These easy Mini Seashell plate chargers are a great addition to a beach wedding reception table, your own dinner table, or even as a elegant handmade hostess gift. They can help create a whimsical and fun beach themed table setting for the all of your wedding and dinner guests to enjoy.
You can make these Fun Mini Seashell plate chargers in less than an hour. You should expect to pay about $8 per charger, a lot less if you collect free seashells from the beach.
To Make These Fun Mini Seashell Plate Chargers You will need:
Foam Core board
Mini Seashells
Spray Paint (optional)
Hot Glue or Tacky Glue
So the first step is to cut out your Mini Seashell plate charger shapes. I like to grab one of my dinner plates and trace it. If you are making these to fit rented wedding china plates, then simply call your wedding rental shop and find out the diameter of your dinner plates.
Be sure to add on about three inches to the circle though so you can see the Mini Seashell charger sitting under your plate.
Now, you can cut foam core board with scissors or an exacto knife.
You can buy foam core board in a variety of colors at almost any arts and craft store. If you want though, you can also spray paint it with any color paint you want. Just let this dry before you move on the next step.
You can also glue on sand with spray adhesive. Simple spray on a coat of glue, sprinkle with sand, and repeat a few more times until the plate charger is covered. Now, coat the entire thing in some acrylic clear spray paint until dried.
Your foam core board will show beneath of your Mini Seashells, so color is something to keep in mind.
You can’t decoupage foam core board because it will curl up and warp as the decoupage glue dries.
Tip: Use all the same Mini Seashell on this homemade poker themed charger. This will help your plate to set evenly on the table.
Now, start in the middle. Squeeze out a glob of hot glue on the middle of your plate charger. Press on a Mini Seashell into the glue. Now, use this as your guide. I like to work out towards the edge in a spiral pattern.
You could also work in perfect circles very an over until you reach the edge of the Mini Seashell plate charger.
You could also create lines of color running across the Mini Seashell plate charger. To do this organize all of your mini seashells by color. This will make the process so much more fast!
Now, color is just as important as the design. You can use one color and have 1 Mini Seashell in the whole charger be painted gold or silver. That would be a great contemporary look.
For a fun whimsical look try using every color of paint you have to paint your Mini Seashells.
All gold or silver Mini Seashell on the charger would also be great!
Now, you need to let these Mini Seashell plate chargers dry overnight before you use them.
If you want to you can spray on a coat of clear acrylic spray paint to the entire Mini Seashell Plate charger. This will make them water proof and easy to clean.
Tip: If you want you can buy some premade wooden plate chargers that have not been finished. You can stain them in any color you want. Once the wood stain has dried start gluing on the Mini Seashell with epoxy glue. Let this dry. Add the clear coats to protect the poker chips!
