19.8.11

Shell Crafts - Shell Angels and Altered Bottle

Shell Crafts
I was missing from blogland as we had gone on a family holiday to Pondicherry in South India.An interesting thing about Pondicherry is that French is an official language of the Indians there and the streets retain French names! Well let me not bore you with more tourism info[ I seem to be doing that too much nowadays!].While sightseeing we landed by mistake on a "non tourist" beach and we were greeted by the most wonderful sight-- the beach was encrusted with such gorgeous shells! To crafty souls like my daughter and myself it was like being dazzled by diamonds ! We were crazy with delight and picked up so many lovely shells.I have nearly 2 kilos of them now!
The moment we reached home we just had to play with our precious shells!
Here is a bottle we altered
Shell Crafts
Its a simple shell design stuck on with white glue excepting for the shell leaves which I wanted to stick out at a perpendicular and hence used Mseal.
Shell Crafts
Here is a simple pattern on the bottle cap. 
Shell Crafts
Shell Angles
The Shell Angel is pretty easy to make if you have a good adhesive. If you want to try it with white glue be prepared to be super-patient !  I used white Mseal to help to stick the shells together for the bigger angel which my daughter calls as " Mamma Angel". Stack 2, 3 or even 4 shells atop each other apply adhesive at points of contact and stick.
Shell Crafts
Here is the view from the top to show how 2 shells are stuck together for the head and the wing attachment with Mseal.
Shell Crafts
Here is our Shell angel all decked up. We added some fabric flowers to the wings.I tied a golden ribbon around the neck and also made it into a loop to make our shell angel a hanging ornament.All the embellishments were bought locally.You could add googly eyes or beads or even draw some facial features but somehow I didn't feel like adding eyes to the shell face as I wanted the natural shell beauty.
Shell Crafts
Here is the back side of the shell angel with the fabric flowers covering the adhesive and ribbon knot.
Shell Crafts
For the 2nd and smaller shell angel I used the glue gun [ available in India if anyone is wondering!] It gives a neater and lighter finish.
Shell Crafts
Add a loop of yarn or ribbon at the back of the shell angel and use it as Christmas tree ornaments or car mirror hanging.
Shell Crafts
My little one wants to make a whole family of angles! We have Mamma and Baby Shell Angel now!
Shell Crafts
Do try some shell craft and tell me how you like our shell angels and simple altered craft.
Linking to Artsy Craftsy

76 comments:

  1. these are gorgeous doc..... hope u had a fantastic holiday...

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  2. You have decked the angels beautifully! Great idea, the shells in the altered bottle is lovely.

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  3. Very nice shell craft.love it.hey u asked me regarding felt flowers..I prefer to give 2 to 3 stitches instead of glue.I find it messy with the glue...You also try stitching them.Its fast and without any mess.and hope u also received the tutorial of ribbon flower.

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  4. Sooooo sweet, love all that you made but that hand soap bottle has taken my heart away... You are so creative.

    xxx Monica
    PS: Pondicherry is amazing - I went there some 11 years ago and loved every moment of it. Did you go to Auroville? They have lovely marble paper.

    xxx Monica

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  5. These creations looks very interesting!

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  6. These are just wonderful! and I also went crazy collecting shells in Goa on vacation last month. Only when my husband threatened me to leave me on the beach and return home alone did I gave up on collecting them :D LOL

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  7. Yes Kush we had a fabulous holiday but the best part was picking up the shells!!

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  8. Monica I did go to Auroville but walking for 1.5 km in 36 degrees heat with a 5 year old was terrible!
    Thank You Archana--- I guessed you sewed it. I hate using a needle and thread due to presence of my daughter during most of my crafting
    Ujjwal hehe mine was in a sweet mood that day and indulged mother daughter duo!

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  9. Your angel is very beautiful!

