We visit the beach at least once a year and one of S’s favorite things to do is to collect seashells. But what do you do with all those shells? We keep our collections in jars.
I keep most of the shells that S collects – I try to steer her towards whole shells verses pieces but that doesn’t always happen. When we return home from the beach we wash all the shells in soapy water and rinse them clean. Trying to remove all the sand and salt water from them. We lay the shells out on a towel in a single layer to dry.
When the shells are dry we place them into a clear glass jar. You will want to decide if you want your jars to have all the same color lid, all Mason jars, all metal lids, etc. For S, we have a complete mixture of colored lids, corks, different sizes and shapes of jars. I like the way it looks to have a mismatched collection on the top of a bookshelf in her room.
We have a different jar for each trip to the beach. For example, our weekend trip to Pensacola Beach has its own jar. But our cruise to the Caribbean has three jars one for each island we visited.
I always label each jar with the location and date of our collection. I choose not to have my label to be visible so I adhere it to the bottom of the jar.
Another great way to use seashells for a beach souvenir is to make a picture frame to hold a photo of your family at the beach.
What do you do with the shells that you collect from the beach?
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Love the picture frame! I used to collect seashells when I was a little girl. It was awesome! haha
Shells are so fun for kids to collect and keeps them busy on the beach 🙂
I collect seashells every time I visit the beach. I also keep them in mason jars. One year I found a pile of sand dollars and yes, I kept them, too. I’ve also filled a shadowbox with shells behind a small picture of a trip to the beach with my grands and gave it to them. They loved it. I also love the shell photo frame you shared.
I love the idea of putting shells in a shadowbox! I think I would die if we found a pile of sand dollars, we have a couple whole but most of them that we find are pieces.
We never seem to be able to hold onto the amounts of shells we take from the beach. Ensuring we come home and craft them into a keepsake would probably keep them from going into trash. I really like the picture frame idea.
Thank you Cia! The frame was easy to make!
The last time I went to the beach I was searching for shells in the tide and tripped over what I thought was a cement slab in the sand…when I dug it out of the sand and water it was a HUGE shell as big as my size 9 foot!! I still have it in my office at home 🙂
That’s so cool Ricci! The best we have found are a couple whole sand dollars 🙂
Living just a few minutes from the beach in FL means we have quite a collection as well! I love displaying them all around our home in apothecary jars!
That’s a great idea Michelle! I bet they are beautiful in the apothecary jars!
I love how you styled the jars! I don’t usually collect seashells because once they get home, they just sit in a bag somewhere (terrible). Not as crafty as you!
Thank you Tiffany! I love the reminder of our wonderful trips!
Love finding Sea Shells by the sea shore. 😉 Sanibel Island, FL is a great place to hunt for shell treasures. I added several jars full after an afternoon there a few months ago.
Sounds wonderful Lysha! I love the reminder of amazing trips!
Love the jar idea and the shell frame is so cute!
Thank you! Fun and inexpensive souvenirs – my favorite kinds!
What a perfect decorate touch! I recently collected a few shells when were in the Maldives. I have a few others from the beaches here. I’m going to make this a project. It’s going to add a nice touch to my desk.
Sounds wonderful Reginia! It will look perfect on your desk!
I love these ideas. I have baskets and buckets and boxes of shells from vacations through the years. I wasn’t entirely sure what I was going to do with them, but this gives me a starting point! (stopped by from Momma Told Me link party)
Thank you Leanne! Having too many shells is a great problem to have = lots of memories of trips 🙂
I love both ideas, but especially the picture frame 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Reelika! The picture frame is a great use of shells from a trip!
Shell decor means summer is coming!! 😀 Love that you shared this at Snickerdoodle Sunday- hope to see you again later this week when the next party opens!
Sarah (Sadie Seasongoods)
Thank you Sarah! I totally agree please let summer be here soon 🙂
Great ideas! We are never quite sure what to do with the shells we collect at the beach. Thanks for stopping by the Momma Told Me Link Party. We hope you’ll come back again soon!
~Jen
Thank you Jen!
My family has not been to a beach. We are in Colorado and have not been on a vacation to a beach. I would love to go to a real beach though. Love the frame. #HomeMattersParty
Thank you Angela! The frame was fun and easy to make. Such a fun reminder of our trip!
Your shell collection looks so pretty in the jars with the pop of color on the lids. It caught my eye on the Retro Re-Pin Party. It’s awesome that you keep them separated so that you know where they came from. I’ve been a shell collector for as long as I can remember. I keep lots of mine in large baskets, I use some for mantel decor, some as a centerpiece in large glass dish on my breakfast nook and I recently made a candle holder from some sand dollars I’ve had for years. There are so many fun ways to use them in decor.
Thank you Beverly! What great ideas for showing off your shell collection! Your sand dollar candle holder sounds awesome!
I love this idea. Here I live by the beach and never thought about making a frame with them. They are sitting in a jar. I need to display. Love it. PInned
Thank you Tammy! You are so lucky to live by the beach! I hope you make a frame with all your shells.
Oh my…so cute! I’m always get so excited to see what you have brought to our party! Pinned and tweeted. Thank you for being part of our party. I hope to see you on Monday at 7. Lou Lou Girls
Thank you so much Kimberly!
Great ideas! I love displaying shells in pretty glass containers too. Thanks for sharing at What’d You Do This weekend? I hope you will join us again this Monday morning 🙂
Thank you Joy for the reminder!
I love these ideas! I never know what to do with the shells my son and I find at the beach! I am pinning this for later!
Thank you Mary! Have fun collecting shells.