Our Hopeful Home: How To Make A Scallop Shell Jewelry Dish

Jewelry dishes are highly underrated. While I love my diy chinoiserie trinket tray, I also love smaller versions that can hold things like earrings, rings or special statement pieces.

white scallop shell and shell jewelry dish

While cleaning out the storage room in our basement, I came across a box of seashells from vacations past and had an epiphany: why not use one of those shells to make a jewelry dish? They certainly bring back fond memories, so I really wanted to find a way to use at least one of them in my every day decor.

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I settled on a scallop shell for its delicate look as well as its generous size -- perfect for sitting on a dresser or counter.

scallop shell and gold oil based paint pen

I began with a gold oil-based paint pen to create a pretty gold border all around the inside edge of the shell.

Then, as I've done so many times before with other items like Christmas ornaments, Easter eggs and the wooden scalloped trinket tray, I decoupaged a chinoiserie cocktail napkin onto the shell.

SUPPLIES FOR MAKING A SCALLOP SHELL JEWELRY DISH

1. scallop shell

2. chinoiserie cocktail napkins

3. Mod Podge matte or Mod Podge gloss (your preference)

4. paint brush

5. gold paint pen

HOW TO MAKE A SCALLOP SHELL JEWELRY DISH

scallop sea shell outlined in gold paint pen

1. Use your paint pen to add gold all around the rim of the shell.

chinoiserie napkin placed over scallop shell

2. Cut a piece of napkin to fit inside the shell (does not have to be exact, you will cut off any excess). I only use the outer layer of the napkin plus one of the two extra layers (I pull off the third layer and discard it).

3. Place the napkin onto the shell and, due to the circular nature of the shell, go around the outside circumference of the shell and cut some slits into the napkin. This helps with avoiding bubbles and limits the napkin from schrunching up after you apply the Mod Podge. (Don't worry if it does, most of the time it's not really noticeable.)

3. Using a paint brush, cover the napkin with Mod Podge (I prefer matte as opposed to glossy) a little at a time.

4. If there are any small areas near the edges that still need to be addressed you can go back and add small strips of napkin to fill in those areas.

There really is no wrong way to do this! It's a very forgiving process, so try not to stress too much about perfection!

pretty feminine chinoiserie shell jewelry dish

I was absolutely thrilled with how this shell jewelry dish turned out.

shell jewelry dish filled with monogram locket and diamond bracelets

It can be used for special jewelry pieces, like some of my favorites here.

The large monogrammed gold locket was a thrift store find years ago.

vintage jewelry shell dish chinoiserie decoupage

The bracelets were gifts from my husband.

The multi-strand vintage pearls were also a thrift store find. I can also easily see my favorite rings here at the end of a long day, or before doing dishes, or gardening.

Decoupaged shells can be used for jewelry dishes, salt cellars (if using food grade supplies), key holders, coin dishes or even just as pretty decor in and of themselves. Perhaps you could even use one as a pretty paperweight!

They're also great for gift giving, especially for weddings (bridal party gifts), bridal showers, baby showers, etc.. You can use napkins with any kind of print you like on them, creating a truly personalized experience for the giftee! The possibilities are endless.

While searching for some ready made shell jewelry dishes online, I came across a KIT that provides everything you need to make 5 of your own decoupaged chinoiserie oyster shell jewelry dishes:

DIY Blue Floral Oyster Shell Chinoiserie Jewelry Holder

If you love the idea of having one, but don't want to make one yourself, you can always buy a ready made one:

Blue Lace Trinket Dish

Oyster Shell Ring Dish

Sweet Floral Shell Trinket Dish

Whichever way you choose to enjoy your DIY decoupaged shell, I know it will become a treasured piece for years to come.

Well, that's it for today, friends!

I hope you've enjoyed reading about

How To Make A Scallop Shell Jewelry Dish

and that I've inspired you in some way.

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