The Fisgard Lighthouse

The Fisguard Lighthouse is a favourite place to visit on our trips to British Columbia. I can’t believe that I haven’t shared photos from this place. As I just completed a craft of a photo of the lighthouse decoupaged onto a shell, this is the perfect time to share both.

Fishguard Lighthouse on Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Fisgard Lighthouse

A few years ago our granddaughter said this was the place she wanted to visit with us. So on a foggy September day off we went to climb the stairs leading up to the lighthouse and then to climb the circular stairs inside. Naturally we had to count the stairs as we went up and down. Lots of exercise that day!

Fishguard Lighthouse on Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Fort Rodd, a National Historic Site, also includes the lighthouse. This was a coastal artillery site built in the 1890’s to defend the naval base in Victoria. As you walk around you can see canons, artillery and information signage telling you all about what life used to like there. The naval base is still in use and you can frequently see navy vessels when you visit the Esquimalt Lagoon.

decoupaged shells at craftygardener.ca
decoupage on a shell

I made my own souvenir of the lighthouse. Homemade is always best, and the least expensive.

I decoupaged a photo of the lighthouse onto a shell that was found at the Esquimalt Lagoon, almost next door to the lighthouse. I came across the photo in a magazine and cut it out because it would fit this craft perfectly. I used the Mod Podge gloss for this product.

There are many recipes for making your own mod podge on the internet. If you want to try them out go ahead, but I do prefer to use the actual product. Some homemade products might yellow after awhile and to get the gloss finish the same as the actual product you need to mix in varnish. Not my choice. Mod podge is a water based product and can be partially water resistant. If finished items are to be outside for any length of time I prefer to spray my them after completely dry with a waterproof sealing product.

The shell is almost 12.3 cm. (5 inches) across by 8.5 cm (2.5 inches) high. We found an even bigger shells 16 cm (6.5 inches) x 11 cm (4.5 inches) which we use as a soap dish.

decoupaged shells at craftygardener.ca
decoupaged shell

There is a coastal theme in the bathroom with printed photos of various lighthouses, rocks and shells and sea glass collected from beaches mainly in BC, and lighthouses. So this shell will fit in very well.

the coastal theme bathroom at craftygardener.ca

Some other shell crafts:

garden line

Nature crafts – using shells, rocks, driftwood, sea glass, pinecones

6 Responses

  1. Lucy Corrander

    That’s quite a big shell. Didn’t realise until I saw it in context. The light around the lighthouse. Very clear and of a particular colour. In England perhaps only matched in places like Cornwall?

    • Crafty Gardener

      Hi Lucy, he shell is almost 12.3 cm. (5 inches) across by 8.5 cm (2.5 inches) high. We did find one bigger as well that we use as a soap dish.

  2. Teresa

    so pretty, I would love to visit. I also love the little souvenir you made. It’s a great idea and I might “steal” it, as I have several buckets of shells at home and some are quite large too.
    Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinned.

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