Beach Themed Vase - Simple and elegant

Happy Monday! Hope you had a great weekend! I have just taken on a 2^nd job, not counting this blog and the associated websites that go with it, so it’s getting a little crazy around here. I will be driving a school bus, something I did a few years ago and loved. I especially loved working with the special needs kids, so I hope I end up there this time too. Sadly, when I moved from Michigan, where I had my CDL, to Indiana, I gave it up. So now I have to go through all the training over again. It will be worth it in the end, but right now, it’s nuts! My ‘empty nester’ (read OLD) brain just doesn’t remember stuff as well as it used to. But, I did this once, so I know I can do it again.

The crafting is my sanity. To be able to sit down in my craft room and create is the ultimate stress reliever for me. Since I already had a beach themed wine glass and candlestick holder I decided to make a vase to go with it.

Fortunately, I already had all the supplies, so that makes life easier. Shannon, a friend and fledgling crafter is always ready to sit and ‘play’ crafts with me, so she made a slightly different vase of her own at the same time.

The first step is to paint the can so, just in case something shows through, no one will know how many pringles have been sacrificed in the making of this project.  And since the paint takes a while to dry, Shannon and I decided to go to the new Ross Store to make the wait less taxing. While there, in my ever continuing quest for craft supplies, I found 2 packages of 4 stamp pads for $4.99 each  – how can anyone pass that up? And the timing was perfect; everything was dry when we got back.

So the next step was to cover the entire can with sand. I went outside and sprayed adhesive over the entire thing. Using an old box top as a catch all, I poured out the sand and rolled the can as I poured. 

Next was adhering the broken shell pieces. They are very small bits and pieces. You can get them at Michaels, or just about any decorating section of the local craft store. Again, this entailed going outside and spraying the adhesive over the sand.  But I didn’t cover the whole thing because I didn’t want to cover all the sand as well as leaving room for the shells.

Then you start gluing on the shells. I found hot glue works best for this, no waiting for the glue to dry or slipping and sliding of the shells. Starting with the biggest shells first, I started covering the can.

Slowly, cover the entire can with shells, working your way down to really small little shells.

When it looked like I couldn’t get my fingers into those tiny little spaces anymore, I dripped hot glue into those spaces and filled it in with the broken shell pieces.  Make sure you get around the top of the can as well, so no one knows it just a cardboard can in there!

Once you’re happy with the looks of the can, head back outside. Slide as much of your hand and arm into the can as you are able. Spray the acrylic sealer over the entire thing, spinning it gently around on your arm. Make sure everything is completely covered, a second coat won’t hurt anything and you don’t want shell pieces all over your shelf or floor, very uncomfortable on the feet.

Just remember, it IS a cardboard can in there, so don’t put water in it. I have done this on glass, but for the up-cycler in me, this is much better.  Silk flowers or beachy ‘weeds’ look great in it.

You can use this same technique on many different containers, glass, terra cotta pots, just about anything. So try it, and please let me know how it turns out! I love to see what others create. Please feel free, even encouraged, to share this if you have enjoyed the project or idea.  Remember to share the creativity, and let your creativity flow, it’s a lifeline to a happy life.