What crafts can be made from coconut shells.

Coconut shell is a truly fantastic material. In the skillful hands of a master, it easily turns into a practical and useful thing of extraordinary beauty - a glass, jug, box, vase, house for aquarium fish or melodious bells.

Coconut palms, as we know, grow on tropical coasts, so tourists who have visited Sri Lanka, the Maldives or the blessed island of Cuba often bring coconut crafts and traditional local symbols - figurines of monkeys or elephants - as souvenirs.

In our northern country, coconuts have long ceased to be unheard of, which means it will not be difficult to learn this strange craft - creating your own unique “miracles” from coconut shells, which will decorate the interior and become a wonderful gift for friends and family.

Directly coconut. By the way, a coconut is not a nut at all, but a fruit seed, but for simplicity we will call it a nut - since such a definition has already been assigned to it. So, the nut is round or ellipsoidal, the main thing is that the shape is as symmetrical as possible. In the store you can buy both already peeled coconut and in a fibrous shell - coir.

Tools for working with wood and metal: hacksaw, corkscrew, hand drill, emery, milling cutter...

Operating principle

The coconut shell itself is quite hard and durable - if you have ever had to open a coconut, you know how difficult it is. Therefore, we cut off the top of the coconut, saw it lengthwise or crosswise using a hacksaw. Making an even cut is not so easy, you need to carefully monitor it. Or make a special form - from a sheet of plywood, for example, with a hole of the required diameter - securely fix the coconut in it and only then saw it.

You can clean the coconut from coir both before cutting and after using a grinding attachment. The next step is to remove the internal contents of the nut; a regular knife is suitable for this: we separate the copra (pulp) from the thin woody shell. It is easier to do this if the coconut is slightly “stale”: then the copra inside the nut dries out, shrinks and freely lags behind the walls. We clean the coconut from the inside to perfect condition and only then begin to create our plans.

Coconut crafts - let's get down to practice

Candlestick, bowl, pencil holder- the simplest thing you can create with your own hands from coconut. We cut off the top of the coconut or saw it in half, and glue a leg cut from wood to the bottom with epoxy glue, or, more organically, another (smaller) part of the nut. The edges on top can be left smooth, or you can give them a decorative unevenness with pliers or cut them out like a flower - in a word, as your imagination dictates.

Cup, pot or jug ​​with lid- in the same way, we saw the coconut crosswise, fastened the bottom, and for the cup we made a handle from wood or a half ring from a smaller coconut. We make a lid for the jug like this: either it will be the cut “top” of a nut - a simple option, or we take a part from another coconut, make a hole in the middle through which we will fill the vessel, and turn it over with a “boat”. We attach the “boat” to the neck of the jug, and on the outside we mask the joint with a rope, cord, or a strip of leather.

We close the hole on top with the top of the coconut, and glue a handle to it so that there is something to lift the lid with. It will turn out very original, the key is to maintain the proportions.

Hanging bowl for flowers. Large size coconut:

• divide in half,
• drill in three or four places along the upper edge of the hole,
• we thread a decorative cord through them,
• connect the ends of the cord at the top.

We fill it with peat, plant a flower, and hang the flower pot in a convenient place.

Bracelet It’s quite simple to make: we cut a round ring from a suitable size coconut - so that the hand can pass freely - with processed edges and decorated with carvings.

Coconut handbag. There are several ways to make a unique ethnic style bag. First: cut the nut into two identical halves, drill holes in each at an equal distance along the entire edge and sew a “zipper” to them. Additionally, we attach the handles - it’s good if they are made of some decorative material. Your bag is ready for summer! True, it resembles a ball.

The second method is almost exactly the same, with the only difference being that we do not divide a large coconut in half, but cut off only the upper and lower parts. Or the sides. We sew it with a cord or sew on a “zipper” - the handbag will turn out flatter.

Another option: cut off the top of the coconut - enough for the hand to pass through, again make holes around the perimeter and this time sew on a beautiful fabric that will be gathered and tied with a lace.

A little practice - and your talent for creating crafts from overseas walnuts will be the envy of the best coconut craftsmen for whom the Dominican Republic or Thailand are famous. You can show your originality in the decorative elements of products.

Decoration

The surface of the coconut, cleared of the fiber shell, is polished and polished to a shine. Then you can leave it in its natural form as is or decorate it with carvings, if you have sufficient skills for this - you will need a thread-cutting cutter and other tools. We coat the top of the craft with varnish.

