We printed off pictures from our fun at the beach to place in the completed frames. Wouldn’t these would be wonderful gift or keepsake to make after returning home from a beach wedding/honeymoon vacation? Just collect shells and a small bag of sand from the beach to take back in your luggage. These are very inexpensive to make and an easy craft that even small children can take part in. Of course know the local laws, most beaches have signs posted on their beach rules. Most beaches you may collect non-living shells from the beach only. As well, know your rules for taking sand and shells back into your own country if on vacation. (See tip on bottom) Materials needed:
10 Best Beach Crafts
Do you love the beach so much that you wish you could live there year-round? Are you longing to curl your toes in warm sand and to feel the salty ocean breeze caress your skin?
Every summer, millions of Americans head to the beach to relax in the sun and cool down in the shimmering surf. If you hold the beach in your heart, we’ll help you bring sand and sea into your home with fun and easy beach crafts. We promise — they aren’t too messy!
We chose the following crafts to do at the beach because they take little time, do not require too many supplies and many can be enjoyed with the kids. So, get out your craft supplies and get ready to celebrate sunshine, sand and briny ocean air.
- 1. Gone Swimming Beach Plaque
- 2. Seashell Candles
- 3. Easy Shell Hairpins
- 4. Sea in a Bottle
- 5. Medicine Cup Jellyfish
- 6. Clamshell Critters
- 7. Sand Clay
- 8. Seashell Soap Dish
- 9. Seashell Night-Light
- 10. Ship’s Porthole
- Visit Ocean City Today
Gone Swimming Beach Plaque
Beach-themed wall art is easy to make and looks great in nautical bathrooms or family rooms. This beachy plaque from Crafts by Amanda conjures playful images of running through sand and into the water. Also, you can have fun collecting seashells to add to the plaque, preserving beach-day memories. Here are the supplies you’ll need:
- Hanging plaque
- Acrylic paint in tan and antique white
- An assortment of seashells and starfish
- One large starfish
- Black craft marker
- Sand
- Flat paintbrush
- Scruffy paintbrush
- Hot glue gun
- White craft glue
- Water
- Matte acrylic sealer spray
Directions:
- Paint the plaque antique white.
- Apply two coats and allow it to dry.
- Glue the large starfish on the left side of the plaque with the hot glue gun.
- Glue the smaller starfish and seashells around the bottom and right side of the plaque.
- In the center of the plaque, use the black marker to write “gone swimming” in your favorite playful script.
- Mix a nickel-sized amount of white craft glue with water to thin it out, and paint the mixture on the plaque where you want to place sand.
- Pour sand over the glue and let it sit for a moment, then shake off excess.
- Dip the scruffy paintbrush in tan paint and dab it on a paper towel — brush should be almost dry.
- Dab tan paint around the words and edges of the sand.
- Spray acrylic sealer over the entire surface and allow it to dry completely.
Hang your sea-inspired plaque on the bathroom door or near the shower to remind you of your favorite swimming spot any day of the year.
Seashell Candles
If you and the kids love to collect seashells, you probably have piles of them stashed around the house. You can put your shell collection to use and make easy, elegant seashell candles that look beautiful on tabletops or scattered around other coastal decorations.
These tiny candles create an instant sense of calm as they softly glow from their shells. They also make lovely party favors for summertime festivities. Here’s what you’ll need to make candles in seashells, according to Martha Stewart:
- Seashells
- Bleach
- Water
- Wax
- Double boiler
- Wicks with holders
Here is what you will do:
- Clean the seashells in a weak bleach and water solution.
- Melt the wax in a double boiler.
- Pour the melted wax into each seashell until they are almost full.
- Carefully place wicks with holders into the bottom of the shells.
- If the wicks do not stand upright, trim them.
- Allow the wax to cool and completely harden, about 30 minutes.
You might consider adding a drop of essential oil to the melted wax in a scent that reminds you of the ocean. When your candles are ready, set the patio table with a pretty blue tablecloth and your new shell candles. Warm up the grill and prepare to have a twinkling beachside barbecue, even if you’re miles away from the shore.
Sunny Day at the Beach
A stunning beach scene, captured in vibrant detail and vivid colors.
“/imagine prompt: beach, with a crystal-clear ocean stretching out towards the horizon, surrounded by lush, tropical trees and a white sandy beach dotted with sun loungers and umbrellas, a carefree atmosphere with lively beach-goers enjoying the warm sun and the sound of waves crashing in the background, photography, with a Nikon D850 DSLR camera set on landscape mode with a 70-200mm lens and tripod, –ar 16:9 –v 4”
Serene Beach Scene
A peaceful beach scene with a soft golden-hour light filtering through the clouds, painting a serene picture of the idyllic surroundings.
