Got a broken bottle sitting around? Don’t toss it... turn it into a stunning mixed media art piece that captures the spirit of the ocean! In this tutorial, we’re creating a coastal-inspired canvas with a reclaimed glass bottle, resin, sea glass, and real shells. It’s the perfect project for beach lovers, shell collectors, and anyone who wants to transform “trash” into treasure.

Step 1: Prep Your Canvas

We’re working on an 8x16 canvas. To start, I prepped the background by painting the top portion with a soft ocean blue, blending in white acrylic paint to mimic the look of distant waves. For the sandy shoreline, I used a color called Oyster Beige and topped it with Coarse Texture Gel to give it a beachy, gritty finish just like real sand.

Let your background dry completely before moving on to the resin layers.

Step 2: Choose and Clean Your Bottle

For this piece, I chose a broken bottle that had a sliver missing but still looked beautiful and safe once honed down. If your bottle...

If you've got a stash of special seashells tucked away from beach vacations and don't know what to do with them, this Beach Book Box is the perfect project for you. In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through how I turned a wooden book box from Hobby Lobby into a gorgeous coastal keepsake, complete with a painted beach scene and real shells encased in resin. It’s perfect for holding your beachcombing treasures or gifting to a fellow sea-lover.

Step 1: Prep Your Wooden Book Box

I picked up this raw wood book box from Hobby Lobby and got started by sanding the inside to remove any splinters or loose wood bits. Then, I gave the entire inside one coat of Bahama Blue acrylic paint using a large flat brush. The raw wood really soaks up the paint, so I plan to do a second coat (and maybe even seal it) before adding resin later. Pro tip: sealing raw wood beforehand helps prevent it from eating up your paint and resin.

Step 2: Paint the Outside Base

For the outside bottom of the box, I blen...

Bring a unique coastal twist to your holiday decor with this Seashell Christmas Tree Resin Wood Sign! Using a wooden sign base, resin, starfire glass, seashells, and sea glass, you’ll craft a sparkling, layered Christmas tree that blends rustic charm with beachy elegance!

Step 1: Prep and Protect Your Wood Sign

Tape off the edges and frame carefully with painter’s tape to prevent resin from dripping onto the wood and causing dark spots. This will keep your frame clean and crisp.

Step 2: Create the Base with Glass Shards

Spread a thin layer of starfire glass over the center area of your sign. This glass bed will act as a sparkling base for the shells to rest on and gives your tree that beautiful glittering look.

Step 3: Mix and Pour Your First Resin Layer

Mix your resin and hardener thoroughly, stirring for 3 minutes to avoid bubbles. Pour a thin layer of resin over the glass to “glue” them in place and create a smooth surface for arranging your shells.

Step 4: Build Your Sea...

If you're looking for a fun mixed media art project, this Rum & Coke art piece is the perfect blend of rustic charm and glossy glass art. Whether you’re making it for your bar area, a gift, or just a cool conversation piece, this wooden sign combines recycled glass, resin, and creative placement to create something truly unique. 

Step 1: Prep Your Tray

Start by sealing the wooden tray with a thin coat of clear sealer. This helps prevent the resin from soaking into the wood. If your tray has any seams, tape the underside to stop resin from leaking through. You can also tape around the outer frame if you want to keep it clean.

Step 2: Mix & Pour Your Resin

Put on rubber gloves. Mix 4 oz total of ArtResin and stir gently for three minutes. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of your cup and stir stick as you go. You’ll want a well-mixed, bubble-free batch for this first pour.

Pour a thin layer of resin inside the tray to act as the “glue” for your glass elements. Use a silicone ...

If you’re looking for a fresh and simple way to bring a coastal vibe into your home, you’ll love this charming driftwood and seashell art piece. In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through how to paint a minimal beachy background, layer driftwood, glass, shells, and even a sweet little bird, all finished with resin for a beautiful glossy look.

Step 1: Create the Beachy Background

I started with a simple canvas and chose a few soothing beach-inspired paint colors: Bahama Blue, Sea Breeze, and white.

First, I loaded a 1-inch brush with white paint and brushed it across the bottom third of the canvas to mimic ocean water. I blended a little Sea Breeze and Bahama Blue for extra dimension, working left to right using a flat brush for gentle horizontal strokes. I left “skippies” (small unpainted gaps) here and there for a natural look, and even added a few extra streaks of white on top to simulate seafoam.

