This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Gorilla Glue Company. All opinions are 100% mine.
Living in San Diego means I have a fondness for all things ocean- coral, anchors, sailboats, and ocean breezes are my love language. I created some gorgeous DIY coral bookends to feed my nautical side and incorporate the ocean look into my home, and I’m sharing how you can make some too!
These pretty DIY coral bookends cost under $25 to make and are a lovely way to add the breezy, light look of summer. If you already have coral, you can easily make these bookends for under $10! If you don’t have coral, keep reading for an easy hack. You can also enter to win the Clear Gorilla Glue $250 Gift Card Giveaway!
DIY coral bookends are so simple to make, are inexpensive, and make a wonderful gift.
DIY Coral Bookends
Supplies:
- Two pieces of coral (can be real or faux coral from the pet or fish store)
- 4- 3.5 x 5″ photo frames from the dollar store
- Flat white spray paint (if using bright faux coral)
- Clear Gorilla Glue®
Step 1. If you don’t have access to real coral, faux coral will work perfectly! I bought two pieces of faux coral from the pet store for under $10 each.
They were hideous and fluorescent, and I almost doubted my crafting abilities when I picked them up. Trust me, a little spray paint can do wonders!
Spray paint your faux coral with a flat white spray paint in multiple coats. If your coral is funky colors like mine was, this might take two cans of paint. The flat white paint for under a dollar worked just fine for me. Just use multiple thin coats until the coral is completely white. Can you believe that these pretty white coral pieces were once fake neon coral?
Step 2. While the coral is drying, take apart the picture frames and set aside the glass. Use a glass cleaner to clean any dust or smudges off the glass.
Step 3. Once the paint is completely dry on the coral, you can glue your bookends together. Because you’re using glass, you will need to use a good, strong glue that is absolutely clear. I used Clear Gorilla Glue and it worked amazingly!
Clear Gorilla Glue is incredibly strong, is waterproof, can be used indoors and outdoors, and bonds virtually everything! Plus, it dries completely clear, so it’s a great choice for your DIY projects and crafts. It can be used on wood, stone, glass, metal, ceramic, foam, and more!
Stand some books up in your work space, being sure to choose a spot where they won’t be touched for 24 hours while the glue cures. Place your glass so that one piece runs horizontally along the end of the books. The other piece should lie flat on the table, pressed up against the piece along the books, so that it makes a bookend.
Decide where you want your coral to be on the glass, making sure that there are a couple of points where the coral touches the glass along the books. Make a note of where the coral touches the glass, then place some Clear Gorilla Glue where the coral touches the glass, as well as along the bottom of the coral.
Press the coral down firmly and make sure the glass is forming a 90 degree angle along the books. I placed another book along the coral so that it was putting pressure onto it to keep it in place.
Helpful hint: If you use too much glue and it starts to ooze out a bit, just use a cotton swab to wipe up any excess glue. Remember the glue dries completely clear, so it won’t be a big problem if you just wipe up what you can.
I repeated the same process for the other bookend on the other side of the books. Then I warned the kids about touching the table and left it alone for 24 hours.
When I came back the next day, I removed all the books, then picked up my bookends by lifting up the coral. My DIY coral bookends were strong and held together perfectly!
I love how these coral bookends add such a pretty, organic, natural element to our home. The glass is so thin and transparent and gives them a nice modern touch.
Bring on the summer. I’m ready. Be sure to enter to win the Clear Gorilla Glue $250 Gift Card Giveaway!
For more nautical fun you might like our ocean sensory bin, our incredibly realistic edible sea glass recipe, my daughter’s lovely under the sea ocean party, and our tips for how to update your outdoor living space for summer.
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