Kid's Crafts: Painting Memorial Marker Seashells

Kids have a hard time expressing their sadness and grief. Depending on their age, they might not even comprehend what is going on and how they should feel. This is the same with the loss of a family member, friend or even a beloved pet.

To help children learn to deal with their grief and to express their feelings, we've come up with an easy craft project for them to do. Once their seashell memorial markers are completed, they can place them on a grave of a loved one...including a lost pet. When making them, let the children paint whatever designs they want...including their choice of paint colors.

Kid's Crafts: Painting Memorial Marker Seashells

Large Clam Seashells
Acrylic Craft Paints, Variety of Colors
Paint Brush, Water Dish, Paper Towels
Disposable Foam Plate, Paint Palette
Old Sheets of Newspaper
Clear Acrylic Spray Sealer

Cover the work surface with a few sheets of old newspaper. Kids can be really messy when working with paint.

You'll want to fill a dish with water (we like to use old plastic disposable butter dishes), provide paper towels and use disposable plates for paint palettes. Squirt a few puddles of different colored paint onto the disposable plate. Show the kids how to wash out their paint brush when changing colors by dipping it into the water dish and drying it with the paper towel.

The kids can paint just the outside of the clam shell or both sides, entirely up to them. They can make a design that reminds them of the loved one that they lost and/or adding wording to the design. I feel it's important for the child to come up with their own unique & creative design which helps them to express their feelings.

Let the seashells thoroughly dry. If you're using acrylic craft paint, this can take up to 60-70 minutes. Take the shells outside and lay them down onto newspaper or an old plastic placemat. Have an adult spray 1-2 coats of the clear acrylic sealer on each seashell and let thoroughly dry. This will protect the painted surface from chipping, cracking and/or fading. It will allow the seashells to be displayed outside.

We do this project with the kids in our family every time a loved one passes on or with the loss of a beloved pet. They really look forward to it...from the preschoolers and on up. Some of the adults will get in on the action too! You can make them as fancy as you want, but I think basic designs look best. We hope you enjoy this crafting with kids project!