Creative Craft Ideas for Displaying Seashells from Beaches Around the World

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Last Updated on July 4, 2025

How to Display Seashells??

Creative Seashell Craft Ideas to display your shells!

Collecting seashells is a popular hobby for many tourists. However, there is always the nagging question at home: What do we do with all these seashell souvenirs that we have collected? I had that same question when I got home from my Florida beach trip. I had a small pile of shells that I didn’t know what to do with.

The solution! Take note of these ideas for displaying seashells and seashell project ideas!

Make some seashell souvenir crafts to decorate the house in a coastal theme!!

Do not let your seashell souvenirs sit around any longer and collect more dust. Pick your favorite seashell craft and put them into a beautiful seashell display, decorating your home with seashells that you will treasure forever for the memories of fun beach vacations.

Listed below are the top ideas for shells from the beach

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Beaches around the world are known for unique souvenirs.

There are black beaches along Ring Road in Iceland, hot sandy beaches along the east coast of the US, beautiful shell-filled beaches on Marco Island in Florida, other stunning beaches all around Florida as well as many other BEACHES AROUND THE WORLD that offer views of seashells as beach souvenirs. Preserve the memories of your favorite beach by creating a beautiful seashell craft display with one of these ideas for displaying seashells.

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Great beaches to visit in my hometown!

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However, be a respectful tourist.

Collecting seashells has been shown to be harmful to the environment by a recent study. Practice conservation and only use shells that have already been taken from the seashore. In this way, tourists will not continue to do damage that cannot be undone.

Creative Seashell Crafts to Display Seashell Souvenirs from the Seashore!

Say that heading 3 times fast!

This awesome list of ideas for displaying seashells contains seashell crafts for all ages and all crafting abilities. There are many ideas that can be used for seashell arts and crafts for preschoolers and toddlers, as well as us adult folks. The seashell crafts, only require minimal supplies, most require craft glue, so they will be cheap and quick.

Crafty Seashell Decoration Ideas

Seashell Craft Photo Frame

Preserve your beach memories with a photo surrounded by your seashell souvenirs. The frame can be a cheap one from the dollar store as long as it is flat around the edges. Glue your large shells in a pattern around the edge and fill in the gaps and holes with smaller shells or broken pieces. Optionally you can label your frame on the glass with the beach that the shells and memories came from.

Get a blank frame that is ready to decorate with your shells

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Google-eye Shell Magnet

ok, I don’t know what this goofy little seashell creature is, but he is cute with his sparkles and google eyes! He started as a plain boring white flat shell. I glued a magnet on the back of him, so he could stare at me from his esteemed place of residence on the refrigerator. He could probably use a mouth, but I think I will leave that to those who are more crafty than I am —Please send me photos of your Google Eyed Creatures or any of your other craft ideas with seashells!!

Get your seashell craft supplies for this seashell craft project

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Seashell Basket

by Kathy Owen from Petticoat Junktion

I have several ideas for displaying seashells collected on our beach vacations.  One of my favorite DIY ideas with seashells is this basket adorned with seashells and sisal rope. I used hot glue to adhere the seashells and rope to the top edge of the basket. The basket makes the perfect plant container, paintbrush catchall or ……maybe a basket to display seashells!

My family’s favorite beaches are along the Florida Panhandle. The sand is really white and fine and the water is clear blue. Seashells are easy to spot in the rolling tides. They are sometimes hard to catch and small handheld nets are perfect for scooping up the shells.

Moss Ball Aquarium

Inspired by Arctida

This seashell souvenir display uses the cutest little plants that look so adorable. The plants are called Marimo moss balls, although technically they are not moss but algae. They are easy to care for, so even people who typically KILL plants, like me, should be able to keep it alive. If you don’t have an aquarium, this is an excellent ocean-loving alternative.

This craft display is easy to make, so take a peek at the sea shell DIY Ideas on how to make your own pretty mini aquarium or water terrarium. Order your Marimo moss ball kit and glass fish bowl now so that you can display your collected beach treasures. Don’t forget the live plant food kit to keep your moss ball alive!

Get your seashell craft supplies for this aquarium shell project

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Shell Decorated Night Light

Inspired by Martha Stewart

This one is super easy and involves one step: Gluing! The key to this seashell craft is to pick a seashell out of your collection with a flat part on its shell that will attach nicely to the flat front of the pre-purchased nightlight base. Scallop shells, sea biscuits, clamshells, and sand dollars work nicely for displaying seashells on this nightlight base.

