20 Seashell Crafts For Kids Using Real Shells

Last Updated on May 8, 2026 by Masha Eretnova

What do you do with all the shells you bring home from the beach? If yours are sitting in a jar or a bag somewhere waiting for a purpose, this seashell crafts roundup is for you.

Every project here uses real shells, no foam substitutes or printed paper versions, so the results have actual texture and weight to them.

This list covers a wide range of difficulty and purpose, from quick kids’ crafts like turtle figures and shell paperclips to more involved home decor projects like resin coasters and a shell-covered mirror.

Sea Shell Turtle Craft for Kids

This seashell turtle craft turns real beach shells into little turtle figures by gluing shells together for the body and feet, then adding googly eyes, pom poms, and color. A good project to do right after a beach trip when the kids still have a pocketful of shells.

Seashell Paperclips

I would make these myself, these look so classy and elegant! This seashell paperclip craft is a quick project to use small shells and standard metal paperclips to create a beachy desk accessory or bookmark. Takes literally minutes!

DIY Seashell Mirror

GORGEOUS mirror you can recreate at home. This seashell mirror is a home decor project for teens and adults to create a coastal statement piece. You need a mirror with a wide frame, an assortment of shells, and a hot glue gun. And, well, quite some patience!

Apothecary Jars with Seashells

Apothecary jars make a very elegant display and it is is a no-glue project that doesn’t really require any skills. You need apothecary or display jars with lids, an assortment of real shells, and sand.

Beach Wine Glass Lamp with Shells

This wine glass lamp idea is a beach craft where you paint a wine glass in sea glass green, attach it to a wood base, hot glue real shells and starfish to the base of the glass, and top it with a mini lampshade made from scrapbooking paper using a free printable template. A flameless tea light inside provides the glow.

Coastal Seashell and Starfish Burlap Frame Decor

This coastal decor project uses two pre-made burlap panel frames that are dry brushed in spa blue acrylic paint, lightly sanded for a weathered look, and then decorated with real shells and starfish hot glued onto the burlap. The tutorial comes together in about 15 minutes.

Hemp Cord Wrapped Frame with Seashells

This craft is a photo frame project where a wooden frame is painted spa blue, wrapped with colorful variegated hemp cord in bands at the top and bottom, then finished with real shells. Very simple, beach-themed home decor.

DIY Seashell Wind Chimes

This cute and simple seashell wind chime craft strings painted real shells onto lengths of twine hung from a piece of driftwood or a dowel rod to create a hanging coastal decoration.

You need real shells with natural holes (or a drill to make holes), twine, paint, a driftwood stick or dowel, and hot glue to keep the shells from sliding. Kids can also paint the shells before assembling, which makes a good two-session project.

Tie Dye Seashells

How about a pop of color? These tie dye seashells make a fun afternoon activity with washable markers and real shells. The finished shells work as decor, math manipulatives, or game pieces, and a coat of Mod Podge or acrylic sealer keeps the colors from fading.

Sea Shell Puppets

Fantastic idea to let kids create and think outside the box! Kids can decide themsleves how to glue shells to make head and body of a character, then glue them in place and add googly eyes for a simple imaginative play toy.

Mini Glass Jar Sea Aquarium

This tutorial will show you how to build your very own glass jar aquarium filled with real shells, seaweed, sea glass, pebbles, and beads arranged and glued in place. Kids can help and also paint the seaweed, fish, and waves on the jar.

How to Decorate Pots with Seashells

This seashell pot project covers a plain garden planter pot in real shells using adhesive to create a textured, coastal-style planter. You need a terracotta or plain planter pot, an assortment of real shells, and strong craft adhesive or a hot glue gun. A good way to put irregular or broken shells!

DIY Coral and Shell Resin Bangles

This resin bangle project embeds real shells and coral pieces inside clear casting resin. Your teens, or yourself, can create wearable jewelry with actual beach finds suspended inside. The tutorial includes step-by-step photos and notes on working time before the resin sets.

DIY Sand Dollar Resin Coasters

Photo credit: The Soccer Mom Blog

A really useful project to take on! You can make coasters with shells and epozy resin that make a great gift or coffee table decor.

DIY Shell Bird Feeder

With your preschooler, you can spend an afternoong making this bird feeder out of a large clam or scallop shell and some yarn! Amazing idea to invite more birds to your porch.

Easy Salt Dough Shell Pendants

Mix up a simple salt dough, press in a shell, and bake — toddlers can do most of the hands-on steps and love the pressing part most. Thread th

Seashell and Bead Wind Chime

A lovely way to turn shells collected on vacation into something lasting: string them together with colorful beads on a stick or dowel to create a wind chime that

Beach Jar Summer Craft

This beach jar craft is a simple summer project where kids fill a jar with sand and shells, tuck in a cocktail umbrella, then cover the outside with stickers to personalize it. A great project to make at the beach or right after returning home from one.

Nail Polish Dipped Marbled Seashell Decor

This marbled seashell decor project uses the same nail polish water-dipping technique to coat real seashells in swirling, jewel-toned patterns that look like designer pieces. Best for older kids and adults: the shells make beautiful coastal home decor and take about ten minutes to make.

Beach Treasures Keepsake Jar

This beach treasures keepsake jar is a simple memory craft kids make by filling a jar with sand, layering in seashells and rocks. They can decorate it with jute and stickers. It is a sweet vacation souvenir or a place to finally store all these shell

ydrodipped Starfish Craft

This hydrodipped starfish craft will teach your older kids a cool water marbling technique where kids swirl nail polish on the surface of water and dip foam or craft starfish through the colors to create a stunning marbled pattern. You need dollar store starfish shapes, a few shades of nail polish, and a bowl of water — that’s it.