85K Views
Make a DIY Oyster Shell Cluster
by
Lynn @ Nourish and Nestle
(IC: blogger)
4 Materials
A recent trip up the Eastern Shore of Maryland wouldn't have been complete without several stops in antique stores along the way. It was in one of these stores that I spied an old, rusty oyster basket that I knew needed to come home with me. A stop at a hotel that night answered the question of what I was going to do with the basket when I spied a ball/cluster made of oyster shells sitting on my night stand! Kismet!
Since I live on the coast in North Carolina, I was confident I'd be able to source the oysters needed for my own clusters. It took a little bit of looking, but I finally did come upon a fresh fish store that gave me free access to their pile of discarded oyster shells in back of the store.
Since I live on the coast in North Carolina, I was confident I'd be able to source the oysters needed for my own clusters. It took a little bit of looking, but I finally did come upon a fresh fish store that gave me free access to their pile of discarded oyster shells in back of the store.
My oyster shells had been sitting outside in the rain and sun for months, so they really were quite clean, but I did hose them off just for good measure.
I spray painted a styrofoam ball (tennis ball size) with gray paint to prevent any glimpses of the ball. Then I used my hot glue gun and started with a row around the perimeter of the ball. I used the oysters in pairs, similar sized.
I worked on one half and then when that was done and dried, worked on the other half. If the first ring was the middle of the sphere, I worked each successive band angled slightly to the top of each half.
I really jammed the oyster into the foam where I put the glue. As a result, when I finished one side and turned it over to do the other side, none of the oyster shells became loose or dislodged.
Because I had an abundance of oyster shells, I made a couple oyster shell clusters / oyster shell balls to fill my oyster basket.
I can’t imagine anything looking so good in the oyster basket than the oyster shell clusters do…just meant to be. It was fun to play around with where to put the oyster shell clusters and right now I have them split between the basket and the mantle.
Enjoyed the project?
Suggested materials:
- Oysters (back of a fish store)
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks (Michael's)
- Styrofoam ball (tennis ball size) (Michael's)
- Spray paint (my garage!)
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Published August 13th, 2016 11:45 AM
Comments
Join the conversation
4 of 74 comments
-
-
Lynn @ Nourish and Nestle on Jul 27, 2020
Try your local fish store!
-
-
-
Dl.5660408 on Jul 20, 2020
Lovely
-
Lynn @ Nourish and Nestle on Jul 27, 2020
Thanks, friend!
-
-
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Hubby and I were at the Oyster Festival in Urbanna last week. There was a oyster shell centerpiece like a 1/2 of your cluster. It had white Christmas lights in it. By the time we got close enough it was sold and gone. Any idea how I could accomplish that?
Di you sell YOUR items.
My friend is obsessed with your oyster cluster.