inspired ideas

She Silvers Sea Shells

For this project, you'll need:

Metal Leaf Adhesive Sizing

Silver Leaf

Paintbrush

Seashells, cleaned and dried

Begin by applying a thin layer of the sizing to the clean dry shell. It will go on cloudy and dry clear. Allow to dry for one hour.

Silver leaf comes in pages, separated by tissue. It's super thin and delicate so be careful. Be sure your hands and work surface are clean and dry. Read the package for tips on using the silver leafing. I'm just going to tell you how I do it but you may find that there's an easier way.

After an hour when your seashell's sizing is dried (and super sticky!), pick up one sheet of the silver leaf. (You may find using tweazers make it easier to handle)

Lay the single sheet of silver leaf over the seashell.

Using a clean, very dry paintbrush, push the silver leafing into the seashell's surface. It may begin to break into smaller pieces of silver leafing and that's fine.

Use your brush to whisk off extra silver leafing.

It's a bit like excavating...just keep working and before you know it, your shell will be sparkling and silvery.

If there are any bare spots, just pick up the small pieces on your work surface with your tweazers or paintbrush, and apply to the spot. If that doesn't work, you can add more sizing to spots, allow to dry, and reapply another layer of silvering.

This is so addictive...before you know it, you'll be silvering everything in sight!