Bring a touch of the tropics to your reading room with bookends made from seashells. Use large shells, such as conch, tun, or whelk, brought home from your vacation or bought at a flea market or shell shop. Filled with plaster, the shells are heavy enough to provide support while adding a decorative element to any shelf. As you dive into your next book this winter, these treasures will remind you of warm days on the beach.

Tools and Materials
Seashells (conch, tun, or whelk)
Dishwashing soap
Tub
Sand
Casting plaster
Disposable cup and spoon
Pencil
Velvet
Fabric scissors
Spray adhesive
Rubber surface protectors

Bookends How-To
Shells should be cleaned with warm water and mild dishwashing soap before beginning this project.

1. Fill a tub halfway with sand. Nestle a shell in the sand with the opening face up. In a disposable cup, mix the casting plaster, following package instructions. Carefully spoon the plaster into the opening of the shell until it is completely filled; let shell dry in this position.

2. With a pencil, trace the opening of the shell onto the back of a piece of velvet (use a color that complements the shell). Cut out the shape, and use spray mount to affix the velvet to the plaster-filled opening. Attach rubber surface protectors to any parts of the shell that might touch your shelf; this will prevent it from sliding or scratching the surface.