Wine Bottle or Mason Jar Shell Lamp

Inspired by Domestically Speaking

For this seashell souvenir display, you can go hard-core, drill a hole in a mason jar, and then worry about the lighting hook-up. OR for an easy method to make this seashell craft, you can simply use a regular mason jar with a LAMP-MAKING KIT that does all the hard work for you!

Easy-peasy, just fill your jar with your seashell and beach treasure, attach the pre-wired lid, plug it in and you have an instant beautifully lit display of your souvenirs.

Make a WINE BOTTLE lamp or a regular jar lamp with these kits!

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Coastal Theme Bottles

Inspired by Fun Money Mom

With a little hot glue, this gorgeous coastal-themed bottle can be used as a vase, candle holder, or water pitcher at your dining room table. All you need is a little bit of rope and a pretty bottle to decorate and you’ve got yourself a nice centerpiece display for your seashells. Add some sparkle lights or a seashell bottle stopper for extra glamour to your home with these sea shell decoration ideas!

Get your seashell craft supplies for this decorative shell project

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Seashell Serving Tray

Inspired by Sustain my Craft Habit

This is one of the best sea shell craft ideas and one of the most creative ways to display seashells.

You must add this beautiful seashell serving tray to your coastal decor. It is an easy seashell craft to make at home. The most difficult part is working with the resin and Country Hill Cottage provides a handy tutorial to help you through the whole project. The sand is mixed with the Modge Podge until it dries. The shells are arranged on the next layer. Finally, the whole thing is topped off with resin to create a nice underwater effect.

It does take a while for this project because you first need to wait for the sand to fully dry, and then you will need to wait for the resin to dry. The wait is worth it though as this seashell craft project turns into an amazing addition to your nautical-themed seashell decorations.

Get your seashell craft supplies for this coastal shell project

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Seashell Windchimes

Inspired by Sustain my Craft Habit

Are you looking for a way to bring in some coastal vibes to your home decor? If so, this is one of the best DIY crafts with seashells. The wind chimes are just what the seaside ordered and should be on your list of crafty sea shell ideas!

Check out the YouTube Seashell craft from Sustain My Craft Habit for instructions on how to make your own DIY seashell wind chime or hanging wall art.

Seashell Artwork Ideas

Inspired by Feeling Nifty

This DIY seashell art piece is a beautiful addition to any home beach decor and can be made in under an hour so it is one of the super-easy seashell decor ideas. Use seashells collected from the beach for a cheap and creative way to add some beach-inspired decor to your home. Shape your artwork into a Heart to express your love of all things beach-related! This is one of the top seashell art ideas.

Find the perfect SHADOW BOX FRAME

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Seashell Mosaic Stepping Stone

Inspired by Alpha Mom

This project is one of the best ideas for displaying seashell souvenirs for years and years without damage! The craft is easy to do for all ages but takes some prep work from the adults in mixing plaster-of-paris. The mix is prepared in a pie tin so that you can arrange your beach scene full of shells, souvenirs, and fake bubbles (pearls and cheap marbles). When it dries, it becomes your seashell art masterpiece.

Get your sea shell craft supplies for this easy kid-friendy shell art project

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Seashell Drink Coasters

Inspired by Running with the Sisters

These seashell coasters are one of the adult-only craft ideas with shells since it is made with resin. Running with Sisters provides an excellent video if you need help working with resin. The coasters are one of the best craft ideas with seashells and a great way to preserve your beach memories each time you place your drink down on your coffee table!

Get your seashell craft supplies for this DIY seashell craft

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Beach in an Ornament

Inspired by My Pinterventures

Reminisce about your beach vacation during the holidays as you decorate your tree with these glass ornaments filled with your seashell souvenirs. The plain glass or plastic ornaments can be decorated and covered with crafter’s twine and filled with a pinch of sand, glitter, and small shells. This is a great idea for displaying shells during the happy holidays!

Get your seashell craft supplies for these holiday seashell ideas

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Aromatic Seashell Candles

Inspired by One Little Project

This is one of the easier DIY ideas with seashells. Grab some broken crayons and a votive candle and you are ready to turn your shell souvenirs into a keepsake seashell candle. Use a Beachy Essential Oil Recipe and your homemade candle shell will fill the room with an ocean fragrance.

