells I have found while beachcombing. They are a mix of carditas, scallops, turkey wings, bubbles, clams, and others. The seashells have been cleaned and any loose stuff has been removed. This will help them stick to the wooden box better.
If you can't go beachcombing for your supply of seashells or prefer more consistency between the seashells, there are various seashell stores that will be happy to sell you some. Try one of the online seashell stores.
The Seashell Art Project
Start your seashell art project with the figure. Position it right in the middle of the lid. Its backend should be in-line with the box hinge. You can move the cat around a bit until you are pleased with how it looks on the lid. Now apply glue to the bottom of the cat and place it on the lid. I use white all-purpose glue.
Now apply a thin coat of glue over the rest of the lid top. Put down a few drops and spread the glue around with a hobby paintbrush. Paint the lid with the glue so there is a thin but even coat of glue on it. The glue should go right up to the cat.
Sprinkle beach sand over the glue while it is still wet. Cover the glue completely.
A plan for starting your own money earning website plus:
hosting, website builder, site submission to search engines, traffic reports, and so much more. Free Info.
an affiliate site.
If you don't have beach sand, you can use craft sand. If you like colors, try one of the tinted sands.
Once the glue is dry, remove any loose sand. Just tilt the seashell art project and the loose sand should flow right off. Consider placing some paper under the figurine to catch the sand. It will make it a lot easier to collect the unused sand for later use.
Do the sides of the lid and the box in sections. I started by gluing down the seashells first - waiting for each section to dry - then moving on to the next section. Once the seashells had been placed I applied glue to the rest of the wooden box, spread the glue around the seashells and sprinkled sand over it.
Watch how you apply the glue. Two things you DO NOT want to do are:
Glue the lid to the box
Glue the hinge
Either or both of these actions will result in a permanently shut box.
Once the glue is dry, the loose sand has been removed, and you've checked that the lid opens freely finish the lid design. Add some seashells around the cat.
Although I used clam and scallop seashells for the sides of this seashell art project, around the cat I used round type seashells. There are sea snail seashells and even a small cowry seashell. The flatter profiles of the seashells on the sides of the box, makes holding the box easier.
an affiliate site
To protect your seashell art project apply a coating of clear gloss or semi-gloss polyurethane. This coating will also help brighten the seashells and bring out some more colors and markings.
And that is all it takes. Use it, gift it, or sell it. A pretty seashell art project that you or the new owner are sure to enjoy.
Return to Wooden Box Craft Ideas
|
