Materials And Supplies

8 large cup shells 8 smaller cup shells 8 garfish scales Duco cement

2 plastic discs 3/4" diameter 2 earring wires 2 flat back rhinestones colorless nail polish

Tools

pair of tweezers toothpick or large needle

Little practice is needed to become proficient in shellcraft.

The earrings illustrated in the photograph are dogwood flower design. Lavender colored shells were fitted and glued into slightly larger white ones, and four purple garfish scales and a purple rhinestone were used to complete each earring. Study other flowers from nature for color and design and experiment with them. Shell designs may also be glued on plastic or wooden boxes, combs, bottles, ash trays, place and tally cards, match boxes, and other articles.

Figure 30. Shellcraft Earrings.

Figure 31. Felt Pasted Picture.

Procedure

1. ;Use the pair of tweezers to pick up the shells. Assort the shells and select eight small shells that fit snugly into eight slightly larger ones of a different color. The hinge end of the cup shell is the heavy slightly pointed end of the shell where the two shells originally hinged together. Have the hinge end of the smaller shell come directly under the hinge end of the larger shell. When you are certain you have the best fit possible, separate them and apply a drop of cement to the larger one and glue the smaller one inside it.

2. ;Drop cement about the size of a pea on to the center of each disc. Place four completed shells on the discs in pairs directly opposite each other. Have the hinge ends of the shells pointing out. There should be a small space in the center of the discs. Place the rhinestones there. Use the toothpick or needle to shift the shells into position before the cement dries. Drop a small spot of cement on a scrap of paper. With the tweezers pick up a garfish scale by the point and dip the under side of the lower half into the cement. The under side of a garfish scale is the smooth side. Still holding the shell with the pair of tweezers, set it on to the earring just behind the rhinestone. Place three more garfish scales around the rhinestone and repeat this procedure for the second earring. Allow the cement to dry thoroughly.

3. ;Place some cement on the cup part of both ear wires and on the backs of the discs slightly above center. Wait a minute until the cement becomes tacky. Join the wires to the discs and hold them together for another minute until the cement begins to set. Wait a half hour before handling the earrings to apply the polish.

4. ;Apply clear nail polish to the shells for added luster. Avoid touching the rhinestones with the polish. If a second coat is desired apply it only after the first one is completely dry.