This little beach-inspired canvas is simple, textured, and full of coastal details. It starts with a sandy shoreline made from texture medium and real beachy elements, then builds into layered blue glass “water” with resin and seed beads for a foamy shoreline effect.  It’s also a great project if you love small canvases, beach decor, sea glass, shells, and resin art but don’t want to spend hours painting. The finished piece gets most of its interest from texture, glass, and natural details rather than complicated brushwork.  

Step 1: Create the Sandy Shoreline

Begin by applying Liquitex Coarse Texture Medium to the lower portion of the canvas with a palette knife. Work the medium at a slight angle so the shoreline feels organic rather than perfectly straight.

If you want a warmer sand color, mix a tiny amount of beige acrylic paint into the texture medium before applying it. The texture medium can also be used straight from the container if you prefer its natural color.  

Step 2:...

This beachy glass cross is a simple, meaningful project that combines clear glass strips, crushed glass, shells, sea glass, and resin on a soft pearl-and-teal background. The finished piece has a light, beachy look without feeling too bright, and the stacked glass details at the bottom give it the feel of treasures that have washed ashore. It is also a great beginner project because the design is built from simple glass strips and loose embellishment placement rather than detailed painting.

Step 1: Paint the Pearl Background

Begin by covering the entire canvas with pearl or metallic white paint, including the sides if desired. Get the paint on quickly first rather than trying to make every stroke perfect as you go.

Once the surface is fully covered, pull the brush in one consistent direction from top to bottom. Metallic paints contain tiny reflective particles, and laying the brushstrokes in one direction helps those particles settle evenly so the background dries smooth instead o...

This dolphin canvas is a fun, beginner-friendly way to combine simple acrylic painting with reflective glass, resin, and seed beads. The soft blue background gives the piece an ocean feel, while the silver reflective glass turns the dolphin into the focal point. A few white seed beads around the tail and blowhole finish it off with the look of splashing water.

Step 1: Paint the Background White 

Begin by covering the entire canvas with white paint. Work fairly quickly because the background will be blended wet-on-wet with the blue colors. If you are using a larger canvas or tend to paint more slowly, work in sections so the white stays wet enough to blend. Use a large flat brush and keep the paint moving across the canvas until you have an even coat.

While the white is still wet, add a small amount of Spa Blue to your brush. Dab off any excess before touching the canvas so you do not create a heavy blue patch.

Hold the brush more parallel to the canvas and sweep the color back an...

Create a clean, coastal statement piece using crushed glass, an iridescent background, and resin. This starfish canvas features three different shades of blue glass, with each starfish arranged by hand to keep its shape soft and rounded. The finished project is simple enough to fit into many decorating styles, but the reflective glass and pearly background give it plenty of texture and shine!

Step 1: Prepare the Iridescent Background 

Begin with a 10" x 20" canvas. Apply Liquitex Basics Iridescent Medium to the front and sides using a spoon sponge brush. Work in one consistent direction so the background has a smooth, uniform texture.

This medium creates a soft pearly finish with subtle blue and purple flashes, which works especially well behind the blue crushed glass. Allow the canvas to dry completely before adding the starfish.

Step 2: Mark the First Starfish

Instead of tracing the entire starfish with graphite paper, place the sketch over the canvas and use a light blue...

Bring together the magic of Christmas and the relaxing vibes of the beach with this stunning Beachy Wreath! This unique glass art project combines acrylic painting, crushed glass, resin, seashells, and sparkling embellishments to create a wreath that feels perfectly at home during a Christmas in July celebration. Whether you're decorating a beach house for the holidays or simply love coastal decor, this wreath is a beautiful way to celebrate the season with an unexpected twist!

If you love mixed media fish art, beach decor, coastal wall art, and glass resin crafts, this colorful fish canvas is a fun and beginner-friendly project to try. This bright glass fish painting with resin combines acrylic paint, crushed glass, glass chips, and glossy resin to create a dimensional underwater art piece full of texture and sparkle! 

Step 1: Paint the Canvas Background

Begin by applying two coats of Bahama Blue acrylic paint to the entire canvas. Let each coat dry completely before adding the next. This aqua blue background creates the perfect ocean-inspired base for your fish art and gives the finished project a bright coastal feel.

To give your background movement and personality, splatter paint across the canvas using Golden Yellow, Sour Apple, and White acrylic paint. Thin each color with a little water until it becomes loose and fluid. Use a large brush or toothbrush to flick tiny droplets over the surface. Dry between each color layer.

Step 2: Trace the Fish ...

We’re making a bright, beachy palm tree on an 8x16 canvas with a quick painted background, a glass “found object” trunk, nipped sheet-glass palm fronds, a few shells and sea glass on the shoreline, and a glossy resin finish that makes everything pop. The best part? The background truly takes about five minutes, and the glass work is basically like putting together a puzzle.

Step 1: Paint the Background

Start with a thin coat of white across almost the entire canvas. This is a simple trick that helps soften the blues so they don’t grab too hard and scream neon on the canvas. 

Without rinsing your brush, dip right into your sky blue and apply it to the top third of the canvas using the flat side of the brush. Keep it abstract and imperfect - this background is meant to be soft and supportive, not competing with the palm tree. Let some of that white show through so it feels like a breezy sky instead of a solid block of color.

Using that same “dirty” brush (still with a little sky...

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...

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...