This is a quick and beginner level project, I promise!
I have seen so many inspiring photos of painted oyster shells, and likewise, blue and white wreaths in my feed this past year, that I decided to put the two together and DIY a wreath for the holidays. I will begin by saying that I am by no means a professional shell painter, unlike many of the talented artists I have come across on Instagram and Etsy, but I did have a lot of fun making this wreath! It was surprisingly quick, and the results are not perfect but they do make me happy. I have moved it around bit this holiday season. It started in my kitchen, but I recently moved it to our front door. It’s a cheery welcome when returning home!
I decided to go with a 22 inch boxwood wreath because they were on sale at Trader Joe’s when I went the other day to stock up on some of my favorite seasonal goodies (Hasselback potatoes, and gingerbread houses, anyone?) . Trader Joe’s has never let me down around the holidays, and their wreaths and garlands are very affordable, and convenient to grab.
I ordered the shells from a semi-local shop on Etsy because I wanted to support a small business. You can find them here. They arrived quickly, and in perfect condition. The napkins I did order from Amazon. They are cocktail napkin size and the topiary shape fits great inside the shells (which are between 3.5-4 inches). The topiary napkin is linked here. And here is the link for the tartan. You will only need a few of each to create this craft, but as a bonus, you will have napkins left on hand, that match your new wreath, for future entertaining, if that ever becomes a thing again (#2020).
You will also need Mod-Podge, some type of flexible wire, and depending on how you want to attach the shells to the wreath, a glue gun like this one. Either Hot or low temp is fine. You will also need some gold paint (and a small paintbrush). I had this left over from a beautiful convex mirror I scored on marketplace and retouched, so it worked perfectly with the shells. It cost a little more than some paints, but it’s the real deal. If you go with this one, you may need to crack a window while you work because there are some small paint fumes, so be warned!
I cut the napkins to roughly shape the oysters, and peeled away the extra layers, so it was 1 ply. I applied a thin coat of modpodge directly onto the inside of the shell (I used Matte, but this is a personal preference) then placed my napkin on top, gently tapping it down to adhere. Next I dipped my paintbrush into the modpodge and applied a liberal blob to the napkin, spreading it out on top of the entire design. I found that if you over paint, you can easily tear the napkin, so add enough modpodge that you don’t need to overpaint the same areas too much. Remember, it will dry clear. Once dry I applied the gold paint to the outer edges of the oyster shells. Again, how much you paint is a matter of preference. Some of mine are thicker than others, but that is mostly because I am not a professional at this. Once that dries, flip your shell over and cut several pieces of wire (6-8 inches would work perfect) to then adhere to the back of each shell with hot glue.
I used a total of 11 shells, alternating tartan and topiary designs. I secured them to the branches of the wreath, twisting the wire behind, leaving it hidden from view. You can really get creative when making these, using any kind of wreath you prefer, whichever napkin design speaks to you (if you search for “chinoiserie cocktail napkins” a huge variety will pop up), and the color ribbon you pick to tie it all together. I would recommend wired ribbon, as its the easiest to shape into a beautiful bow.
I am overall really happy with how my little Christmas kitchen decor project turned out. When Christmas is over, I can easily remove my shells from my wreath, wrap them, and save them for next year (which I love)!
Decorating your home for the holidays is such a fun and personal experience, and adding your own, unique touches to your home, such as this project, is a fun and satisfying way to make a space truly your own.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me in the comments. If you make your own wreath(s), I would love to be inspired by your photos. Happy holidays, and happy decorating!