Easy DIY Seashell Art: How to Mod Podge Coastal Napkins

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Even though I’m not typically a crafty kind of girl, there is just something about summer that makes me want to create with treasures collected from nature. Between beach walks, fresh hydrangeas, blue and white decor, and all of the charming patriotic touches of the season, summer decorating always feels especially fun.

This year, I wanted to create something that combined several things I love: simple seashells, block print fabrics, a little Nantucket charm, and a collected coastal cottage style. The result turned out even sweeter than I imagined!

Today I’m sharing how I made this DIY seashell art for home decor using simple seashells, Mod Podge, and block print napkins to create a one-of-a-kind American flag design. This project feels right at home in a coastal grandmother house, a grandmillennial home, or any cozy coastal cottage that embraces timeless summer decorating, especially for the patriotic holidays coming up!

And the best parts? It was incredibly easy to do and it was a perfect way to spend a couple of summer afternoon hours chatting with a friend while we made our shell crafts!

If you’re new to this decorating style, this post is part of my Ultimate Guide to Coastal Grandmillenial Style, where we explore timeless decorating that blends coastal charm, traditional elegance, and collected vintage character.

Thrifting with the Gals

Before I jump into the easy steps to create this fun DIY seashell wall art, let me first introduce you to the Thrifting with the Gals! Each month, these ladies and I join together to blog about our favorite thrifted finds, vintage treasures, DIY ideas, home decor styling types, and related interests. Each of them do amazing DIY projects and have such great decor styling tips. I know you’re going to love what they are sharing today.

At the end of this post, you can catch a sneak peek of each thrifted find or DIY and a clickable photo to take you straight to the inspiration!

Meet my friends:

Lora from Create and Ponder
Rachel from The Pond’s Farmhouse
Ann from Dabbling and Decorating
and me, right here at Robyn’s French Nest

Although I did hit up the local seashell souvenir shop and craft store to round up enough shells and supplies, this DIY wall art would be a creative way to turn vacation memories into beautiful crafts. It is also a fun way to incorporate all age and skill levels to display found treasures or create affordable DIY gifts too.

Why I Love This Coastal Grandmillennial DIY

One of my favorite things about the coastal grandmother style is that it celebrates pieces that feel collected over time rather than perfectly matched.

Whether it’s blue and white ginger jars, vintage wicker baskets, or shell collections gathered from family beach days, these little treasures help tell the story of home.

This DIY shell art combines so many elements I love:

coastal cottage decor
blue and white decor
Nantucket style (see Dabbling and Decorating for a lot more of this!)
collected home style
grandmillennial summer decor
traditional summer decorating
patriotic decor
vintage-inspired charm

The finished piece feels playful while adding a touch of patriotic color to my otherwise mostly thrifted home decor in the music room!

Supplies You’ll Need

For this project I used:

11 x 14 canvas
Watercolor paints
Paint brush
Mod Podge
Small sponge paint brush
Small white shells (local souvenir seashell shop or HERE)
Oyster shell pieces (local souvenir seashell shop or HERE)
Blue block print napkins with lobster motifs (found at HomeGoods)
Red block print floral napkins (found at HomeGoods)
Scissors

Tip: Before you paint, Mod Podge, or glue anything, play around with your shells and canvas. You’ll want to make sure that you have enough shells to create your preferred design and also determine the best arrangement of your shells on the canvas.

Step 1: Paint the Background

To give the artwork a relaxed Nantucket feel, I painted soft watercolor blue stripes vertically on the 11×14 canvas. The watercolor effect creates that breezy, coastal cottage look without feeling overly perfect.

I intentionally kept the stripes loose and organic so the piece would feel collected and handmade rather than overly structured. You could opt for a solid watercolor background or stripes in other colors to fit your home aesthetic.

The soft blue tones coordinate beautifully with blue and white decor and fit perfectly into a coastal grandmillennial home.

Step 2: Create the Stars Section with Lobster Shells

For the upper left corner of the American flag, I used smaller shells.

Using blue block print napkins, I carefully cut out tiny blue lobsters and Mod Podged them onto each shell.

These sweet little lobster shells became the “stars” of the flag and added such a charming Nantucket-inspired touch.

Honestly, this might be my favorite part of the project! The lobsters are just too cute. The blue lobster motifs feel playful while still fitting beautifully with classic coastal decor and collected home style.

Step 3: Make the Flag Stripes with Floral Shells

The next step was to create the “stripes.” For the stripes of the American flag, I used larger oyster shells and applied pieces of a red floral block print napkin with Mod Podge.

