School Holiday Project: Painting Snail Shells

On a trip to Koiingnaas in Namaqualand, last year, I came across a number of large snail shells on my hikes through the veld. I asked about the snails themselves, and was told that it was the wrong season to find live snails. I picked up a couple of snail shells to take home with me, where the kids and I had a lot of fun painting the shells, before placing them in Grandma's garden.

A dried-up shell as I found it in the veld.

I did not have anything with me to cart them home, so I used my cap.

I painstakingly unclogged the shells of all debris and insects (!) before trusting them to my luggage.

The shells were also washed...

... and left to dry in the sun.

Once home, we used Dala Craft Paint to paint the shells.

Some colours we simply mixed ourselves.

One thrilled little boy relishing the project.

His intrigued little sister.

I painted an example of what could be done.

Some of their attempts.

The collection was ready for Grandma's garden.

Marietjie Uys (Miekie) is a published author. You can buy my books here:
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