In another way: we glue overlay elements - for example, cut out of leather or wood - beads, shells, or wrap the coconut in a pattern with thread or cord.

Coconut that has not been peeled from coir also looks beautiful. On top you can apply a design with vegetable paints or cut out any motif or picture directly along the fiber.

In the hands of a master, even an ordinary coconut shell will become an original craft. Indeed, coconut shells are an interesting material for creativity. You can buy coconut in absolutely any store. And after you enjoy it, you shouldn’t throw away the shell. Below we will offer you beautiful and unusual crafts made from coconut shells.

What can you make from coconut shells?

Coconut shell lamps.

You can create completely different crafts from coconut shells. They can be simple or complex. A simple one is an aquarium house. But original lamps can be considered complex. Such products will fill any room with beautiful light and create an extraordinary atmosphere in it. Check out some ideas for lamps you can make from coconut.

Coconut saucepan.

In this article we will tell you about what crafts to make from coconut shells. Coconut shells can have unexpected uses in life. For example, you can make a saucepan.

For this purpose, take a large coconut. Cut off the top of it. Do not throw away the top. It will be the lid.

Make sure to scoop out all the meat from the coconut.

Glue the handles to the coconut using glue.

Coconut glass.

To make a glass. Buy a small coconut from the store. Cut off the top. Be sure to clean everything inside the coconut. Glue the top that you cut off with a glue gun to the bottom of the coconut.

Original candlestick made of coconut.

This craft is also very easy to make. Be sure to clean the coconut and then pick up a candle. Decorate the cute candle holder with some accessories.

And a few more ideas for coconut candlesticks.

Coconut box.

It is worth saying that crafts made from coconut shells that you make with your own hands can be useful in your household.

For example, if you peel the pulp from a coconut and cut off the top, you can make an original box. At the same time, in order for the box to look beautiful, you must varnish it. And stick shells on top of the box. Remember that such a craft can become an original gift.

Coconut turtle.

A turtle like this may appear in your house. To create it, use personal skills, as well as carving tools.

Coconut jewelry.

If you know how to work with wood, then you will not have any difficulties processing coconut. Take a look at what items can be made from coconut shells. And if you learn how to create such crafts, then perhaps in the future you will make money by selling them.

As you can see, these can be interesting pendants or beautiful earrings. And these can also be massive bracelets.

Coconut maracas.

Here we are talking about what can be made from coconut shells. It is worth mentioning that in addition to the above mentioned coconut crafts. Maracas are made from its shell. And if you don’t know what gift to please your loved one for some holiday, then give him maracas. Remember that not only children, but also adults will be happy with this gift. Below we will offer you a master class on making maracas.

So, first prepare all the essentials. You will need:

• coconut,
• hacksaw,
• putty, which is designed for working with wood,
• sandpaper,
• Super glue,
• rope for maracas handle,
• acrylic paints,
• items for decoration.

Progress:

Content:

Coconut shells can be used to make interesting decor for an aquarium. Coconut is easy to process, does not contain harmful substances and does not rot in water. Coconut in the aquarium is widely used to create tropical landscapes. It’s not difficult to work with, you just need to put in a little effort and imagination - and the unusual decorations are ready!

How to choose a good coconut?

It is best to buy coconuts in a store; here you can compare several fruits with each other. Here are the signs of a fresh coconut:

• healthy appearance;
• light, dry surface;
• whole shell, without chips or cracks;
• dry, hard eyes, without rot or mold;
• visually the fruit seems lighter than it actually is;
• milk splashes inside.

Attention! Shake the nut near your ear. Fresh fruit is filled with milk. In a damaged or old one, you can’t hear its splashing. This kind of coconut cannot be used in an aquarium because of its hardness.

Preparing the Coconut

So, you have chosen the ripest and freshest coconut for the aquarium. Now you need:

1. cut a nut;
2. extract the pulp from it;
3. drill or saw through decorative holes;
4. soak and boil the fruit so that it does not color the water;
5. place it in the aquarium.

Step 1: Cutting the nut

Inside the coconut there is valuable and nutritious milk. If you want to drink it, before sawing the nut, drill a hole in the shell and pour the contents of the coconut into a glass.

Now you can start cutting. The walnut can be easily cut using a hacksaw for cutting metal. Be prepared for shavings to fly from the shell.

It is much more difficult to saw coconuts lengthwise than crosswise. First of all, it's inconvenient. Secondly, the hacksaw blade can slip off the surface of the nut and injure your hand. Therefore, all operations must be performed with extreme caution.

