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Any ideas - scallop shells

12 years ago

We just spent a week on vacation at the Cape. Came home with 2 paper grocery bags of scallop shells - these are the smaller ones from Bay Scallops.

Any ideas of what to do with them? DD is going spray some silver, add a head and wings, and turn them into shell angels. So that will use up half a dozen. . .

Here is a link that might be useful: Bay Scallop Shell Photo

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Comments (17)

geeme
12 years ago
make a wire leg set to put the shell on then glue eys on for a new sort of bug.If you have gnomes make them some ear mufflers...butterflys, hats, a roof for a fairy house.... beautiful as a frame for a mirror or picture or a wreath....
corar4gw
12 years ago
wooden boxes and even furniture are decorated with shells. An old chandelier covered with shells can be awesome.
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Here's another one: Bay Scallops with Mushrooms, Snow Peas and Shallots: (you can always sub in the larger scallops) Bay Scallops with Mushrooms, Snow Peas and Shallot * 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon oil total — I used about half and half of avocado oil and a pat of grass-fed butter (even if I am hard-pressed to find a mouth on the butter so it can consume grass or anything… but you know what I mean… )* 1 large shallot, diced * 5 ounces, approximately, button mushrooms, chopped or broken up coarsely * 3 ounces, approximately, snow peas, broken in half and any bad bits removed * 1/2 pound bay scallops, as large as is available. * Ground lemon pepper, about 1/4 teaspoon * 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (NOT the sushi rice vinegar, which has sugar and other unnecessary stuff.) * 1/16 – 1/8 teaspoon or less of red pepper flakes (optional). I rather like a mild kick with this idea. * 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon thyme * 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon savory (or you could use tarragon) * salt to taste — I suggest a pinch Heat the butter/oil in a skillet until everything is toasty hot, over medium heat. Add in the shallot and mushrooms. Saute until shallot is translucent and the mushrooms are cooked. Add the snow peas and everything else except the scallops, thyme and savory. Mix around to get everything cooking, for about 2 minutes. Add the scallops, and cook another 2.5 – 3 minutes, stirring often, and I lean towards 3 minutes. (If you have 1/4 inch diameter scallops, reduce the cooking time to account for that.) You want the scallops white, not translucent, on all sides. You don’t want them dried-out, either. Add the thyme and savory, mix around another thirty seconds, plate and serve. I’m thinking a light salad with shreds of cabbage, grape tomatoes, and a simple vinaigrette would be a great accompanying dish. You could adapt this to sea scallops. I’d break up the sea scallops into quarters, so that aesthetically it fits better with the size of the other items in this dish. To truly bring out the sea scallop intensity, I’d probably pan-sear them whole (an extra step, but when you are paying that much more for them…), and only break them up when it is time to serve. Oh, and yes, with sea scallops, my button mushrooms would probably transform themselves into shiitake.
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sunnyca_gw
12 years ago
This isn't garden junk but I took some of those last year & painted some with Champagne metallic paint or White pearl Metallic paint,both by Decoart (1 light coat) & then when dry I used Decoart Craft Twinkles brushed on with a small flat craft brush & when dry sparkle beautifully. Then added a gold or fish-line loop to the back(Where the flat part is) with E-6000 glue & let dry(loop is for hanging on tree). They are beautiful Christmas ornaments! I left the little tree in kitchen up a couple of weeks longer than usual & lite it every night as I loved the shimmer on the shells. I also once took a large shell & added other shells to it & some of those unusual yarns they have now in sand color ,teal or bluish(water) & had them hang down from behind the shell after I tied them together. Brought a couple of the thicker pieces up above the large shell to use as hanger. Gave as gift, she loved it. Jan
pixie_lou
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the ideas. DD will love the shell bug idea. That will use up a few more shells. I'm also thinking of just painting as Christmas Ornaments, but hang them from my trees outside.

We have a small skating pond in our back yard - so I'm trying to think of something to down there. I'm going to look at some concrete benches from someone on Craigslist this weekend. So maybe I could put those down by the pond, and cover the legs and underside with scallop shells.

Seriously - I must have 1,000 shells. I was telling DH that I'm going to pave the driveway with them!
sunnyca_gw
12 years ago
You could mosaic some to some clay or cement pots to give your pond area more of a "beach feel"!Jan
Marlene Kindred
12 years ago
I too was thinking about the Christmas ornament idea. I have a small Christmas tree just for "beachy" and "fishy" ornaments. I even use one of those plastic Herons as a tree topper. We had him at our camper site on the Bay for years. I wonder too if you could glue them to a bowling ball or similar for a beachy gazing ball.

Post a picture of your creations...we'd love to see!
hostarhodo
12 years ago
Love the shells. They are different than the ones we have here. My daughter is planning to get married next July and wants to use her scallop shells as individual butter dishes on the tables. Also I have been wanting to make some with chocolate. Tried one but the chocolate has to be thicker, will try again.

If you know of someone getting married in the future it could be a gift to them if they are having a beach theme.

I had a sand dollar Christmas Tree at the Lighthouse Hall last year.

Betty
concretenprimroses
12 years ago
If there is a way to drill holes in them easily you could string them into garlands. I like 2 holes (top and bottom) with a loop of wire holding each to the next, hanging from trees outside or where ever. A lot of shell garlands hanging down in the same area would be cool looking.
Kathy
nonacook
12 years ago
I drilled holes in mine, and when I made macrame
plant hangers, used them like beads in the hangers.
They really look pretty hanging from the trees.
jeannespines
12 years ago
I used Silicone II for Doors & Windows & glued mine on a birdhouse that we made ... that was in '09 & it is still hanging outside (all yr round) & being used each summer by Wrens! (mine was a recycle of a windchime...so you could make a windchime, too). Have fun! Jeanne S.

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sunnyca_gw
12 years ago
Very cute birdhouse Jeanne! What a neat idea. Will have to tell my DIL to come on & look at it. Think I will take pic of it right now. She loves the beach so they would love to have something like this in their yard. Jan
pixie_lou
Original Author
12 years ago
nonacook - how did you drill holes in your shells?
nonacook
12 years ago
I have a drill press, and just used a wood drill bit the size that I wanted the hole to be. A hand held drill would work too. I drilled from the inside of the shell, with the curve place on a flat surface.
concretenprimroses
12 years ago
Such a pretty bird house! I love shell art, and have a small collection of boxes that I keep sewing smalls in.

I always wanted to decoupage my tv set (big black box, ugh). If I had a bunch of shells I might stick them on it. gotta watch out for the cooling holes, but the front shouldl be ok.

Why doesn't someone make a pretty colored piece of electronic equipment every now and then. I'd like a green tv!

Kathy
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
12 years ago
You can do a lot more; especially those of you who make things to sell:

1. Look up how to bronze/electro plate things, like bronzing baby shoes. It is not extremely complicated. You can have bronzed shells polished to a mirror finish.

2. You can make a silicone rubber mold to cast plaster shells with incredible details. If you use food-grade silicone rubber, you can make scallop shell cookies, chocolates, etc.

dcarch
sprout_wi
12 years ago
Pixie Lou- Martha Stewart had this cool way to use seashells. It is on my 'to do' list. I have a bug to work with shells and have been saving them. Would LOVE to see more ideas.

Jeanne- your birdhouse is absolutely adorable. Very nicely done.

-Sprout (Linda)

Here is a link that might be useful: Seashell lights
sprout_wi
12 years ago
more ideas!!

Here is a link that might be useful: More from Martha

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