One of my favorite things about creating mixed media art is finding beauty in unexpected places. A while back, I dropped a ceramic bowl and instead of heading straight for the trash, I noticed the broken pieces had cracked into perfect little triangles. Right away, I saw sailboats. I tucked the shards away, knowing they’d eventually become the star of a new project.

Today, I’m pairing those pieces with a simple painted background, a bit of glass, and a layer of resin to make a coastal sailboat scene that’s charming, dimensional, and beginner-friendly.

Step 1: Create Your Background

Begin by dividing your canvas so that the top third will be your sky and the bottom two-thirds your ocean. Paint the top section with white and gently blend in a touch of Bahama Blue to create a soft, airy sky. Keep some of the white peeking through for depth and lightly scrub in clouds with more white.

For the ocean, start at the horizon line with Stormy Blue. If you want a very straight line, you can...

If you’ve ever looked at a pretty vase and thought, “I could make something out of that…”, this project is perfect for you! In this tutorial, we’re cutting up a recycled vase, painting a beachy background, and transforming it into a stunning tropical palm tree scene with glass, resin, seashells, and even coconuts. This piece is 8x16 inches and perfect for adding a touch of coastal charm to your home.

Step 1 – Safety First!

Before you start cutting glass, make sure you’re protecting yourself. Cutting vases with nippers can send tiny shards flying, so gloves and eye protection are a must. A simple pair of cut-resistant gloves from Amazon works great, and any safety glasses will do, even your everyday glasses can help protect your eyes. Place a grid or bin under your work area to catch little shards and chips, since they’ll fly as you nip. Once your vase pieces are cut, run the edges across a honing stone or sanding pad to dull the sharp points. It only takes a few swipes, and it make...

If you love the look of glass art but want something that’s quick, easy, and totally unique, this project is for you! We’ll be using our Glass Bottle Ring Mystery Box, a one-pound mix of real glass rings cut from recycled bottles, to create a stunning framed art piece.

No painting skills required. Just resin, glass rings, and a little bit of patience while everything sets up.

Step 1: Clean Your Glass

Clean both sides of your 11x14 glass panel thoroughly. Resin loves a dust-free, grease-free surface, so use glass cleaner and dry with a lint-free cloth.

Tip: Wear gloves while handling to avoid fingerprints—once it’s clean, you want it to stay clean!

Step 2: Prep Your Bottle Rings

Our mystery boxes contain a mix of amber, green, clear, frosted, and occasionally rare cobalt or baby blue rings. They range in size from small neck pieces to large bottom cuts, and some are thicker than others.

A few rings may have chips or tiny cracks - that’s the charm of recycled glass! Arrange them...

If you’ve ever wondered how to cut your own glass strips and create beautiful layered glass crosses, this tutorial is for you! Today I’m showing you how I make my bestselling glass crosses using simple tools, colorful glass sheets, and a bit of resin. These make perfect gifts and are always a hit at art and craft shows, especially around holidays like Mother’s Day and Christmas.

Step 1: Getting Started

To start, you’ll need a few basic glass cutting tools: a plastic grid (used to catch glass shards and keep your surface clean), an L-square ruler to help line things up, a scoring tool (either pencil or pistol grip style), and a pair of running pliers. You’ll also need a honing stone or sanding brick to smooth sharp edges.

For your glass, I recommend pre-cut 4x6 sheets. These are widely available online in a variety of colors. I used a mixed-color pack that came with 12 sheets for about $24 and included gloves too. You can choose themed packs like all blues or purples, or go with a ...

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 ...