Let me start by saying this will be the easiest DIY art project of your life.

My kids and I love to collect things. Ever since I was a child, I would collect rocks, which are now displayed in a wood and glass display case in my office. A similar style can be found here.

My new tradition, now with my kids in tow, is to collect seashells at any beach, or even lakeside, we visit. Shells used to get thrown in my purse but I now prepare and take a ziplock bag. During our latest trip to San Diego this summer, we came back with a half gallon ziplock bag full of various shells. Now after the last several years of trips to Florida, Mexico and California, we had enough to select our most treasured shells and display in a shadow box.

This was also convenient as I have some spare walls in the house that still need decor. I am very intentional with what I hang on the walls to display. I’ll live in a house with some spare walls for years until I find the right piece. I’d rather wait for something with meaning than spend money on something temporary. Making our own art with the shells helped both purposes.

Making Shadow Box Art

There are literally three steps to this:

1. Purchase shadow box. Here is the version that I used, purchased at Michael’s.
2. Glue objects with a hot glue gun.
3. Hang.

Seriously, y’all. I’m being facetious but hanging something with meaning in your home not only brings joy, it spurs conversation with those visiting . You can use shells, rocks, coins, figurines, buttons, spoons or any other collectors items.

You’ll find plenty of similar art frames sold online and you can do this yourself….so long as you don’t mind the glue on the back. But the upside with hot glue is that unless adhering to fabric, it can be peeled off most things if you ever want to remove the items from the shadow box.

Have any remaining blank walls in the house? Go take a look at what items you have that give some meaning and get out that hot glue gun!