Craft: Sea Glass Critters

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Collecting sea glass was so much fun on our last trip to British Columbia.  I bought back lots and lots in various colours and sizes.  The smallest pieces got sorted and displayed in some cute little jars, the smallest is just under 4 cm. high.  But what to do with all the rest of it was a challenge.

collecting sea glass at craftygardener.ca

The first project was to make a sea glass candle that I loved burning on the dark winter evenings.  I showed how I made the smaller one and used the same idea when I made a larger one.  We recently just adjusted our clocks to the “spring ahead” setting so now these candles don’t get used quite as much at the dinner table as we are enjoying longer daylight hours.

making sea glass candles at craftygardener.ca

I had great fun making soap with shells and sea glass.  My first attempt at soap making was with incentive soaps to encourage hand washing.  Since the first ones used toonies I’ve also used Lego figures, Miss Kitty figures, and now shells and sea glass.

making shell and sea glass soap at craftygardener.ca

My latest project using sea glass was fun and I created two different critters mounted on flat stone … a turtle and a dragonfly.  The turtle one used a shell for the body and brown sea glass for the legs and head.  I tried several things to glue them onto, including drift wood pieces that I had also collected but they were a bit dark.  I wanted a natural feel to the turtle so chose a flat rock from the garden.

making a sea glass turtle at craftygardener.ca

The sea glass dragonfly used all pieces of sea glass.  In both these projects I used a clear industrial strength E600 glue which I buy at Michaels when there is a 50% off coupon.

making a sea glass dragonfly at craftygardener.ca

For now I have them displayed with some other critters.  I’m patiently waiting for some nice warm weather to start decorating the garden and the sea glass critters will have a place in the garden.

sea glass critters at craftygardener.ca

These critters will be a lovely reminder of our days searching for sea glass.

sea glass critters at craftygardener.ca

Here is a fish made of shells of different sizes.

a fish made of shells at craftygardener.ca

Included in my birthday card this year were some lovely pieces of seagrass that my family collected for me.  Just lovely.

sea glass from British Columbia at craftygarddener.ca

It’s time to share with The Really Crafty Link Party.

the gardener side at craftygardener.ca

18 Responses

  1. Elaine

    All so pretty . Sea glass is a beautiful mystery isn’t it ? It has been cloudy on and off and snowing on and off here today thankfully it melts on contact . Soo looking forward to spring . Thanks for sharing , Have a good weekend !

    • Linda aka Crafty Gardener

      Each piece of sea glass holds a mystery. Lots of the pieces we found had inscriptions, well part of an inscription, and were probably the bottom of bottles. Sure makes you wonder where it started out and when.
      Can’t wait for some warmer weather to get outside for longer periods of time, we are already making plans for various things in the garden.

  2. Margie

    Your cute sea glass critters are my favourite sea glass crafts yet!

  3. Kea

    They’re lovely! I especially like the dragonfly, love the green. 🙂

    • Linda aka Crafty Gardener

      I have a dish full of sea glass and shells and stones on the table and just seeing them makes those memories come flooding back. Sure wish I could live in both places.

  4. Margy

    The timing of this post is funny. For some reason I had a dream last night about sea glass. I’ve never tried gathering it on beach trips, but I remember stopping in Oregon as a kid looking for agates. The good thing about collecting sea glass on you trip to BC is that it easy to fit in your luggage for the trip home. You must have found a lot to make so many things with it. – Margy

    • Linda aka Crafty Gardener

      That sure was a coincidence Margy. We got some agates too. Love touching and looking at all the pieces of glass, rocks and shells to bring all the memories back. We really did find a lot of sea glass this time, the beach in Sidney was amazing with so much of it.

  5. Lavender Dreamer

    Ooohhhhh….I like the sea glass in soap! How pretty that is. And the candles might be something I could make. It sure is pretty with the light shades of color all aglow! Hugs!

  6. Snap

    Sea glass is so lovely and you’ve used your glass in wonderful ways. I really like the candles and the critters are too cute! Happy Monday!

  7. Myrtle

    I love your sea glass and you have made some beautiful critter with them How nice of your family to send you more sea glass
    I also love your candle sea glass container and again your great imagination putting things into the soap you make, especially for the kids.

  8. Sylvia D.

    Linda, What a lovely idea of incentive soaps! I love the turtle. Have a great week. Sylvia D.

  9. islandrambles

    oh what a great idea…I have a jar of sea glass to play with! Glad you had a good time here. I am in my leukemia bubble and have not been able to be out among people over the last few months. Thanks so much for your comment on my blog. cheers, Nora

  10. Maggie

    Collecting sea glass is a wonderful way to spend time at the beach, bringing the pieces home and creating interesting garden decorations is inspired. Love the turtle!

  11. Angie

    Sometimes the simplest materials make the most intriguing art! Very inspiring!

  12. Teresa

    Cute! The turtle is my favorite. This is something I definitely need to try with the kids, they will love it for sure.
    Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party this week. Pinned.

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