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  10. very cute all of them:)

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  11. These are just simply beautiful, what a rich find you made. Stunning!!
    Judie

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  12. perfect angel wonderful work

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  13. Wow..What a wonderful creation! I am crazy about shells too! Still have a huge collection from childhood :)

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  14. this is beautiful work love those shell angels and the altered bottle it looks lovely.hope u had a good holiday,from the sound of it seems like u and your daughter had a ball on the beach:)

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  15. What pretty shell angels- I love the flower halo in the one's head! How wonderful that everytime you and your daughter look at them you will remember your fun time on the beach together :)Amy

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  16. Yes Hussena we had a lovely holiday we were water babies for most of it!

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  17. Are u kidding me...This is unbelievable...u r a DIVA !

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  18. Wow aunty, they look extremly beautiful.. Love the bottle. I was crazy about shells two years back when I was ten. Still have them in a container... I will try the family first..... They are adorable and would make great showpieces

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  19. wow the angels are gorgeous!!!

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  20. Dr. Sonia, I can just see you and your daughter gathering up those shells. I bet you were both thinking the rest of the trip how you would use them. What adorable shell angels and so many uses for them. O.K., now go complete the rest of the family. :-)

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  21. What a great find! Lovely shell projects! Angels are so pretty! I am sure you both had a wonderful time. What great memories!! Thanks for sharing!
    Glenda

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  22. Ohhh They are all fantastic BUT I love the angels the best.

    Carolyn

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  23. Ohhh They are all wonderful BUT my favorite has to be the angel.

    Carolyn

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  24. Way cool shell art! I have written some articles on shell art for local magazines. I live 7 miles from the beach!

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  25. you have to love a beach that is full of free craft supplies :) Love the angels.

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  26. wow I loved the shell angels completely.... very pretty.
    www.artistneelima.blogspot.com

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  27. Sonia, lovely shell craft. Liked the cute two little angels and the shell work on the bottle. Wonderful creativity! I am trying to get glue gun for a long time, still not lucky to find one.

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  28. Bee-utiful shell art. I like sea shells. Most beaches I've been to any time recently have only broken pieces of shell. You are so lucky to have found such wonderful shell pieces.
    Melissa
    "Sunshine HoneyBee"
    http://CreatedbySunshineHoneyBee.blogspot.com

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  29. Wow such pretty shell angels. You guys did such a great job together. Hugs, Pam at http://craftycards4u2.blogspot.com/

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  30. very pretty Doctor!

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  31. Thank you friends for appreciating our shell art
    Mira I picked up mine from the streets.It was a very exciting buy!
    Melissa you are so right we were very lucky to find such a good collection

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  32. hi ,thanks for the beautiful comment...

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  33. hey..really nice shell work...i loved it!

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  34. WoW! Such fun! love all these beautiful shells and all your creations!

    Carri~abusybee
    www.doubleclickconnections.blogspot.com

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  35. wow...these are gorgeous...loved the altered bottle...nice to hear you had great fun at the vacation

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  36. Lovely angels Sonia, a lovely part of your holiday to find so many beautiful shells intact as well.
    Sandy

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  37. They're gorgeous..So innovative..

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  38. Very very creative, such a pretty angel. :) TFS and glad you had fun on your holiday.

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  39. Wonderful, delighful angels, must have been so much fun to make, they are adorable!!

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  40. Wow, these are adorable and so creative!

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  41. Sonia
    Such exquisite little angels. So glad you had a nice holiday. I love your shells and your project.
    Thanks for stopping by my blogand leaving such great comments.
    Myrna

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  42. OH MY STARS!!!!! GORGEOUS!

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  43. beautiful shells and amazing craft using them!! thansk for stopping by at my space and sharing love..for rolling the bread swirls...i just used our kitchen rolling pin and stuck the ends with water. keeping it is freeze for some time is the trick to bind it.hope it helps, do try it out and lemme know...lav

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  44. I came back to ask you to stop by my blog and pick up an award I would love to share with you. Hugs, Pam at http://craftycards4u2.blogspot.com/

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  45. Such a nice way to remember a holiday. Whenever you will look at these angels you will remember your vacation with family. The altered bottle could double up as a vase to hold a fresh flower if filled with water.

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  46. DR Sonia, I would feel the same as you and your daughter...I love collecting shells! Your creations are just fabulous.

