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The Blonde Lab

by Lindsay Baltimore

05.03.11 By Lindsay

Pottery Barn Inspired Sea Shell Mirror Tutorial

I can browse a Pottery Barn day and night.

 It sits on my night stand,
and my mental list of “things I WANT” grows each time I look.
Sometimes though,
there are things I can recreate for less.
Their sea shell mirror was one of them.
{sorry Pottery Barn}
Here is my step by step Sea Shell Mirror tutorial:
Materials:
 mirror
{mine was frameless but a framed one will work too}
assortment of sea shells
(# of shells varies on size of mirror)
hot glue gun
A LOT of glue sticks

Let’s get to work…
1. To begin, I lined the portion I wanted to remain mirrored, with paper to protect it from glue.
2. I then began lining the inner border with smaller sea shells to create an even frame. 
Once my frame of shells were all lined up, I began hot gluing.
I simply lined the perimeter of the shell with hot glue. 
Begenerous with the glue.
3. Once my mirror was framed with shells, I began placing my larger shells in a puzzle like fashion.
It does NOT have to be perfect. In fact the more random the shells and placement, the more character your mirror will have.
4. When the entire frame is covered in shells, you can go back and fill in any gaps with any remaining smallshells.

5. Project Complete!



Wasn’t that easy?
It’s A LOT of gluing but the end result is so fun!
I hung my mirror in my bathroom and it’s a fun reminder that the beach isn’t far away.

I am linking up to theseparties!
Thirty Hand Made Days

Filed Under: DIY Projects 42 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hanna says

    05.03.11 at 7:44 pm

    It's so cute Lindsay! Love it!! COme link up. I just posted the handmade hog and I actually got crafty this week:)

    Reply
  2. Miss Lifeguard and Mister Guardian says

    05.03.11 at 7:51 pm

    I have been ooohhhing and ahhhing over mirrors like this since my summers working at the beach! I remember walking into little boutiques that had this hanging wishing I had one of my very own! I've always wanted to DIY it but was worried as to whether the shells would stick or not! I think I now have a summer craft project at hand besides painting the bed frame now! Looks so good and I know you are proud of your hard work!

    Reply
  3. Lindsey says

    05.03.11 at 7:57 pm

    So cute! I pull pages out of pb catalogs all the time, ones that inspire me – and then i try to recreate it! so much more fun and less expensive!

    Reply
  4. The Balch Bunch says

    05.03.11 at 8:39 pm

    SO CUTE!!! Looks way better than the PB one! 😉

    Reply
  5. The Balch Bunch says

    05.03.11 at 8:40 pm

    p.s. hope Miss L is doing better!

    Reply
  6. Simone @ Doberman's by the Sea says

    05.03.11 at 10:10 pm

    This is way cute. I love PB too and I have a mirror and the shells, just need to get some other projects out of the way first. You did well. Cheers

    Reply
  7. Nina @ Momma Go Round says

    05.03.11 at 11:10 pm

    Holy awesome amazingness! LOVE! I think Ash's mom will commission you for one of these when she sees it. She LOVES shells!

    Reply
  8. christine donee says

    05.04.11 at 12:21 am

    what a great way to make use of shells collected over the years.

    Reply
  9. Lisa says

    05.04.11 at 12:47 am

    Okay Lindsay, this is so crazy that you posted about this today because I took down the old medicine cabinet in our master bathroom two weeks ago, thinking that I'd scoop up a mirror somewhere, but I haven't been able to find one that's interesting and the right size and I've been everywhere! Just yesterday I saw a seashell one that was too small but so beautiful, $199 at Homegoods which is unheard of for their mirrors!
    So THANK YOU – this is the solution to my problem….I'm going to Lowes to get a plain mirror in the morning and can't wait to do this! Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
  10. Jesse {GoodGirlGoneGlad} says

    05.04.11 at 2:32 am

    What a fun mirror Lindsay! I love it!
    Hugs girl!

    Reply
  11. Lindsay says

    05.04.11 at 2:55 am

    HI (you must be amazing because your name is Lindsay 🙂 ) this is beautiful!! I heart Pottery Barn and anything inspired by it! Lovely!

    Delighted Momma

    Reply
  12. Meredith says

    05.04.11 at 4:14 am

    super pretty! i'm all about the knock offs. pottery barn is lovely but i'm not sure i'll ever be able to shop there full price. 😉

    YOURS, MINE AND OURS

    Reply
  13. Kylie says

    05.04.11 at 4:51 am

    This is so pretty, I have a box decorated like this! xo Great job!

    Reply
  14. Terri Weston says

    05.04.11 at 2:07 pm

    I share your love for all things Pottery Barn, great idea for a knockoff, I have tons of sea shells from trips to Hawaii, Florida, California, Nassau, can now put them to good use, will use them around picture frames. Or possibly redo my mirror that was bought at PB.

    Reply
  15. heather says

    05.04.11 at 6:04 pm

    ooh! i love this 🙂 it's so nice to be reminded of the beach!

