Starting on the Eagles Crab

Redskins Crab

Redskins almost finished

Almost done!!!

Redskins Crab step by step

Laying down some color

Redskins drawing transfered to a crab

Next step completed, drawing is transfered to a crab shell

Raven and Oriole Crabs

The Birds

Giant Bushel Basket

Wish this thing was full of crabs!!!

Grinch Santa Crab

 Your a mean one Mr. Grinch....

Redskins Crab Drawing

Redskins Crab drawing, thought I would show a crab shell painting from start to finish

Steamed Old Bay Crab

Yes, that is real Old Bay and salt!!

Original design by Tom

Hypnotic Crab

You are getting sleepy!!!

Ocean City Crab

I have been going to Ocean City all my life, lots of great memories and good times!!

Grandmom Hart Lady Bug Crab

I made this crab in rememberence of my Grandmom Hart

Mom's special request crab

Mom's special request crab

My Mother asked for this custom crab to match the bathroom

Lemon Head Crab

One of my favorite candies!!

Half Bushel

Needed more shells so I had to get a half bushel!!

Cow Crab

Cow Crab (aka Chic-Fil-A)

Hurricane Irene Crab

Inspired by the landfall of Irene

Orioles Crab

My Favorite thus far

Designed by my brother Stephyn, drawn and painted by Tom

Preparing the shells

Naty Boh Crab

It's a Baltimore thing!!!



Hershey Kiss Crab

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead Crab

Wizard of Oz

Jersey Shore Italian Crab

Old Bay Crab

This is the crab shell that started it all, after thinking of things to paint, I saw an Old Bay Can on my kitchen stove

World Crab

I Love Lucy Crab

This crab shell was a special request from one of my coworkers

Sponge Bob Crab

Everyone loves Sponge Bob!!!

Maryland Bay Plate Crab

Original design by Tom

History of CraftyCrab

The History of CraftyCrab all started back in July of 2011, I was looking to make my sister, Melyny, the perfect birthday gift. My family was born and raised in Baltimore so we all have a love for Maryland crabs with lots of Old Bay. Melyny especially loved crabs so I thought what better way to make a gift for her by using a real Maryland crab shell!! (Earlier in the year I had made my brother, Joey, a wooden display case for some replica civil war guns I had bought him and a piece of slate from Harper's Ferry, WV with the Talcum powder ad that I painted on it .)  Every time I have eaten crabs I always thought about the possibilities of painting on the shells. I decided to get a half bushel from May's Crabs one day in July, ate the crabs, threw out the shells that night and then something told me to get them back out and start cleaning them somehow. Well, after cleaning up the shells, preparing them, and finally painting them, this is what I have came up with!!
Hope you enjoy what you see!!
Tom