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The population of shells in Indonesia is very abundant, especially along the coastal areas. Many of these shells are simply left lying on the beach, which results in large piles of shells in popular tourist spots. This can lead to pollution that damages the beach ecosystem. As a result, one of the most beloved types of tourist destinations could become dirty, unsightly, or even prompt tourists to throw trash in the already polluted area. Of course, we don’t want that to happen, right? Therefore, the local residents who live near the beach gather the scattered shells to turn them into handicrafts. These shells are often turned into souvenirs from the beach.
Not only artisans can make handicrafts from shells, but you can also do it! Simply make use of items around you and combine them with shell shells. These shells can be obtained directly from shell artisans or through e-commerce platforms that sell handicraft materials. You can create anything you desire by using shell shells as the main element for decoration.
Here are some unique shell shell creations you can make at home:
1. Mini Decorative Lamp
For those of you looking to give a unique gift to a friend, partner, family member, or parents, this idea could be a great choice. Just mix resin and catalyst, add some dye and glitter, and then add small shells as decorations. Before the mixture dries, don’t forget to insert a small decorative light that fits the mold size you choose, and you can arrange it however you like! You can even add some beach sand at the end to place at the bottom so that your lamp gives the impression of being at the bottom of the ocean. This creation can be made as a room decoration to beautify your space.
2. Cofing (Corona Finger)
In these pandemic times, some of us are worried about touching things outside the house. Many bacteria can stick to surfaces, especially in public places. Of course, you wouldn’t want to catch a virus just from pressing an elevator button, right? Well, you can solve this problem with your own creation! Simply mix the resin according to the required proportions, then combine it with beach sand or crushed shell pieces. Pour the mixture into a cofig mold and wait for it to dry. Afterward, you can add decorative shells and attach it to a keychain ring. Ta-da! Your Cofing is ready and will help prevent virus transmission!
3. Keychain
Who doesn’t use a keychain? Most of us use this item to mark our personal belongings, such as house keys, car keys, bags, pencil cases, and so on. You can make a simple keychain like this. If you have leftover resin from making the Cofing, you can pour it into a letter-shaped mold according to your preference. Once it dries, you can attach the shaped letter with a shell using glue. Then, you can drill a hole at the top of the shell and attach a keychain ring. This unique creation can be used as your personal keychain or as a gift for someone special. They will surely be happy to receive a customized gift from you!
These are just a few unique shell creations that you can make at home. The main material used in these examples is resin, which helps preserve the shape of any object you wish to insert. Below is a list of tools and materials you will need to prepare:- Clear Resin + Catalyst (Ratio: 30g resin : 6 drops catalyst)
- Small-sized shells (XS-S)
- Beach sand
- Resin molds (silicone), shapes according to your preference
- Ice cream sticks / Wooden chopsticks
- Paper cup / Silicone container
- Resin dye / Glitter (Optional)
- Battery-operated light (Optional)
- Keychain ring
- Scale
- Gloves
Anda Bicara