Moving up the canvas, I used white as the base for the sky with just a bit of Bahama...

If you’ve got a stash of seashells from a beach vacation and no idea what to do with them, this fun and easy art project is the perfect solution. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to create a stunning ombre background, layer in crushed glass, and embed your favorite shells in resin to make a beautiful 6x12 coastal canvas that feels like a piece of the ocean right at home.

Step 1: Paint the Ombre Background

To start, I used a 6x12 canvas, but this technique works with any size. I chose three main colors: white, Desert Turquoise, and Midnight Blue for the ombre background. The trick to getting a smooth blend is to work wet-on-wet. I added dots of each color directly onto the canvas (white at the top, turquoise in the middle, blue at the bottom), then blended them together using a flat brush. Starting from the top with white, I worked my way down, gradually blending into the turquoise, and finally into the blue. I used light brush strokes and kept a steady rhythm, blending back and ...

Sometimes the best art starts with something old. That was definitely the case with this project - a funky, whimsical art piece made from a beat-up 2-inch chip brush. It had rust, personality, and plenty of potential. I decided to give it a total makeover with purples, gold, paint, beads, flowers, and resin. And the best part? It’s giftable!

Whether you’ve got a junk drawer full of old brushes or just want to try something different, this tutorial will walk you through every step to turn trash into sparkly treasure.

Step 1: Prep and Paint the Brush

I grabbed an old, rusty chip brush and gave it a quick sanding to knock off the loose bits. You can use painter’s tape to hold your brush in place while painting. I planned to paint both the handle and bristles, so I wasn’t worried about getting a little messy - this project is meant to be abstract and fun!

I was feeling the purple vibe, so I went all in with Purple Iris, Wisteria, a touch of metallic gold, and some white for highlight...

If you’ve been making seasonal or show-ready glass and resin art, you’ve probably asked yourself: how do I store this safely until the next event? Or maybe you’ve opened a bin of artwork you lovingly created… only to find it ambered, warped, or scratched. Let’s talk about how to prevent that.

The White Paint & Resin Problem

Titanium white (which is in almost every white craft paint) doesn’t play nice with resin. It can cause yellowing called ambering over time, especially if exposed to heat or UV light. If you love those bright white backgrounds that make your glass pop (and who doesn’t?), here’s how to keep them safe:

Always seal white backgrounds with a non-yellowing spray sealer before adding resin.
Use a satin or matte finish - gloss can be too slick and prevent your resin from adhering properly. A quick mist, let it dry, then repeat with a second light mist. Don’t oversaturate the surface, or you’ll risk resin pinholes later on. This tiny step goes a long way in preserving th...

This Blue Checked Cross is a charming mixed-media piece that brings together napkin art, paint, glass strips, and resin to create a shimmering piece of decor! Whether you're crafting for your home, a friend, or for a market table, this sweet little project is stunning!

Step 1: Paint Your Base

Start with a 2x4 wood block cut to about 6 inches long. Give it two coats of FolkArt Pure Gold paint, covering all sides. Let dry completely. The gold gives a beautiful shimmer and will peek through the napkin in just the right way.

Step 2: Adding the Napkin Art

Choose a blue and white checkered napkin. Cut one section to size, lining it up to fit the front face of your block. Peel off the white backing layers (there are usually two) so you're left with just the printed layer.

Before decoupaging, check that your piece fits just inside the edges, allowing a hint of that gold to show around the napkin.

Using Mod Podge (any finish works since you'll resin over it), brush a thin, even layer on...

If you've ever pulled a fresh canvas out of the packaging, excited to start a project, only to find it saggy, wrinkled, or warped, you’re not alone. It’s frustrating, but totally fixable! Whether you’re prepping for a resin pour, glass embellishments, or just want a solid surface to paint on, this post walks you through exactly how to fix a loose canvas and prevent future warping.

Before anything goes on your canvas (paint, texture paste, resin, or glass), you want it to be tight. Press lightly on the center with your finger. If it gives too much? Time to tighten.

Option 1: Use Canvas Keys

Many stretched canvases come with tiny plastic or wood wedges called canvas keys. They go in the slotted corners of your frame. Tap them in with a hammer to gently stretch the wooden frame outward, which pulls the canvas tighter. Don’t have a hammer? A firm push with a craft tool or the back of a screwdriver works in a pinch.

DIY Alternative: Grab a few of those thin paint sticks from the hardwar...