Step 2: Extract the pulp

There are three ways to extract the pulp from a coconut: anthill, fermentation and scraping.

• Anthill. Find an anthill in the forest where red ants live and place a sawn coconut on it. After some time, the hard-working ants will clean the nut until it shines.
• Fermentation. Use a drill to drill three holes in the bottom of the nut. Wrap the nut in a bag and place it in a very warm place or in the sun. There is no need to pour out the coconut milk from the nut. After 3-4 days, the sour, mushy pulp can be easily removed with a regular spoon.
• Scraping. Separating the pulp from the shell is not as easy as it seems. You need to insert the blade of a knife between the pulp and the shell and separate the pulp into small pieces. So, moving from the sawn edge deep into the nut, you will gradually remove all its internal contents.

Step 3: Drill decorative holes

Now that the coconut is free of its internal contents, you can cut or drill decorative holes in it.

• Round hole. To drill a smooth, round hole in a nut, you need to use a drill with a special ballerina drill. Using such a drill, you can get a perfectly even hole, like in a birdhouse.
• Uneven hole. An uneven hole has a more natural appearance. It can be done using pliers, gradually breaking off pieces from the shell until a hole of the desired size and shape is formed. To prevent the fish from getting hurt on the sharp edges of the hole, they need to be sharpened with a file.

Step 4: Soak and Boil the Coconut

After removing the pulp from the coconut and cutting out the holes of the desired shape, they begin to soak the shells. To do this, the empty shell is placed in a vessel with water for 2-3 days. The water is renewed every 12 hours. After this, the shells are boiled in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. This is done so that the coconut in the aquarium does not color the water.

Attention! Coconut can be cleaned of fibers using skins, or left in its original form. Aquarium crabs love coconut fibers and eat them with pleasure.

Types of coconut decorations

From coconut you can make hanging pots, a boat, a grotto (house) or a bridge for your aquarium with your own hands. The surface of the fruit can be treated with sandpaper, or the fibers can be left in their original form. If desired, you can “green” the scenery with moss.

House

The houses are made from two halves of a coconut, or from a nut with the lower part cut off. In the first case, the houses turn out to be flatter, in the second - more voluminous.

In the houses, holes are drilled or hollowed out, through which the fish freely penetrate into the coconut dwelling and swim out. The shape and size of the holes may vary.

Tip: The house can be stylized as a pirate treasure cache. To do this, you need to pour decorative elements into it that imitate treasure. It is important that these “treasures” are clearly visible through the holes in the coconut shell.

Bridge

A large coconut is suitable for making a bridge. The top and bottom parts of this nut are cut off and a coconut ring no more than 10 cm wide with white flesh inside is obtained. The ring is laid horizontally on a flat surface, a small section is sawed off from it and an original decor in the form of a bridge is obtained. All that remains is to clean the shell from the pulp and place it in the aquarium.

Interesting: To green a bridge, you need to lay out pieces of moss on its surface, cover it with a plastic net, wrap it with cotton thread and place it in an aquarium. After a couple of weeks, the moss will sprout and cover the mesh, and the thread will dissolve in water.

Hanging pot for aquarium plants

To make a hanging pot, the nut is cut lengthwise into four parts, the smoothest slice is selected and the pulp is removed from it. Then, according to the internal profile of the quarters, the back wall of the pot is cut out of plexiglass 2-3 mm thick. Several through holes with a diameter of 0.1-0.2 cm are drilled in this workpiece for water circulation and one hole in the center for a suction cup. A suction cup is inserted, the plexiglass blank is glued with epoxy glue to the cut of the coconut, wait until the glue dries and attach the pot to the inner wall of the aquarium.

In a pot filled with soil, you can plant plants that love intense light. It is convenient to apply root feeding in such a pot.

boat

If you look closely at the coconut, you will see that it consists of three parts connected to each other by barely noticeable lines. By sawing the nut along these lines, you can get three pieces that look like boats. These blanks can be styled as a sunken fishing boat or a pirate ship that sank with treasure.

Help: To quickly divide a nut into three parts, you need to saw it along the connecting lines with a hacksaw, and then split it completely with a hammer. It will not be difficult to extract the pulp from such a preparation.

Useful tips

Considered one of the most used trees in the world, the coconut palm is a vital part of many South Asian and tropical cultures. Its fruits have incredible properties and are used for a variety of purposes, primarily in cooking.

A group of scientists recently discovered that coconuts and coir palms are used for 360 purposes these days. We would like to share the most common uses of this product, some of which may seem quite surprising.

