........end of summer........more............shell love..........

.........hello sunshines! hope you had a wonderful...healthy and happy........ labor day weekend!

...i'm still workin around the cottage.................movin.... n shakin............but finished up another.........end of summer project.................this one.......another larger shell picture frame....................just a bit different.................i will be hanging smaller frames inside this little lady................................................or nothing at all........................:)....a blank slate!..............

......i know..............yet another shell project...i love shells............however.....since i had some left.and still do........well..................here goes......................

..........this was an old frame...........looking at the character of it........it could be utilized as a great flat area for more shells..........i added more of the flat marbles from the other project.......but i also added a little bling......................some sand from joanns...................it has.............just the right sparkle............don't you think?..............

............it turned out much more "softer" with the added sand ......maybe a more finished look...........................................here is how i got the sand to stick!........................watered down paint! yes................paint! i had thought about glue.........but i also............wanted to keep the color there as well......................so.............it worked.............and i love it.....................

....as you can see...........this little beauty had a little "thought" behind the design....this time..............i started with a large shell....center top.............center bottom...............center right and left................then started adding in between......................i also tried to make the inside margin of this frame somewhat the same.......................small shells and flat marbles...........................more of a formal look?

...............i added lovely white ...........sand dollars......to the four corners too..................building them up a bit with a marble underneath.................a raised effect.........................

......................when you are completely done....................with all the lovely shells...................lay a large piece of paper on the ground........................outside is best............make the paper larger than the project.............................then get a small brush and some watered down paint..................paint in between your shells and onto the frame..............................do a small section at a time.....................

.....................then sprinkle the sand on the wet paint..................the excess sand will fall onto the paper below your project...........so you can ......fold up the paper and .............."pour the excess" back into the container for the next project...........no waste...............no muss no fuss............discard the paper if you wish..........................i had thought about plastic but paper is much easier to use.......................sorry i didnt take any pictures.......................(i used grocery bags taped together!) hello "duct tape!"

........this too ..................was a pretty clean project...................when all was said and done.........oh and leave your frame or mirror outside for a day or two so any excess sand will blow off or fall off before you bring inside................................

..............i get a chuckle......a rather................. large one!..............with the popcorn ceiling......oh............my 70' charmer..................the two-tone paint................and not to forget the spackle ...............on the walls..............

.........this little beauty is hanging in my "soon to be completed and under construction" cottage masterette bedroom!.......(i should take a picture of my hard hat! lol) ..............poor thing..........my room........multiple issues here! :).........certainly a large work in progress................................but this shall be finished soon........too............

..................i hope you remember if you make one of these.....they do not have to be perfect..............as................bob ross always said.........i think it went....something like this............"we dont make mistakes..............we make happy accidents!"..............i love this!!!!!!!!!!!!! dont you???  :)

.........i hope you have a wonderful "short" week!.....................i hope you try a "project!" ........................................... I will be "working" in my cottage for sure................
hugs kat =^.^=

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