The fog lifted, the sun came out, and we made a cake! Cakes on the web these days are getting more and more elaborate in regards to their decorative toppings. We love the look of a bouquet of flowers arranged on a cake, or a mountain of vines and citrus. So, not wanting to miss the trend, we thought it’d be fun to put something unusual and beautiful atop a cake. Why not, right?

Predictably, the first thing that came to our minds was seashells. You already know about our beach errand, but the fun really started once we got home. Here’s what you do.

First, choose the periwinkles or shells you’d like to use. You can buy shells at a craft store if you aren’t near a beach. Clean the shells (especially if they came from nature!) by gently agitating and shaking them around in a glass full of water to release any sand. Lay them on a towel to completely dry.

Once dry, choose your paint color or colors. We used an acrylic gold and would recommend acrylic paint over others. The lines of the periwinkle happen to be a great guide for straight brush strokes. Paint however much of the shell you like. We varied each shell for visual interest. When you’re done embellishing your shells, leave them to dry completely.

After your painted shells are completely dry arrange them on a cake, or a window sill for that matter, in any shape or pattern you like. Our cake seemed destined for a clustered crescent. We do strongly advise perching these stylish shells on top of the world’s best chocolate cake… but that’s a post for another day!

Happy decorating, Hayley