    Reply
  16. Val says

    05.04.11 at 6:24 pm

    Now that is one awesome mirror. You did such a good job!!! <3

    Reply
  17. AM says

    05.05.11 at 2:46 am

    I love this Lindsay! I wish I lived closer to a beach 🙂 I was in LA over the weekend and gathered some shells on a Malibu beach…had I seen this, I would have looked for more. Good excuse to go back 🙂

    ps. Yours is so much better than anything similar Pottery Barn has!
    xo,
    Ann Marie

    Reply
  18. Sharstin says

    05.05.11 at 2:58 am

    So cute girly, what a great idea:)

    Reply
  19. Kristen says

    05.05.11 at 3:02 pm

    I love this – so pretty and textural! I made some seashell art last month and would love if you'd check it out when you get a chance at http://decoratingdiy.blogspot.com/2011/03/everybodys-gone-surfinsurfin-usa.html

    Kristen
    Turning a House into a Home

    Reply
  20. jandjhome says

    05.07.11 at 12:01 am

    This makes me want a beach home. So pretty. I have a big vase full of shells that I've picked up in the last few years.

    Reply
  21. Maria says

    05.07.11 at 1:14 am

    Love it!

    Reply
  22. Jessica@MakeItLovely says

    05.07.11 at 2:32 am

    OOoooo this is beautiful! I love seashells – it keeps me from missing the beach too much 😉

    Reply
  23. Ali Richardson says

    05.07.11 at 4:29 am

    I love this!!! I've been meaning to do something like this for a while now and you have inspired me to get to work. Great job! Just popping in from TT&J 🙂

    Reply
  24. Sonja says

    05.07.11 at 6:57 am

    I love this. When I was growing up my Grandmother had a mirror that she embellished similarly to this one. It brings back good memories.

    Reply
  25. NYCLQ says

    05.07.11 at 11:44 am

    What a wonderful and simple means of putting to use a shell collection! Beautifully done! And love the shot with you in the mirror as well =) Cute!

    😀 Lynda

    Reply
  26. Carolyn says

    05.07.11 at 3:13 pm

    What a beautiful end piece! I LOVE it!

    I'm a new follower–would love a follow back!

    http://www.cookinformycaptain.blogspot.com

    Reply
  27. southernscraps says

    05.07.11 at 11:30 pm

    Gorgeous mirror!

    Reply
  28. Wendys Hat says

    05.09.11 at 4:14 pm

    Love it! I have a large shell collection in my garden room at home. I might make a frame like this.

    Reply
  29. Vicki V @ blestnest.blogspot.com says

    05.10.11 at 12:57 am

    Beautiful! There is some artistry involved in this for sure, and yours looks awesome!

    Reply
  30. Madigan at madiganmade says

    05.10.11 at 10:47 am

    Lovely! Aside from using a ton of glue sticks, you used a ton of shells, too. But it was worth it. I love size and scale!

    Reply
  31. Deneen says

    05.10.11 at 3:23 pm

    I have been wanting to do one too! This looks great!

    Reply
  32. SallyLeeByTheSea.com says

    05.31.11 at 4:32 pm

    That's amazing! You're truly talented. Hope you have a great week.

    Hugs,
    Marie

    Reply
  33. Get Campie! says

    06.06.11 at 2:59 am

    So pretty! LOVE it!

    Reply
  34. Anonymous says

    09.06.11 at 6:25 pm

    I love it but where can I buy shells that cheap? A beach isn't a option. Thanks:)

    Reply
  35. Shayda Windle says

    02.20.12 at 1:55 am

    Love this! Hope you don’t mind me reblogging!!

    Reply
  36. Jackie says

    01.25.13 at 11:00 am

    Love the mirror with shells, BUT how do you clean it.

    Reply
  37. Terry says

    09.11.16 at 11:28 am

    Did you put a finish on the shells?

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Get Into the Summer Design Style | Lease-an-Apartment says:
    06.14.12 at 11:57 am

    […] Looking for unique accent pieces?  Try incorporating more nautical items like shells, starfish, sand dollars and more.  These are usually pretty popular in the warmer months, so you shouldn’t have a hard time finding something that fits your particular style.  If you are, have ever been, or would like to be a collector you may want to start gathering up some sea shells to make a unique shell mirror.  You can get the tutorial over at Lee La La. […]

    Reply
  2. Links to my favorite posts | Lee La La says:
    05.21.13 at 1:45 pm

    […] DIY Pottery Barn inspired mirror tutorial […]

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  3. Lustro z muszelkami | Mieszkaniowe inspiracje says:
    06.15.13 at 3:15 pm

    […] http://www.leelala.net […]

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  4. Lustro z muszelkami | Mieszkaniowe inspiracje says:
    06.15.13 at 3:37 pm

    […] projekt, zdjęcia: http://www.leelala.net […]

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  5. DIY Sea Shell Mirror | Curious Country Creations Crafty Life says:
    05.10.17 at 9:01 am

    […] I stumbled across a tutorial by the blonde lab blog which you can find here […]

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About Lindsay

Blonde at heart. Writer. Fashion enthusiast. Currently renovating our real life fixer-upper. Mrs. Mama to two beauties & one little prince. Los Angeles.

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