Hey, I know it's dorky to post this whole picture...but I really wanted to show you how MUCH I love our shell frame. It sits in a spot of honor on my favorite hutch! I smile every time I pass by, and see the fun beach picture in the cool frame!
I love this craft for 3 reasons:
1) It gives my kids a constructive project - on a rainy vacation day, or when they just need some "down-time."
2) Our family has a useful souvenir to take home--that reminds us of our fun trip for years to come!
3) Once you're home and unpacking, and find that huge sack of seashells your kids collected and just couldn't bear to leave behind...You can USE those shells for a constructive craft project! (And, stealthy Mama can find a "good, safe place" to "store" all the leftover shells. You are picturing my "air quotes," aren't you?)
Sadly, I cannot take credit for this craft. Once again, it was my brilliant sister-in-law who came up with it. In our family, Aunt Gina is our Craft Lady! Every holiday, we always look forward to the newest craft project she teaches us! (HEY CRAFT LADEEEE--whatcha got fer us this year?)
Aunt Gina taught us the seashell frame craft about 5 Spring Breaks ago, when our family traveled to Rosemary Beach, Florida. One afternoon, when the kids really needed some down-time and some structure (aka, they were probably cranky and fighting), we grabbed our buckets and set out to find the prettiest shells to decorate our picture frames. (Gina had already planned ahead, and bought plain wooden frames and craft glue at the local Walmart for everyone.)
Everyone found the prettiest/best/most unusual/weirdest shells. (You know--when the kids say 1,000 times--"Hey look at THIS ONE! This one is really...*insert word here*" And we all know, as responsible adults, we are to answer, "Ohhh, yes. Yes it is!")
After finding those prettiest/best/most unusual/better than yours/weirdest shells, the kids had fun sorting them all out on the table. And once again, as responsible adults, we oohed and aahhed appropriately. We had the kids arrange them on their frames before gluing. Once they started gluing them in place, we did help the younger ones a little.
Amazingly, the frames ALL turned out really great! The kids were really proud of their vacation creations!
But then...dun dun dunnnnnnnn...we had to get all dressed up for our family beach picture. You know--so we'd have something to put IN the frame. How do you get a big family with several little kids to smile all at the same time? Heck, how do you get a big family to stand still all at the same time?
Yeah, I have no help for that. But, whatever you do, snap a family beach pic of some sort and slide it into the shell frame.
STOP. THE. PRESSES!!!!!!
I'm sorry. But, I just HAVE to point out my wittle bitty bald baby. My goodness, I miss that sweet little bald head...that I thought she would never grow a full head of hair!! Do you see my sweet little bald Sara Beth? (I'm sure she'll LOVE me for this later) My dad is holding her. Sorry about the picture quality. Looks like some moisture has gotten into the frame over the years...
Yeah, and we're squinting into the sun. We're not professional pitture takers, ya know.
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