The red flowers give the shells a soft vintage look rather than a bold patriotic feel, which makes the finished piece feel more abstract and less thematic. I love that this easy DIY project incorporates patriotic colors without screaming Fourth of July.

Instead, it feels more like something you might discover in a charming Nantucket cottage or the coastal grandmother home of a beach lover!

Step 4: Arrange and Glue the Shells

Once the shells had dried, I arranged them on the striped canvas to form an American flag. Then, I used my hot glue gun to secure them to the canvas.

The combination of:

watercolor blue stripes
blue lobster shells
red floral shells
natural shell texture

creates a piece that feels playful, collected, and full of coastal charm.

Why This DIY Fits the Coastal Grandmother Style

One of the reasons I love coastal grandmother decor is that it embraces meaningful collections and handmade touches. Even though I purchased these seashells, this DIY art reminds me of the little treasures gathered during family beach days and summer vacations over the years.

This project would be beautiful displayed:

on a summer mantel
layered on bookshelves
above a coffee station
on a kitchen shelf
in a guest room
on an easel as part of a patriotic vignette

Decorating Tips for Styling Nantucket Shell Art

On the long console table cabinet in our music room, I hung my DIY seashell art on a large, chippy, architectural barn vent. It is a great way to add a touch of color for the season while the large barn vent helps the small art feel more substantial.

I paired the DIY seashell art with the following elements (mostly thrifted, of course!):

Blue and White Ginger Jars: The combination of shells and ginger jars creates a timeless collected look.
Hydrangeas: Fresh or faux hydrangeas instantly add softness and charm.
Areca Palm Stems: I cut mine fresh from my yard, but you can get incredibly realistic faux ones (that I also have and use) HERE.
Wicker and Rattan: Natural textures are essential to coastal grandmother interiors.
Vintage Books: A stack of old books underneath the canvas adds height and warmth.
Brass Accents: Small brass candlesticks add the perfect big of vintage texture to any decor style.
Chinoiserie Accents: Chinoiserie accents, like vases, add interest and color while helping to create the grandmillennial decor look.
Coral: Natural elements add so much texture and tie in perfectly with the shells.

Coastal Cottage DIY Projects You May Also Enjoy

If you love this project, you may also enjoy:

Why Everyone Is Suddenly Decorating with Blue and White Again
Coastal Grandmother Decor Style: Easy Ideas for a Cozy Coastal Cottage Home
How to Decorate with Summer Coastal Style

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of Mod Podge should I use on seashells?

Regular Matte Mod Podge works beautifully for seashell crafts. Once dry, I added two light coats on top to protect the napkin design.

Can you Mod Podge napkins onto shells?

Yes! Decorative paper napkins work wonderfully with Mod Podge. Because napkins are thin, they conform easily to curved shell surfaces and create a beautiful hand-painted appearance. Make sure to pull the napkin apart to the thinnest layer for the smoothest design.

What shells work best for shell art?

Scallop shells, oyster shells, clam shells, and small white shells are all great choices. Flat shells are easiest to decorate and arrange. No matter what kind of shell, gently work the napkin from the middle to the outside edges to smooth it as much as possible and eliminate wrinkles in the napkin.

How do you clean seashells before crafting?

I simply washed each shell with Dawn dish soap. Make sure to dry them completely before adding your napkin design and Mod Podge.

What decorating style works best with shell art?

Shell art complements many decorating styles, including:

Final Thoughts

I think some of my favorite pieces in our home are the ones that tell a story.

This DIY Nantucket shell art reminds me of summer days, family beach walks, and all of the little treasures that make a house feel warm and welcoming. And honestly, that’s what the coastal grandmother lifestyle is all about.

You can browse more of my favorite decorative pieces HERE on my Amazon Storefront and home decor, as well as summer fashion, HERE on my LTK app!

I had so much fun with my daughter and a friend to create this DIY seashell wall art. I hope it inspires you to do something creative this summer too! It’s the perfect time to pull out a few craft supplies, fix a glass of lemonade or iced coffee, and have some indoor fun!

And be sure to check out my friend’s thrifting tips HERE:

Lora from Create and Ponder

Rachel from The Pond’s Farmhouse

Ann from Dabbling and Decorating

You may also enjoy these posts for favorite summer decorating ideas:

I'd love for you to follow me on social media! You can find my home decor inspiration on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!

Blessings,

Robyn

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