If you love collecting seashells, these seashell crafts are a great way to use them! 30+ ideas for decor, perfect for both kids and adults.
Are you a sun lover? Is summer your favorite season? If so, I’ve heard you loud and clear. You want me to share more themed craft ideas. And I’m happy to say, these seashell crafts are going to be right up your alley!
I live in the northwest now, having moved from Georgia to Washington state about four years ago (I was born in WA).
When I was in Georgia, nautical was much more of a “thing.” With Florida and several other beach states so close by, and even part of Georgia being on the ocean . . . summer crafts are a big deal there.
While I’m more of a cold weather baby myself, there is something magical about seashells. First of all, it doesn’t matter what coast you live on – you can dig them up.
Secondly it was so fun to collect them as a kid! Digging through the sand just to see what you could find, and would it be intact? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Finding a sand dollar all in one piece was a huge win.
With summer right around the corner, I’m please to share with you this collection of seashell crafts!
We definitely did crafts with our seashells growing up. We painted them, glittered them, added them to frames. If you like nautical and seaside themed decor, these are perfect.
These aren’t really kids’ crafts, but honestly most of the projects are so easy that even a kid could complete them!
You might be wondering what the best glue is to use with seashells. There are certain things you can do with Mod Podge and seashells; add glitter, for instance.
But if you’re talking about gluing seashells to a frame (for example), I recommend Aleene’s craft glue or E-6000. I’d use craft glue on wood and E-6000 on glass.
PS – if you don’t live near a beach, you can get shells on Amazon or at the craft store. They’re pretty easy to find.
Are you ready to dive into the seashell crafts? There are over 30 ideas below! Keep reading, and let me know which are your favorites in the comments! What seashell crafts do you love to do that aren’t on this list? Just comment on the post!
Coastal Seashell Wreath
Wreaths are everywhere during the holiday season, and today I want to share with you a unique variation that’s perfect for beach lovers! All you need are a few basic supplies and you’ll be making this seashell wreath in no time.
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Decorative Seashell Bottles
Courtney made these beautiful bottles for her nautical themed china cabinet! I love the addition of the larger shells on top of the corks.
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Beachcomber Seashell Candleholder
Kitty and Jennifer love beachcombing, so they decided to create a little seaside style with a seashell candleholder. Can’t make it to the beach? They got shells at the craft store and added pearls and iridescent glitter for an elegant finish!
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Seashell Wreath
Enjoy a little bit of the summer anytime of year by making a beautiful coastal seashell wreath. I love the "sun, sand & sea" quote hanging in the center!
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Seashell Ornaments
Learn how to make seashell Christmas ornaments – with glitter! These are so easy.
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DIY Mermaid Crown with Seashells
If you have dreams of being a mer-princess, this beautiful mermaid crown is for you! Every mermaid princess needs a spectacular DIY crown to top their long flowing hair. This headpiece isn't hard to make and will be sure to impress whether you are partying at a festival or trick or treating for Halloween.
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Seashell Wine Charms
Dress up your guests’ wine glasses for the summer! Seashell wine charms take minutes to make, but they are sure to be a conversation starter at your beach party or backyard barbecue.
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Souvenir Seashell Paper Clips
These nautical-inspired seashell paper clips are adorable. Plus they have a great purpose. I love things that are cute and have a purpose. It makes them that much more special.
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Make a Seashell Vase
Looking for a fun way to update your home decor for summer? Marie loves incorporating seashells into her home for those warm summer months, and will show you how easy this DIY shell vase is to put together.
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Nautical Shadowboxes
Do you love the beach? Display your vacation treasures, including your shells, all year long with this simple DIY nautical decor shadowbox.
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DIY Seashell Candles
Turning individual seashells into candles is just about the cutest thing I've ever seen! These would be perfect for table decor on a summer party night.
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Pallet and Starfish Wall Art
Courtney wanted to create a unique piece of wall art, so used pallets and seashells to achieve the beachy look on a budget! This is easy and very inexpensive to make.
