Not Compost Nor Fertilizer: Use Eggshells To DIY Charming Wall Decor

Eggshells can be repurposed for use around the home in so many unexpected ways. They're full of calcium, so some gardeners incorporate this useful kitchen waste into their compost or make a DIY plant fertilizer from them. They also have decorative value. Who hasn't painted or dyed blown eggs for Easter, or turned eggshell scraps into a stunning faux string of pearls wall planter? Believe it or not, you can also use eggshells to create charming wall decor. All you have to do is glue pieces of crushed shell onto an artist's canvas, then color them using markers or watercolor paint. You can create your own art piece for your wall in a surprisingly short amount of time. When you're finished, you'll have a bespoke art piece that resembles a beautiful mosaic made of tesserae and adds personality to your home.

This is a super easy and affordable eggshell scrap DIY that also happens to be the perfect family-friendly activity to complete little ones. Whether you decide to recreate the mosaic art piece on your own or with your kiddos, you'll need to gather some supplies. Aside from a whole bunch of eggshells, you'll need to get a canvas as the base. Something like these 5-inch by 5-inch Esrich Mini Canvases would work well. You'll also need some acrylic paint in black or another dark color, Elmer's glue, and a set of permanent markers, Tfive Paint Pens, or watercolor paints. Tools-wise, you'll need a pencil, tweezers, and a blow-dryer. When you're done creating your art piece, you can hang it on the wall. You could, for example, pair it with a new inspiring living room paint color idea to brighten up your home.

First, cover your canvas with a few layers of acrylic paint in whatever dark color you chose. The darker, the better, since that will make your colorful eggshells stand out. While allowing your canvas to dry, prepare your eggshells. First, estimate how many eggshells you'll need to cover your canvas — the number depends on the dimensions of the base. Then peel the membrane off of the inside of each shell and wash them thoroughly with warm soapy water. Then bake them at 150 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes to sterilize them.

Next, crush your eggshells into small pieces. Add a small patch of Elmer's glue to your canvas and layer on your eggshell pieces, picking them up with tweezers. Continue the process until your canvas is fully covered in shell pieces. Once the glue has dried to the touch, you can move on to the painting. Speed up the drying process by blasting the canvas with the blow-dryer set to cool if needed. Lightly trace your design onto the canvas using the pencil and then color it in using the permanent markers, paint pens, or watercolor paints. Finally, avoid making a damaging mistake when hanging art on your walls by adding some picture hanging strips to your finished piece.

Don't forget that you can put your own twist on your mosaic to make it really stand out. Sprinkle the painted canvas with glitter or add a light-reflecting element by gluing on a few Belleboost Colorful Flatback Rhinestones. If you're not good at drawing, use a Fragrantgarden Large Flower Stencil as a guide for your eggshell mosaic design. Don't want to spend money on a canvas? Use thick cardstock you already have instead; you can cut into any size or shape you like.