July 23, 2019

DIY Pistachio Shell Mosaic Craft

I have an easy DIY craft project for you today using something that would normally be thrown away.


How can one be creative, and eat pistachio nuts and not hoard those cute little shells for a mosaic craft project!? (Unless you don't eat nuts that is...)

You will need:

-Plywood or masonite panel in your choice of size
-Tile adhesive (I used a premixed indoor adhesive)
-Pistachio shells
-Acrylic paint
-Acrylic gloss sealer/varnish

Start by spreading your adhesive over your wooden panel. I love this part, it's so like icing a cake :)

Press the shells into the adhesive. You can go totally random or do flower or spiral shapes if you like. Let dry fully.


Once dry you can start painting the shells in colours of your choice using acrylic paints.



Add any interesting paint effects like spots, stripes or variations of colour. Keep these colours bright so they will contrast with the darker colour we will add later. (They kind of remind me of easter eggs!)



Once you've painted all of your shells, coat in acrylic gloss and let dry overnight. (You want the gloss to be fully cured as we will be wiping it back and we don't want it to shift.)


For my pretend "grout" colour, I made a runny mix of deep purple paint, and painted it over the surface and then wiped the shells back with a just-damp cloth. Rinse your cloth out when it gets too dirty.



Use the deep purple paint to do any touch ups to your "grout" with a fine brush.


I made a little wooden frame for my pistachio shell mosaic craft, but you can display as is if you want!


I hope you enjoyed this DIY craft!

Jules :)







5 comments:

Jess said...

I love this! It look so fun!xx

Unknown said...

Can we use plaster of Paris instead of adhesive?

Jules Madden said...

I don't think plaster would work, though you could try! It has a quick setting time so you'd have to work quickly...

Anonymous said...

Could you paint the shells first, and add color to the grout before spreading? then place the painted shells in the colored grout.

Jules Madden said...

I think painting the shells first then colouring the adhesive (I'd use tile adhesive not grout) that it could work. Just wondering how you'd keep the shells still for painting!? Bluetack!? Oh I know, masking tape that's rolled onto itself with sticky side out. Stick the tape to the table then the shells to the tape- hopefully they'd stay. Or try spray painting them.. not sure if they'd blow away though. I certainly encourage experimentation!

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