30+ Seashell Crafts for Home Decor, Gifts, and Keepsakes

If you love collecting seashells every summer, these seashell crafts are a great way to use them! 30+ ideas for decor, perfect for both kids and adults.

If you love collecting shells at the beach, these seashell crafts are such a fun way to actually use them instead of letting them sit in a jar!

There’s something about bringing home a handful of beach treasures – whether it’s from a trip to Florida, the local shoreline, or even a craft store – and turning them into something meaningful.

I grew up doing this kind of thing every summer. We’d come back from the ocean with pockets full of shells, convinced we had found the largest shells or the most unique shapes. Sometimes we had enough shells for a project . . . sometimes not. Either way, it was always so much fun.

That’s really what this list is about: simple, fun crafts that turn those little finds into something you’ll actually use or display. These ideas range in skill level, but most are beginner-friendly and use basic supplies like a hot glue gun, beads, or even a bit of clay.

Whether you want to make affordable DIY gifts, decorate your home, or hold onto vacation memories in a creative way, there’s something here for you. So grab those shells and let’s get rolling.

Tip: 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.

Creative Seashell Craft Ideas for All Skill Levels

1

Amy Latta

Coastal Seashell Wreath

Create a full, textured seashell wreath using a mix of shells in different sizes. This is a great way to use up larger shells and turn your collection into a statement piece for your door or wall.

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2

Courtney Sanchez

Decorative Seashell Bottles

Fill clear bottles with sand and shells, then finish with a few larger shells on top. It’s a simple but beautiful way to display beach memories in a china cabinet from your favorite ocean trips.

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3

runningwithsisters.com

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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4

Jewelry Holder

Line a scallop shell and seal it to create a small jewelry holder for rings or tiny items. It’s simple, pretty, and makes a great handmade gift.

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5

Amanda Formaro

Large 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! This version feels a bit more custom while still being easy to make.

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6

Seashell Ornaments

Decorate shells with paint or glitter and turn them into ornaments. These are quick to make and work well as affordable DIY gifts.

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7

Carissa Berg

Mermaid Crown

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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8

Ocean Resin Art

Learn how to make summer resin art for beginners! Even if you don’t have experience you can make this in a few easy steps.

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9

Amanda Formaro

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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10

Lauren Lanker

Souvenir 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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11

gluedtomycraftsblog.com

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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12

Angie Holden

Nautical Shadowboxes

Do you love the beach? Arrange your treasures inside a shadowbox to preserve vacation memories all year 'round. It’s a creative way to display pieces you don’t want to lose.

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13

Norma Giannoni

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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14

Courtney Sanchez

Seashell and Pallet 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. This works well if you like slightly larger projects with more texture.

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15

Allison Murrary

Underwater Seashell Candles

Add a lovely beach-inspired touch to your home decor turning your ocean vacation finds into gorgeous DIY underwater seashell candles. The finished result has depth and makes a great centerpiece.

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16

howtonestforless.com

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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17

Patti Estep

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. Hang it outside to enjoy a little piece of the beach at home.

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18

Beach Letter 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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19

Cardboard Sandcastle

Learn how to make a sandcastle out of recycled cardboard boxes! This is such a great tutorial for a party or anywhere besides the beach you need a castle.

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20

Amy Locurto

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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21

Lisa Scibilia

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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22

runningwithsisters.com

Resin Seashell Coasters

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. This is a great craft if you want something both decorative and functional.

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23

James Baigrie

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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24

Bryan Gardner

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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25

Amanda Formaro

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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26

artsychicksrule.com

Seashell Picture Frames

Want to celebrate beach life? Decorate a frame with shells to highlight a favorite photo. It’s a simple way to tie your decor to vacation memories.

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27

Kim Six

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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28

Manal Aman

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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29

Gentl and Hyers

Shell Treasure Box

Create a mosaic of small pieces of broken 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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30

marthastewart.com

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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31

marthastewart.com

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! This project leaves a lot of room for creativity.

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32

Pretty Planters

Cover a simple terracotta pot with layered shells to create a textured, coastal planter. Start with larger shells around the rim and fill in with smaller ones for a natural look.

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33

Wendell T. Webber

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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34

Brenda Ponnay

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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35

tikkido.com

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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36

mypinterventures.com

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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Did you enjoy this post? Please let me know in the comments! I’d also love for you to check out these other posts:

Beach Fairy Garden • Camping Crafts • End of Summer Crafts • Fairy Gardens • Garden Crafts • Outdoor Games • Summer Crafts for Kids