Seashell Project Ideas For House & Home

Whether you live near the ocean or not, seashell crafts are something everyone can enjoy. If shell hunting along a nearby beach isn’t an option, you should be able to pick up bags of them at the local craft shop, and if not, you’ll find them online. Here are over a dozen projects you can make with them, I’ll be adding to this list over time so if you’re always on the lookout for ways to craft with those pretties you’ve collected, you may want to bookmark this page for reference. Have fun!

Tip: To clean them for crafting, all you need to do is soak them in a bleach and water solution (50/50) until they’re descaled and clean, rinse and then allow to fully dry before crafting.

Simple Shadowboxes: Super simple project that requires a shadowbox frame and lots of seashells.

Wreath Tutorial: Made with a metal wreath form, decorative straw, glue, floral wire and lots of shells.

Pretty Container: Put shells, starfish, and other found items in a glass canister for a lovely display piece.

Seashell Topped Bottles: This Anthropologie-inspired craft is made with polymer clay, glue, a seashell and decorative bottle with cork stopper.

Picture Frame: Made by hot-gluing lots of shells to a flat surfaced picture frame and finished with a clear glaze.

Summer Centerpiece: Made with a thrifted silver tray, doily, glass candle holders, sand and seashells.

Dish: Made with two large shells, a hot glue gun, spray paint and paste wax. Simple project!

Framed Display: Cardboard from the frame is wrapped with burlap then shells are arranged and glued on top.

Knotted Necklace: Thin waxed linen cord is cleverly knotted with a colorful bunch of small shells.

Magnets: Shells are filled with glue then backed with a magnet.

Bookends: Made by filling large shells (such as conch, tun, or whelk) with plaster so they are heavy enough to provide support while adding a decorative element to any shelf.

Table Project: Learn how to cover a coffee table with shells in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Deco Spheres: Cover 3″ foam balls with acrylic paint and small shells to make these lovely decor items.

Wreath: Another crafty wreath, this one just needing a wreath form, hot glue gun, ribbon and lots of shells.

Decorative Lights: Easy project made by gluing shells to a string of miniature indoor/outdoor lights.

Make Candles: Simple craft pouring melted wax into cleaned shells and inserting a wick.

Candle Display: (slide #21) A large, shallow glass bowl is filled with sand, shells then votive candles are nestled inside.

Decorative: Learn how to spray paint items to use as decorative pieces or containers.

I found quite a few of these browsing through Completely Coastal (she has tonnes more beach inspired goodies listed).