# Pistachio Shell Flower and Frame Crafts
> Turn saved pistachio shells into art. Glue them onto a drawn flower and paint over them, or glue them around a favorite drawing as a frame.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/pistachio-shells-craft/
- Ages: 3–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium
- Time: prep 10 min, activity 30 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group
- Skills: fine-motor, estimation, patterns, shapes, art
- Cautions: nuts, ingestion-risk

## Materials (one batch)
- Pistachio shells (saved after snacking)
- 1 sheet Construction paper
- 1 piece Pencil or marker (household)
- White school glue
- 1 piece Small dish for glue (optional) (household)
- Watercolors
- 1 piece Paintbrush (household)
- 1 piece A drawing or painting of the child's choice (household)
- Alphabet stickers (optional)

## Substitutions
- Instead of artwork: A family photo (The author suggests turning the shell frame into a picture frame.)

## Safety
- Pistachio shells are a tree-nut product and can carry nut residue. Check for nut allergies first, and follow any nut-free school or center policy.
- Shells are a choking hazard. Supervise closely, and don't use them with children who still put objects in their mouths.
- Remove broken or sharp-edged shell pieces before handing shells to kids.
- Wash hands after handling the shells, glue and paint.

## Before you start
- Save pistachio shells over time and set aside any broken or sharp pieces.
- Check for nut allergies in the group.
- Draw a simple flower with leaves on construction paper for each child.

## Steps
1. Draw a simple flower with leaves on a sheet of construction paper.
2. Dab glue inside a petal and stick pistachio shells onto it.
3. Keep filling the petals and leaves with shells. Try cut side down for a smooth look.
4. Let the glue dry completely.
5. Paint over the shells with watercolors.
6. For the frame, pick a favorite drawing or painting.
7. Glue shells one by one along the edges to make a frame.
8. Let the frame dry, then add alphabet stickers if you like and find a spot to display it.

## Tips
- She wasn't sure whether to stick the shells down or backs up. She chose cut side down so they have a 'smooth look', her exact words!
- Ask 'How many shells can you stick on a petal?' Figuring out how much is too much is part of the fun.
- Let your child choose the artwork to frame. Ours picked a colorful doodle and said, 'This is what I like the best.'
- Start hoarding shells early. We've been saving them like squirrels since summer.
- If your child isn't keen on painting or coloring, try larger art outside where there is a lot of movement involved.

## FAQ
**My child isn't interested in painting or coloring. Any ideas?** The author suggests doing larger art outside, where there is a lot of movement involved.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2012)

Out here in the Midwest one of our Fall and Winter tradition is roasting, cracking and munching on nuts. In our house pistachios are a hot commodity. Now that I'm a hands on mom, I can't bear to throw away anything. I have been hoarding like a squirrel since summer. Here are a couple of ways we put pistachio shells to use.

### CRAFT 1

A simple flower craft.

- Pistachio shells
- Construction paper
- Glue
- Water colors

I drew a flower on a construction paper and she stuck the shells onto the flower. She wasn’t quite sure if she should stick them down or stick their backs up. She finally chose to stick them cut side down so they have a smooth look , and those were her exact words – Smooth look !  

### STEP 2:

Let it dry and then paint over them. We are yet to find a place to display. 

### CRAFT 2

- An artwork of her choice
- Pistachio shells
- Glue
- Alphabet Stickers

I asked her to pick any one of her favorite drawings and she picked out this colorful paper and said – " this is it mommy. This is what I like the best ". It was a nice rectangle piece that she doodled on and it kind of looked great by itself. Now we just have to give it a look by adding the shells as a frame.   Tip: You could place a good family picture in it and use the craft as a picture frame. I suggested this to my pre schooler and she quickly came at me with a "later mom". She clearly has other ideas. If you want to know what we did with the frame, check back here in a couple of days. I can guarantee you that it is a great way to transform your picture frame and totally doable.

- Fine motor skills
- Figuring how much is too much - How many shells can you stick on a petal?
- Mathematical concepts - Patterns, lines and shapes

I'm just glad we could use the shells in a craft. Peace to Mamma ! **Check out what we did with out shell frame.**

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