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DIY Underwater Seashell Candles
Add a lovely beach-inspired touch to your home decor turning your ocean vacation finds into gorgeous DIY underwater seashell candles.
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Thrifty Seashell Hurricanes
This bathroom re-do looks awesome, and I love the addition of these pretty seashell hurricanes! If you live near the beach, you already have all the items you need at your disposal.
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Beachy Wind Chime
Learn how to make a seashell and sea glass wind chime with simple materials in an afternoon. This DIY wind chime not only makes a relaxing bit of music when the wind blows but it looks beautiful too.
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Beach Letter Summer Decor
Make a fun project for summer! These beach letters would look perfect on your mantel – and are very easy to assemble with Mod Podge.
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Cardboard Sandcastle
Learn how to make a cardboard sandcastle out of recycled boxes! This is such a great tutorial for a party or anywhere besides the beach you need a castle.
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How to Make Shell Wall Art
Make beautiful wall art for your home with shells from your beach vacation! This shell wall art is a fun and easy craft for any age.
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Seashell Mirror
Learn how to make a shell wall mirror using your favorite treasures from the sea! Use any mirror, even one from this thrift store. This can be a very budget friendly project.
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Seashell Coasters Made With Resin
If you've never used resin before, this is such a cool craft idea! Perfect for summer, these seashell coasters let your treasures shine through.
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Seashell Soap Dish
Even when vacation's over, these pretty soap dishes will give your bathroom a seaside feel. Perfect for nautical themed decor or just to add a unique touch to the loo.
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Seashell Jewelry
With this craft, your DIY seashell charms will stand the test of time. To make a pendant, choose a good-sized shell like a mussel or a string of smaller shells. This craft uses a pastel bead cord colors for a subtle look, and brighter hues for contrast.
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Coastal Branch Tree
There are some beautiful Christmas themed branch and twig trees, driftwood trees and trees made from sticks. I've created a coastal branch tree I love!
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DIY Seashell Frame Art
Want to celebrate beach life? This cute frame with a mirror in the middle will look perfect with your nautical decor.
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Seashell Stamped Pillow
This was done using real seashells as stamps! I never would've thought about doing something so genius, but the finished pillow shows you how cool it looks.
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Seashell Keychains
Kids headed back to school can savor a piece of summer by latching one of these DIY seashell keychains onto their backpacks! You'll combine real seashells with nautical beads in this cute project.
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Shell Treasure Box
Create a mosaic of small pieces of shells for this delicate treasure box memento you can keep or give as a gift. Perfect for using up those broken shells!
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Seashell Lights
A string of beach treasures casts a dreamy glow on a patio or porch. Decorate your inland or beachside home with a string of small white lights with clean, dry shells to give your space an instant tropical upgrade!
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Ocean Diorama
Conceiving a nautical diorama is an adventure in scale and spatial relationships. Choose a container, then put yourself in the shoes of one of its future inhabitants!
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Seashell Night Light
Trade an ordinary plastic night-light for a delicate beach keepsake. Be very gentle when working with your shell, and maybe have a few on hand in case you break one!
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Sea Shell Mosaics
Brenda used pie tins to make classic plaster-of-Paris mosaics, but added a special summer twist! You'll arrange colorful shells and sea glass to create a beachy scene.
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Nautical Escort Cards
Make an impression at any wedding or bridal event with these pretty seashell escort cards (that can also be used for place cards!). I love the use of tiny shells.
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Coastal Pumpkin
Do you love the coastal look and wish it wouldn't end when summer is over? Bring your favorite decorating style into fall with this unique nautical pumpkin.
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Robin Yoder
Saturday 21st of August 2021
Ohh my goodness, there are SO MANY beach-themed crafts that I want to do!! Thanks for sharing these, Amy!
Amy
Saturday 21st of August 2021
Thank you for reading Robin!
Rebecca Payne
Friday 14th of May 2021
I love all of these projects.
Tiffany
Thursday 6th of May 2021
Tiff here are some ideas for you. If I sent the seashell one. Lol