1) Style icon

We know that coconut is widely used in cooking, but it is also used in the fashion industry. Coconut shells are used to make all kinds of products and accessories, as well as fiber for clothing! Moreover, with a little imagination, you can make an original round fashionable handbag from two halves of a walnut. Coconut shells also make an excellent ashtray or pot for home flowers.

How to make a bag with your own hands:

To do this, use a drill to drill holes in a clean, varnished shell and attach a zipper to it. Or you can glue the zipper using good superglue. All that remains is to attach the handles. The result is a fashionable handbag.

2) Skin moisturizer

Not everyone knows that coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer, which is especially effective in dry and frosty winter weather. It is recommended to be applied to cracked heels and elbows; it moisturizes and soothes dry skin, and quickly relieves irritation. Simply apply a little coconut oil to dry areas of skin and massage it in. You will be pleasantly surprised at the benefits of using coconut oil on your face and body.

3) Toothpaste

One of the healthiest toothpastes is made with coconut oil. To do this, mix a few teaspoons of oil with a spoon of baking soda. Brush your teeth with this mixture and you will see how your smile instantly shines white. Research has shown that coconut oil has a strong antimicrobial effect and helps destroy the main pathogens in your mouth that cause tooth decay.

4) Body scrub

If you want your skin to be smooth and healthy, you should use a scrub regularly to get rid of the top layer of dead cells. Coconut oil and coconut flakes work great for this purpose, and you can easily make a scrub at home.

How to make a homemade body scrub?

Use 1 part sea salt or granulated unrefined sugar and 2 parts coconut oil and flakes. Mix everything with a teaspoon of coconut essential oil and massage into clean skin. The scrub will help exfoliate dead skin cells and give the skin a pleasant smell, while also filling it with moisture. The scrub can be used once a week for best results, and men can also benefit from it. For example, you can apply it to your chin and cheeks before shaving: the antifungal and moisturizing properties of coconut will keep your skin smooth and intact.

5) Dishes made from coconut milk

Coconut milk is a very important ingredient in South Asian cuisine and is especially popular in Thai cuisine. It is great for a variety of curries, rice dishes, marinades and sauces for grilled dishes. Coconut milk is also used in soups instead of sour cream, and added to oatmeal and other dishes as a substitute for regular milk. Coconut milk has quite a rich taste, it is sweet and aromatic, so you should be careful when adding it to different dishes. Moreover, it is quite high in calories and contains saturated fat.

6) Homemade makeup remover

It may seem strange that oily liquids are suitable for removing makeup, but pure coconut essential oil is very effective at removing mascara from eyelashes, as well as other decorative cosmetics.

How to remove makeup from your face?

Apply a little oil to a cotton pad and use it to massage away makeup, making sure that the liquid does not get into your eyes. Alternatively, apply a couple of drops of oil using your fingertips directly to the area of ​​skin, and then wipe it off with a damp cloth. The oil will allow you not only to cleanse your face, but also to keep it fresh and prevent the formation of wrinkles.

7) Healthy cold snacks

Freshly grated coconut meat makes a great addition to your snacks. It does not need to be kept in the refrigerator, it has a number of properties that have a positive effect on the heart, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. Moreover, coconut pulp will allow you to satisfy your hunger and increase your energy. Add some shredded coconut to salads or low-calorie pudding for a tangy, tropical flavor.

8) Healthy digestion

Coconut essential oil does not go rancid like many other oils and has a positive effect on digestion. Medium-chain fatty acids break down more quickly than long-chain fatty acids found in other oils. They are processed using saliva and gastric juice without pancreatic enzymes, therefore, coke oil does not burden the digestive system as much as other oils do. It is often used in baby food and hospital products. Moreover, coconut oil also regulates metabolic functions and soothes an upset stomach, reducing the symptoms of diseases such as Crohn's disease.

9) Coconut drinks

Coconut drinks have recently begun to appear frequently on the market. Coconut milk contains electrolytes such as sodium and magnesium, making them a healthy, tasty, low-carb drink that's a great alternative to sugar-filled sports drinks. However, you should read the ingredients in commercial drinks carefully because some are not as healthy and less effective at restoring hydration.

10) Application in medicine

Coconut oil has many medicinal uses. This is an effective natural antifungal remedy used to relax the legs, get rid of athlete's foot, candidiasis and fungal skin diseases. It has mild antiseptic properties and helps fight fungi. Minor sunburns and insect bites can be easily treated with this wonderful product. Moreover, it also promotes milk production in lactating women.