Get a premium selection of essential oils to mix into your candle and MELTABLE crayons without the wrapper!

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DIY Seashell Jewelry Holder

Inspired by Craft Klatch

This is one of the easiest beach shell craft ideas –and it doesn’t take a lot of shells or supplies. If you have a couple of perfect shells for your jewelry holder, then this is one of the best ideas to display your seashells.

Craft Klatch has a handy video to follow along. Simply paint your large shells and then hot glue them to your pedestal of choice. You can use a candlestick holder or any other creative idea that the shell can rest on.

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Choose the perfect base for your DIY Seashell Craft Idea

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Don’t forget the other extras for this cute seashell project idea!

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What can you make with seashells? ANIMAL Seashell Art Ideas!

Seashell Turtle Craft

Inspired by Fun Money Mom

This cute little green turtle is perched on a mini-canvas. If you have a few small shells in your souvenir stash, this guy might just be perfect for your next seashell craft project.

Order a 2×2 canvas or a 3×3 canvas for this easy kids’ shell craft

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There are other animals that you can also create with your extra shells. Try your hand at building an elephant from scratch like this one!

Seashell Fish Craft

Inspired by Crafts By Amanda

Kids will love making this school of seashell fish! They will look great in a shadowbox frame on your child’s bedroom wall –or in the next craft listed below!! To make these fish, you’ll need seashells in assorted sizes; big ones for the bodies and smaller ones for the fins. You’ll also need googly eyes so that they can keep their eye on you when you pass by!

Don’t forget all your seashell craft supplies

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Paper Plate Ocean Seashell Craft

Inspired by Fun Money Mom

Now that we have learned how to make shell fish, these creatures need a habitat to swim around in. Try this easy-to-make paper plate ocean using tissue paper and a good quality paper plate. The coral made out of foam sponges is a really cute touch! This project is an easy kid-friendly seashell art craft.

Sea in a Bottle Baby Playtoy

Inspired by Childhood 101

This one is geared for those little babies… but I don’t know, I might love this on my desk for stressful moments so that I can flip the bottle and watch the sea rock back and forth. Seems like an awesome stress-buster to me! The needed requirements are really simple. Grab an old bottle and some food coloring and then add your ocean souvenirs. Add some glitter for sparkle to enhance the mesmerizing ocean view and you’ve got it done!

DECORATE YOUR HOME WITH SHELLS: Seashell Art Ideas

Use these wonderful ideas for seashells to make them fancy! You can make them colorful, glittery, sparkly, patterned… and all sorts of beautiful and creative seashell decoration ideas to spruce them up to match the other sea shell decorations in your home.

Mermaid Seashells

Inspired by WooJr

The ombre effect on these shells makes them as pretty as a mermaid. Use one of these ombre shell craft ideas to add the perfect sparkly touch!

Tie Dye Shells

Inspired by East TN Family Fun

Even more spectacular than the ombre effect is the tie-dye colors that result from the blending of washable paint. This is a fantastic craft for kids since they can go wild with paint (that will wash off of faces, hands, table, the family pet….) and then use water to tie-dye them! Seal them with a clear coat so that they last through the downpour when your kids take them to the neighbor’s house to show off these sea shell art projects!

Sparkly Gilded Shells

Inspired by Atta Girls Says

Darlings, these gilded shells are absolutely glamorous! You can create gold, brass, copper, or silver seashells with liquid gilding that you just brush on your shells. There is also a method using gold leaflet for the more advanced crafters among us who want a better gold covering on textured shells. These are both wonderful ideas for displaying seashells that will have the guests in your home speechless!

Get all the supplies to make your golden or brass seashells decorations

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Cute & Easy Sharpie Shells

Inspired by Creative in Chicago

Simple project for simple shells. If you have a batch of plain white smooth shells, you can use simple patterns with a Sharpie to liven them up. Use ultra-fine point Sharpies for intricate designs and pick one color and pattern per shell. Arrange them into a bowl for a nice display centerpiece.

Which seashell craft was your favorite? Have you tried one? Post your seashell craft pics in the comments so that we can see your creations!!

Need some more seashell craft ideas? Try these for some colorful ideas in print. Or get one as a gift for your crafty friend to help give her some ideas for displaying seashells! Find some fun shell supplies!

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