Sharpie Seashells
Who knew that you could create such beautiful patterns by decorating seashells with Sharpies?! I love how the natural patterns of the seashells stand out when they’re coloured this way. Colouring is such a creative and meditative activity. There’s a reason why adult colouring books became so popular! Colouring is a proven stress release. Focusing on decorating the shells is the perfect relaxing activity for both kids and adults. These Sharpie seashells are so pretty when displayed as a centrepiece, either in a dish or a mason jar. You can use them to decorate a candle holder, or even glue them to a picture frame. There’s so many options!
Check out our Sharpies on Seashells video tutorial:
Looking for more seashell crafts? Here’s some of our favourites: Seashell Painting Seashell Ornaments Glitter Seashell Picture Frame
Here’s what you’ll need:
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission which helps us run this website.
Seashells White acrylic paint Fine point Sharpie marker
Where can I get seashells?
If you’re planning a beach trip this summer, you can gather your own seashells. Be sure to wash and dry these shells before painting them.
How can I preserve my seashell Sharpie art?
We left our seashells “as is” after decorating them with Sharpie. They should last at least a year without preserving them. However, if you’re worried about the paint chipping or you would like a glossy finish on your seashell, you can spray the shells with a clear acrylic spray sealer. Make sure you do this outside or in a well ventilated room.
What is the best paint for seashell painting?
We like to use acrylic paint because it’s quick and easy. Acrylic paint gives a nice, even base coat on the seashell and stays opaque when it dries. It also gives you a fairly durable finish. It does take a bit of time to paint the seashells white. So if you’re painting a lot of seashells, white spray paint would be the fastest option.
Do I have to paint the seashell first?
White paint will give the seashell a nice, smooth surface to draw on and an even base colour for your designs. But if you can find white seashells you really don’t need to paint them first. You can draw directly on the seashell without painting it. We got our seashells at the dollar store and they were all a darker peach and brown colour. The Sharpie just wouldn’t look good on them without a base coat of paint.
Who knew you could decorate seashells with something as simple as a Sharpie!? You can decorate them with any colour, or even use multiple colours to create a rainbow seashell! This is a great summer art project and a perfect craft for the cottage.
Here’s even more seashell craft ideas:
Seashell Painting
Seashell Ornaments
Glitter Seashell Picture Frame
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
Where to buy:
