Carolyn J. Braden • 4 Minute Read
How to Make Stunning Alcohol Ink and Resin Seashell Ornaments
Have a Seashell Craft That Didn’t Turn Out? Give It a Colorful Second Chance!
Have you ever started a craft project, looked at the finished result and thought, “Well...that was not what I imagined!” 😂
That’s exactly what happened to me! I originally started this project by attempting to transfer photos onto some beautiful seashells. Unfortunately, I didn't love how they turned out. Rather than tossing the shells or giving up on the project, I removed the photos and decided to try something completely different.
Turn Plain Seashells Into Beautiful Alcohol Ink Trinket Bowls
My problem: My original seashell craft didn't turn out the way I wanted.
My solution: Give those shells a colorful makeover with alcohol ink and clear resin!
The result? They turned out looking like tiny ocean water galaxies. The blues, greens, shimmering gold and swirls of color created a look that reminded me of sparkling water, ocean waves and a little bit of outer space all at once!
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Easy DIY Alcohol Ink Seashell Craft That Looks Like Ocean Galaxies
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The best part? These alcohol ink and resin seashell crafts are SO easy to make. You don't have to be an artist, and you definitely don't need to make every swirl of color perfect. In fact, part of the fun is that alcohol inks have a mind of their own!
Watch the colors move, blend and swirl together, relax and enjoy the creative process. Sometimes the less control you have over a craft, the more fun it becomes!
You can use this technique to transform pretty much any type of seashell into a beautiful DIY trinket bowl, decorative dish, handmade ornament or one-of-a-kind gift.
What to Do With Seashells: Make These Gorgeous Resin Trinket Bowls
Why You Should Make These Alcohol Ink Seashell Crafts
If you need a creative project that is easy, relaxing and doesn't require a lot of crafting experience, this is it!
I especially love this craft because:
It is SO easy! You don't need to be an artist to create something beautiful.
Every shell turns out differently. The alcohol inks create unique swirls and patterns every single time.
Watching the inks blend is incredibly relaxing. Letting go of perfection and watching the colors move can be part of the fun!
You can use almost any seashell. Try this technique on shells you've collected, purchased or already have in your craft stash.
They make beautiful handmade gifts. Turn them into ornaments, trinket bowls or decorative keepsakes.
It's a great craft rescue project! If one idea doesn't work out, don't be afraid to remove it and try something new. My original photo transfer idea may not have been my favorite, but it led me to an even better craft!
Sometimes a craft fail is just the beginning of a better idea! 💙✨
Want Another Alcohol Ink Trinket Bowl Idea?
If you love the way alcohol ink creates beautiful swirls of color, be sure to check out my Air-Dry Clay Alcohol Ink Trinket Bowl tutorial too!
It's another fun way to use alcohol ink to create a colorful handmade bowl that can hold your favorite little treasures.
Watch the Short Video Tutorial
I hope this easy alcohol ink seashell craft inspires you to look at your craft supplies—and even your past craft fails—in a completely new way! Grab a few shells, pick your favorite ocean-inspired colors and have fun watching the inks create their own little galaxies.
Remember: you don't have to control every swirl. Sometimes the unexpected results are the prettiest part!
👀Check out my 1-minute or less 📹 video tutorial for this project on my TikTok now or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden!
How to Decorate Seashells With Alcohol Ink and Resin
Supplies You'll Need
Great Heart Cockle Shell or other seashell like a scallop
Piece of scrap wood
Dremel or other rotary tool
Small drill bit suitable for drilling into shells
Alcohol ink set in ocean-inspired colors such as blue, turquoise, teal and green
Gold shimmering alcohol ink (mine was included in the set)
Paint palette or small disposable palette
Clear liquid UV resin (you could also seal with acrylic gloss seal)
UV light (Sunlight as an alternative curing method for compatible UV resin
Cardboard
Wax paper
Chiffon ribbon, if making an ornament
How to Make Alcohol Ink and Resin Seashell Ornaments or Trinket Bowls
Holes are only needed if turning this into an ornament
Step 1: Drill a Hole in the Seashell if You Want to Make an Ornament
If you plan to turn your finished shell into an ornament, you'll want to drill a hole before adding the alcohol ink and resin.
I used a Great Heart Cockle Shell that I found on Sanibel Island for this project.
To help protect the shell while drilling, I placed painter's tape over the top of the shell at the open end on one side. I placed the shell onto a piece of wood and carefully used a Dremel to drill a small hole through the shell.
Once the hole was drilled, I removed the tape and cleaned the shell a bit before moving on to the fun part: adding color!
Tip: If you don't want to make an ornament, skip the drilling step! Your finished shell can become a beautiful trinket bowl instead.
Make Colorful Ocean-Inspired Seashell Art With Alcohol Ink
Step 2: Add Ocean-Inspired Alcohol Ink Colors
Add your favorite alcohol ink colors to a paint palette. I chose colors that reminded me of the ocean, including beautiful shades of blue, turquoise and green. You can use whatever colors you want…but…keep in mind that warm colors mix well with warm colors (reds, oranges and yellows) and cool colors mix well with cool colors (blues, greens, purples).
Using a small paintbrush, dab the alcohol inks onto the inside of the shell. Continue layering the colors and allow them to swirl and blend together naturally.
And here's an important thing to remember: you don't have a lot of control with alcohol inks!
That may sound scary at first, but it is actually part of what makes this craft so relaxing and fun. The inks move and blend in unexpected ways, creating one-of-a-kind patterns you could never exactly recreate.
So, don't stress over making it perfect. Dab, layer, watch the colors swirl and enjoy the process!
I love working with alcohol inks but they are unpredictable, like the ocean.
Step 3: Add a Touch of Shimmering Gold
Once I was happy with my ocean-inspired color layers, I dabbed shimmering gold alcohol ink onto the inside of the shell.
The gold added the prettiest sparkle and made the finished design look even more like a tiny ocean galaxy!
You can add as much or as little shimmer as you like. Every shell will turn out differently, which is one of the reasons I love this project.
Easy DIY Resin Seashell Ornaments for Coastal Christmas Decor
Step 4: Add a Sheer Layer of Alcohol Ink to the Back
I also wanted the back of my shell to have a little color without completely hiding its natural beauty.
Using a paintbrush, I lightly swiped a very thin, watered-down layer of alcohol ink onto the back of the shell. I kept the layer sheer so the real textures and natural colors of the seashell could still show through.
This gave the shell a soft wash of color and shimmer while allowing its beautiful natural details to remain visible.
Let the alcohol ink dry completely.
Step 5: Paint the Edge Gold
Once the alcohol ink was dry, I used a paintbrush to dab gold acrylic paint around the edge of the shell.
This simple step gave the project a more finished look and created a beautiful frame around all those colorful swirls.
Allow the gold paint to dry completely before moving on to the resin.
How to Turn Collected Seashells Into One-of-a-Kind Trinket Bowls
Step 6: Add Clear Resin for a Glossy Finish
Once everything was dry, I poured a tiny amount of clear liquid UV resin into the shell.
Using a brush dedicated to my resin crafts, I spread the resin all over the inside surface of the shell. You only need a thin layer to give it that beautiful glossy, finished look. Spread it evenly or else you’ll get air bubbles or uneven coverage.
I placed the shell on a piece of cardboard covered with wax paper and cured the resin under a UV light for approximately 9–12 minutes. It will be a bit tacky after coming out of the light at first, but give it time to cool. Let it cool naturally as cooling too fast can cause cracking.
Relaxing Alcohol Ink Craft Idea: DIY Ocean Galaxy Seashells
Depending on the UV resin you use, you may also be able to cure it in sunlight. Always follow the curing directions for your specific resin product.
Once the inside was cured, I repeated the same process on the back of the shell.
The clear resin gave the colors incredible depth and shine and made those alcohol ink swirls look even more like sparkling ocean water!
I love how they turned out!
Turn Your Finished Seashell into a Trinket Bowl or Ornament
Once your seashell is completely finished and cured, you have options!
Leave it as-is and use it as a beautiful little trinket bowl for rings, earrings or other small treasures. Or, if you drilled a hole into the shell, string some pretty chiffon ribbon through it and turn it into a handmade ornament.
My chiffon ribbon was thick, so I used jewelry pliers to pull it through the hole
These would also make amazing gifts! Since every alcohol ink design is different, each shell becomes a completely unique piece of art.
Imagine making them in someone's favorite colors for a birthday gift, holiday ornament, beach house decor or just because!
Make Beautiful Handmade Gifts With Seashells, Alcohol Ink and Resin
🎬Take Action
If you try any of my ideas, let me know how it turned out—or tag me when you try them because I LOVE seeing your posts💖 If you tag me using @carolynsbloomingcreations or @carolynjbraden, I’ll see it! Or tell me about it in the comments below.
If you loved this article, we know you’ll love this one too: Glamorous $3 Plastic Egg Ornament Makeover Using Alcohol Inks (Easy DIY)
Carolyn J. Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.