Paperweight

• A large, painted cowrie shell makes a conversation-starting paperweight. Paint the scale pattern on the shell with acrylic paints and let it dry. Cut the legs and head out of craft foam and hot glue them to the underside at the front and back. Glue wiggly eyes to the face and set your turtle paperweight on a stack of papers on your desk to be admired by all.
  
  

Jewelry

• Smaller cowries are the right size for turtle necklaces or earrings. Paint the shell with the desired scale design. Glue flat beads or faux jewels to the shell as part of the shell pattern. Select a small oval bead for the head and four small cylinder beads for the legs. Carefully drill three small holes at the front end and two at the back end. Wire the head bead in the middle of the front end, and the four legs opposite one another at front and back. For earrings, make two matching turtles and attach an earring hook to each. For a necklace, attach a metal ring and hang it on a ribbon or chain.
  
  

Backpack Dangler

• A backpack dangler lets children display their turtle wherever they go. Paint the shell pattern with acrylic paints and drill a small hole in the back end. Attach the shell to a swivel clip. Coil flat oval disks of copper craft wire for the head and legs. Either hot glue the wire disks to the underside, or drill holes and bend the wire ends through several times to secure in place. Clip the turtle to the child's backpack.
  
  

Magnet

• Make a turtle magnet by painting a cowrie shell. Add craft foam legs and head and wiggly eyes. If desired, decorate the shell with glitter or faux jewels. Hot glue a small bar magnet to the underside and attach to a metal surface for display.