“/imagine prompt: beach, with a calm, serene ocean and a sky painted in shades of orange, pink and blue as the sun sets behind the distant mountains, surrounded by swaying palm trees and a quiet atmosphere, painting, with oil paint on canvas, –ar 16:9 –v 4”
Illustrated Beach Adventure
An illustrated depiction of a beach adventure, showing a group of friends exploring the surroundings and having fun in the sun.
“/imagine prompt: beach, with a group of friends playing beach games and exploring the surroundings, surrounded by clear blue skies, sparkling water and lush vegetation, digital illustration, with Adobe Illustrator, –ar 16:9 –v 4”
The Handy Homemaker
During a recent visit to Florida with our God-daughter Kaylee, we managed many visits to the beach were we built sand sculptures, scavenged for seashells, picnicked while listening to the waves, and of course, frolicking in the ocean (fully dressed on one occasion). After our collection of shells starting piling up, I came up with this picture frame craft for us to do. These are similar to the ones you sometimes see in beach destination gift shops. I’m not necessarily a big fan of those frames, however when using sea shells, and sand that we collected from the beach, this DIY captures the memories we created on our special visit.
We printed off pictures from our fun at the beach to place in the completed frames. Wouldn’t these would be wonderful gift or keepsake to make after returning home from a beach wedding/honeymoon vacation? Just collect shells and a small bag of sand from the beach to take back in your luggage. These are very inexpensive to make and an easy craft that even small children can take part in. Of course know the local laws, most beaches have signs posted on their beach rules. Most beaches you may collect non-living shells from the beach only. As well, know your rules for taking sand and shells back into your own country if on vacation. (See tip on bottom) Materials needed:
- Seashells
- Dried sand collected from the beach
- Picture frame of your choosing
- Modge Podge – I haven’t used white craft glue but I am sure it would work as well. Drying time and coverage may vary
- Small 1″ paint brush
- Mesh sieve (Sifter) to sift out large particles from the sand
- Craft paper or cardboard to protect the surface you are working on.
- Glue gun and glue sticks – I recommend a low temperature glue gun if you have little ones helping*
- *A small bowl of ice water – If you get hot glue on a finger dip immediately in ice water to prevent burning
On a protected surface (we used large craft paper to protect the table) Remove the frame back and glass and set aside. 
Have all the materials ready. Make sure to remove any residue from stickers etc on the frame by washing with soapy water and let dry. I like to pour the Modge Podge in a small dish to prevent sand from getting in the jar.
Start brushing the Modge Podge all over the frame until the front is completely covered. Don’t be light on the glue, but try not to get drips.
Don’t forget to paint the sides with glue. 
You are now ready to sand. 
Now while the glue is still wet, place some sand in the mesh sieve and start shaking side to side over the frame until the glue is covered in sand.
It will look thicker than it will finish once the glue dries. This is what you want. Don’t worry 
Don’t forget to gently tilt and sand the outer and inner edges. 
It helps if you have an extra pair of hands.
Let dry for 30 minutes before touching.
Gently pick up and tap the excess sand away. Don’t panic if you can still see you frame through the sand. It will need 2 coats of Modge podge and sand to cover completely.
Once all the excess sand is removed you are ready for the second coat. If the glue is a little tacky, let it dry for 10 minutes longer with the excess sand removed. 
Brush on a second layer of Modge podge. 
Remember the edges.
You can see that the glue adheres and covers better to the frame after the first coat of sand and glue have dried. Once completely covered in glue, repeat the step of covering the glue with a layer of sand. 
Set aside and let dry completely before removing excess sand. We decided that coats gave us the coverage we wanted. However depending on the sand and frame color to start you may need a third coat of glue and sand.
Close up view of the dried frame with 2 coats of glue and sand.
Now you are ready for adding the shells you have collected. Plug in the glue gun to heat up.
While the glue is heating up, I like to lay the shells out and decide on a pattern before I start glueing them on.
Even though we were using a low temperature glue gun, I placed a small bowl of ice water on the table to dip a finger or thumb in if glue lands on more than the shell. Add a ring of hot glue on the part of the shell you want to adhere to the frame. 
Hold in place until the glue cools and sets.
Keep adding shells until you get the look you want. 
Overlap shells and glue in place for a dimensional look. 
Give the frame a few minutes for all the glue to harden.
Step for adults: Use a craft knife (or by all means a steak knife as seen here) to gently scrape and remove any excess glue and sand that may have wandered to the back of the frame where the glass needs to lay. 
Add the glass and your favorite beach picture and you are finished. I love this picture of my cousin Sara and her daughter Kaylee on their first visit to Naples Pier Beach, and the day we ended up swimming fully dressed and then drove home soaking wet. What a great memory!!During another day I took this shot of them enjoying the waves together. 
My frame was from shells collected on the morning of New Year’s Day 2015 with my beautiful children. 
Love the look of this frame on my side table with these white knobby (thorny) starfish that I purchased at a local shell shop (Blue Mussel)
Enjoying a day the beach with our sweet Kate.
No bathing suit.. No problem.. You only live once.. Play in the waves like no one is watching..