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  47. Hi Sonia,GORGEOUS job with your AWESOME projects,Just BEAUTIFUL!!:)

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  48. So glad to have you back. Your shell projects are fabulous!

    Kelly
    http://kellyscraftylife.blogspot.com

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  49. Oh you mother daughter duo is amazing...that is so awesome!! 2kgs of shells? wow!! I love the tiny angels..maybe you can hang a small one in your car!!

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  50. Wow, wow and wow! You both did an amazing job, I can only imagine your face when you and your daughter saw all the shells!!!

    I think the angel is my favorite, so delicate and beautiful!!

    Laurie

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  51. You are amazing Sonia! The things you do with shells....WOWZERS! Thanks for stopping by to see how I was doing. Just normal "life" stuff that kept me busy and away from my computer. All is well! Missed U!
    :O)
    Jessica

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  52. Such an amazing collection of shells you have got and you did wonderful job with them... angels are so pretty...

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  53. Anonymous22/8/11

    Super lovely!! Totally loved this one.. Will have to share this with simone.. as she's been collecting shells and doesnt know what to do with them.. :-)

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  54. Very pretty work... Using shells for such creations is really a great idea... I have been hopping onto the other posts in this blog and all your work is so impressive... Am still not done with browsing through all your work.

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  55. Anonymous22/8/11

    These are adorable. I too find it hard to resist shells from the beach. xx

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  56. What beautiful angels, I loved everything you have done with the shells and you have given me some amazing ideas for my non-profit work, thank you:):)

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  57. wonderful creations, I loved the shell bird you made earlier too.

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  58. Such lovely little angels !

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  59. Oh my goodness, the shells are just beautiful! I can't believe you found so many gorgeous ones! You have made the shells just beautiful! I love all of your projects, they are so creative and unique and fabulous! You are so incredibly talented!! :)

    Lisa
    http://indymermaid.blogspot.com

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  60. Such a great project. I don't think you made a wrong turn onto a non tourist beach. I think the crafting angels pointed you in the correct direction.
    http://lorisartsyobsession.blogspot.com/

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  61. Sonia great to get a little vacation but did miss seeing your creations :) These shell creations are just fabulous!! I do love the little angels so very pretty!

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  62. I loved all those shell crafted display on beaches! used to make them using all those shells collected from a visit to beach during my school days! Lovely work as usual!

    Your Blog has been Nominated for Versatile Blogger Award. Please visit HERE to receive the same!

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  63. i love ths pretty angel...wow beautiful shell arts...

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  64. those are adorable. I love things made with things from the sea. I'm having a link party on my blog today and I'd love for you to add this idea if you have the time. Thanks for sharing, Maria
    http://caribbeanmissionarywife.blogspot.com/

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  65. Great idea!
    Congratulations!

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  66. Glad you had a fun vacation. These shells are so white and your creations are embellished beautifully. I love reading how you and your daughter craft together. You are both very blessed.

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  67. Thank You Maria I shall surely link up
    Thank You dear friends for encouraging us with such lovely comments on our shell art

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  68. These are lovely Sonia! I was first introduced to shell art around thirty-five years ago on an annual trip to the sea-side. In a little gift shop tucked away up a side street I discovered shell frogs. Someone had thought up that to glue the shells on top of each other with two across on the top then two tiny shells upright for the eyes an almost realistic frog shape could be formed. Everyone gathered shells from the beach and tried to re-create this beautiful creation but it proved much more difficult than it looked.

    It is a lovely and rewarding art form ... and it is something that children can participate in to create wonderful presents to pass on to parents, grandparents and friends.

    Your post brings back some really happy memories!! :)))

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  69. Vowww!!! You are so creative and talented...
    Enjoyed browsing your creations...Loved some of ur ideas...I am very glad that i found you...from 2day count me in as your follower...
    happy crafting...

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  70. You are so amazing doctor! what a great ornaments!

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  71. Amazing Angels.....Love them.

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  72. really very creative ideas!!! awesome!!!!

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