Summer beach trips always lead to the same delightful treasure hunt: collecting seashells! But what to do with all those beautiful shells once you’re back home?
Transform your beach souvenirs into charming keepsakes with these 8 simple and creative DIY seashell craft ideas that are perfect for kids of all ages.
From glittering seashell photo frames to adorable animals and magical mermaid crowns, these projects turn ordinary shells into extraordinary art. Each craft uses simple materials you likely already have around the house, making them perfect for summer afternoon activities when the kids need something engaging to do.
Grab your seashell collection, gather some basic craft supplies, and dive into these fun, ocean-inspired projects that celebrate summer’s seaside adventures!
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1. DIY Seashell People
These whimsical seashell mermaids transform beach treasures into magical puppet friends! With colorful craft stick bodies, yarn hair, and glittery seashell skirts, these charming characters inspire ocean-themed storytelling and keep beach memories alive long after summer ends.
2. DIY Seashell & Air Dry Clay Snail
These colorful seashell snails combine painted shells with modeling clay to create adorable garden creatures! Set against a simple landscape backdrop, these whimsical creatures allow children to transform beach treasures into playful animals that crawl right into everyone’s hearts.
3. DIY Shell Creatures
Turn seashells into an underwater menagerie with these delightful sea creatures! Painted shells combined with simple craft foam pieces create colorful crabs, turtles, and fish that bring ocean adventures to life – perfect for displaying in a bathroom or children’s bedroom after your beach vacation.
4. DIY Shell Flowers
These elegant painted shell flowers transform ordinary seashells into a stunning vertical display that catches the eye! With a beautiful gradient of ocean blues and greens, this sophisticated craft helps older children create a lasting keepsake that brings coastal beauty to any room in the home.
5. DIY Glittery Jellyfish Seashells
Turn everyday materials into magical underwater creatures with these sparkly jellyfish. With shimmery blue paint, googly eyes, and ribbon tentacles, they’re perfect for ocean-themed play—and they’re so much more lovable than the stinging kind.
6. Colorful Seashells Keychains
Transform beach day treasures into everyday accessories with these beautiful shell keyrings. String colorful beads alongside your favorite shells for personalized mementos that keep summer memories jingling in your pocket all year long.
7. Blue Seashell Photo Frame
Create a stunning coastal-inspired frame using shells collected from your summer adventures. With a palette of aqua and turquoise shells (perhaps with a touch of glitter), this craft transforms holiday souvenirs into a beautiful display for your favorite beach day snapshot.
8. DIY Seashell Peacock Craft
Transform an ordinary seashell into an extraordinary bird with this clever craft combo. Using bright playdough for the peacock’s body and beak, and a painted shell for its magnificent tail, this project brings together natural beach treasures and moldable art.
So there you have it—8 delightful DIY seashell craft ideas for kids that turn ordinary beach treasures into extraordinary creations. These projects not only keep little ones entertained, but they also create meaningful keepsakes that capture holiday memories in tactile form.