18 DIY Seaside Crafts That'll Bring The Beauty Of The Beach Into Your Home

Oh, I do love to be beside the seaside, oh I do love to be beside the sea! Wait. It's not just me. Almost everyone, young and old, loves the seaside - and for good reason. Whether you love paddling in the waves on a hot summer's day, getting grains of sand stuck between your toes, or simply combing the beach for pebbles, shells and other treasure, the beach will forever be one of humankind's favorite places.

And speaking of treasure, beaches are treasure-troves. I was lucky enough to have grandparents who lived beside the seaside, and their house was filled with all sorts of wonderful beachcombing finds - from crab skeletons to shells in every shape, size, and color of the rainbow. And because there were so many materials on offer, my grandma got very crafty with them, turning seashells into mirrors, necklaces, and even little creatures with googly eyes!

So, to inspire you, I've compiled a list of brilliant DIY beachcombing crafts that you can use to bring a little of my grandma's creative sparkle into your home. After all, without a personal touch - a home's nothing more than, well, a shell!

1. Shell candles

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I love this craft because it's so incredibly simple. You can purchase a large bag of tealights in just about any dollar store and with the right amount of shells, you can create expensive looking and gorgeous candles for next to nothing.

2. Bulb decorations

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Another incredibly cheap material that you can use to create gorgeous home decorations from beach coming is light bulbs. Simply fill the bulb with some pebbles and other finds from the beach, attach some string, and voilà!

3. Beach candle holders

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When it comes to decorating our houses, most of us know how easy it is to spend a small fortune - only to discover that our decorations are exactly the same as a neighbor's. That's why crafts are so great. They guarantee that your interior will be unique, and as this wine glass beachcombing craft demonstrates, they'll save you a lot of money too.

4. Jewelry holders

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Don't worry if you don't have the time or means to make elaborate decorations with your beachcombing finds though. With nothing more than paint, you can easily turn shells into jewelry holders. The perfect homemade Christmas present IMO.

5. Seashell canvases

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Do you love drawing but fancy a change from paper? Then why not use seashells as your canvas instead. As the examples above demonstrate, it doesn't matter whether your design ideas are simple or very elaborate, the result is always beautiful.

6. A seashell lampshade

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While this isn't something I ever saw in my grandma's house, it's definitely a craft that I'll be utilizing in my own. Who'd have thought that seashells would filter light so beautifully? Not only that, the finished product pretty looks expensive too!

7. Show the one you love what they mean to you

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Sometimes simplicity is the key to a great DIY craft. Do you have a partner or family member who loves the seaside? Why not create them a seashell heart? Bonus points if you're able to do it using shells from their favorite beach.

8. Seashell artwork

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Take a scroll through any modern art gallery and your jaw will soon be on the floor when you see how expensive even the simplest looking works of art are. So why pay someone else for something that you can make yourself?

9. Seashell jewelry

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Another great beachcombing gift idea is a seashell necklace. You can paint it the giftee's favorite color, and if you drill a hole in the shell and attach a high-quality chain to it, your necklace will be as durable as any other piece of store-bought jewelry.

10. Seashell decorations

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Now, I don't know about you, but my family Christmas tree is full of handmade decorations. From little felt stars I made as a kid to ornaments my grandma made way back in the 20s - and it turns out that seashells make the perfect snowmen! This is the perfect craft to keep your own little elves busy while you're trying to untangle the Christmas lights.

11. A peacock shell

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If it wasn't already clear enough, seashells can be used to make a lot of things, but one thing that most people probably haven't noticed until now is just how perfect they are for painting peacocks onto as they're shaped just like their feathers.

12. A beachcomber's Christmas tree

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Looking for an alternative Christmas tree this year? Look no further. Not only is a beachcombing Christmas tree a lot simpler to construct, but you'll also get to say that there's a real star (of sorts) on top of yours!

13. A beachcomber's clock

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Minimalism is more popular than ever when it comes to interior design, and if you're fortunate enough to find the right slab of wood and just the right shape and number of shells on the beach, you can create a stunning DIY clock.

14. A beach angel

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While this craft relies on finding just the right materials, if you're determined enough, I'm sure that you can make your own beachcombing angel this holiday season. Create a Christmas decoration that can be treasured for years to come.

15. A glass and shell turtle

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Sure, beachcombing angels are beautiful, but I prefer it when found objects are used to create marine life artwork. It's what my grandma did, and if you pick up glass like the one used to create this turtle, you'll be helping to clean up the beach. It's a win-win!

16. DIY boats

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If there's one thing we associate with the sea just as much as seashells, it's boats, and if you're an eagle-eyed beachcomber, you'll be able to find everything you need to make your own boat ornaments. I think these would look brilliant in any bathroom!

17. A seashell windchime

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I don't know about you, but one of the things that I automatically associate with the seaside is wind chimes. There's something incredibly relaxing about listening to the sound of them jingle combined with the waves crashing against the shore, and as you can see, all you need to make one is the right beachcombing finds and some string.

18. Father Shellmas

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If you flip a shell around to the opposite side, instead of having the perfect canvas for a peacock, you'll have the perfect Santa. Why not draw on the outline of his face and ask the little elves in your life to paint it?

So there you have it - 18 brilliant DIY beachcombing crafts that will bring a little of my grandma's sparkle into your home and have you running to the beach. Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section!