Shell Art

Today I am going to share the art that  is 

hanging on the wall above my mantel.

This is a knockoff of a piece of art I saw at Ace Hardware 

a couple weeks ago.

It was made with painted bead board 

and

they had done some other wood and beach decor items on it.

I loved it so much I wanted to make one like it.

But, I didn't want to buy bead board and I needed to use

what I had on hand.

I found a package of shims in the garage.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with these they 

 are little wood slats with a taper cut

that are used as spacers when needed.

Well, when I picked them up I didn't read it and thought they were actually little slats.

With the taper edges this made using them impossible I thought.

Thus they found their way into the dreaded garage graveyard.

I found them when I was poking around for something to use for this project 

and when I saw them  I decided why not.

I laid them out so that every other ones tapered edge was facing in the same direction.

This basically gave me a flat "canvas in the center of the wood.

I made two squares with nine shims in each and laid them out side by side.

Then I painted them with Journal Book by Valspar.

As you can see above it is a very pale blue.

I basically dry brushed it on using very little paint so the wood would show through.

This is a close up to show you that I am basically just hitting the high 

rough peaks of the wood.

This is after two coats of dry brushing with very little paint on the brush.

I think it gives it a very worn beachy look.

Now I am not a girl that uses power tools.

I have always wanted to learn how 

but, 

I have always had someone around who felt they could do it better.

So, I hot glued these shims together.

( A girl has to do what a girl has to do)

I glued the shims to each other first - along the side edges.

While they were sitting I glued three sets of two shims together to make  

a solid piece that did not taper.

I then glued one diagonally across the back of each of the squares 

on the non-tapered sections of the shims.

Then I took the two squares and glued one edge to the other.

After that I glued one of my three shims down the seam at the back.

This made a pretty stable base.

You can see it better here.

I then added a piece of twine to the back to hang it by.

For the three pictures across the board I bought three gold frames

at the Dollar Tree.

(Oh, what would I do without that store?)

I took the glass out of these 

and

covered the cardboard backs with a piece of burlap.

Then I glued a shell in the center of the burlap and replaced it in the frames.

I then glued the frames onto the boards 

making sure they were evenly spaced.

Here it is hanging on our faux pallet board background.

I love the rusticness of it - the split boards 

and

the wood showing through the paint.

But, then you have the richness of the gold frames 

and

the texture of the burlap and seashells.

I have to say I am very pleased with the way it turned out.

I'm really glad I mistakenly bought shims that day now....

Have you ever bought something that was a mistake 

and

have it turn out great in the end?

What are you working on right now?

Tell us all about  it in the comments below.

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Until next time - have fun creating something you love.....

I will be linking up to the parties listed on "I Party At" page.