7 Beach Crafts to Make Sun-Soaked Memories with Your Crew
Okay, so who’s ready to bring a little sunshine and sand right into our living rooms with some beach themed crafts ? We love a beach day, but let’s be honest—sometimes packing the car and finding that one missing flip-flop just isn’t in the cards.
That’s where beach crafts come in, giving us all the relaxed coastal vibes of the ocean and joy without the sunburn (praise).
Making beach crafts together is such a fun, easy way for us to create, spark a little creative energy, and explore new ideas while making sweet memories—no swimsuits required. Whether we’re keeping the kids busy or just want a little me-time with a few shells and glue, we’ve got the perfect set of projects lined up.
Sand between our toes? Optional. Fun? Guaranteed.
1) DIY Seashell Wind Chimes that jingle all your beachy dreams
We all have that stash of a few sea shells from family beach trips, right? Instead of watching them collect dust, let’s turn them into the cutest wind chimes ever!
All we need are shells, a bit of fishing line or string, and maybe a piece of driftwood. Just poke tiny holes in your shells, add paint tie them up, and hang it by a window.
Even the mess is part of the fun and play . Get the kiddos involved and you’ll have memories and a beachy vibe in your home.
2) Sea Glass Mason Jar Lanterns for cozy ocean vibes
Okay, beachy BFFs, let’s get our hands crafty and make some beautiful Sea Glass Mason Jar Lanterns in various shapes ! These gorgeous jars totally give us cozy ocean vibes right at home.
Grab a mason jar, some sea glass spray paint or glass paint, and let’s go wild with those ocean colors. We can even pop in some fairy lights or tea lights to add that sweet, glowy effect.
Want bonus points? Add rope or shells for a real nautical touch, just like the ones on these mason jar lanterns.
3) Paper Plate Crabs perfect for messy little artists
Let’s be real, we’ll use any excuse for painty fingers and colorful art chaos, especially when combining our ideas ! Paper plate crabs bring the beach right to our kitchen table—with barely any supplies, too.
We just need paper plates, red paint, a few googly eyes, and some pipe cleaners for those wiggly legs. It’s zero stress, all fun!
Sometimes our “crabs” end up a little wild-looking, but that’s the best part of this great activity . Want some step-by-step help to create ? Check out this super easy paper plate crab craft tutorial for extra inspo!
4) Salt Dough Shell Pendants to bling out your beach day
We all have that one bucket of shapes and shells sitting in the corner, right? Let’s give those beauties a glow up and make some salt dough starfish shell pendants!
It’s as simple as mixing flour, salt, and water, then pressing your favorite shells right in. Don’t forget to poke a hole up top for stringing—hello, instant necklace!
Check out this super easy step-by-step guide for salt dough shell pendants at Red Ted Art. Let’s get messy and explore some ideas to make some bling together!
5) Driftwood Coasters that are rustic and totally chic
Okay, how cute are these driftwood coasters? We love anything that brings in those beachy vibes without being too much work.
Grab a few pieces of driftwood, some glue, and boom—you’re basically a crafty genius. They’re perfect for our morning coffee or lemonade on the patio.
They also add a simple, rustic touch to our tables from our last trip, and honestly, they’re way more budget-friendly than most store-bought decor for our collection. Want inspiration? Check out these driftwood coaster ideas to get started!
6) Suncatcher Jellyfish to brighten any window
Alright, time to bring some ocean vibes right into our living room! We love how easy these jellyfish sun catchers are to capture and make—check out the tutorial for no crafty skills required, promise.
Grab some tissue paper, clear contact paper, and let’s go wild with colors. When we’re done, pop them on the window and watch the sunlight turn our space into a rainbow party.
Find more jellyfish suncatcher inspiration here.
7) Beach Ball Coffee Filter Craft for endless summer fun
We all know how wild things can get when the kids are stuck inside. This beach ball coffee filter craft is such a lifesaver!
We just grab some simple supplies that remind us of summer and let the little ones go wild with color. It’s super easy to put together and perfect for any age.
The best part? We get summer vibes even on rainy days when we throw in some fun crafting activitie . For a step-by-step guide, check out this coffee filter beach ball craft along with some fun recipes .
Tips For Stress-Free Beach Crafting
Look, beach crafting isn’t always picture-perfect, and sometimes we just ride the waves of creativity . We’re juggling sand, small humans, and the occasional sticky glue explosion.
But with a few smart tricks in our head , we can save our sanity (and our shells) and keep the vibe totally chill.
Keeping Your Craft Supplies Sand-Free (We Wish!)
Sand. Gets. Everywhere, even to the back of your head .
But we’re not about to let a little grit rain on our crafting parade.
We love big zip-up bags or sturdy plastic bins for our beach collection . They’re essential for keeping stuff organized and, well, mostly sand-free.
Try these game-changer ideas:
Bring a plastic tray or old cafeteria plate as a flat work surface.
Use baby powder to dust off sandy hands. It works magic and smells fabulous.
Mesh bags for wet shells or tools let sand fall right out.
If sand still sneaks in (because it will), just brush it off and call it “extra beach sparkle.”
The crafts will still look adorable, even with waves of creativity .
Kid-Friendly Safety Stuff
Let’s be real, some of us have future stunt doubles in our crew, including both kids and adults . Safety is non-negotiable.
Scissors? We stick with blunt or kid-safe ones for both kids and adults —no trust falls happening over here.
Here are our main safety notes:
Supervise glues, especially anything hot or extra-sticky.
If we’re using small beads or shells, we keep a close eye on tiny crafters so nothing goes in curious mouths.
Use nontoxic, washable materials. If it can’t survive a spill or sticky finger, it’s not coming to the party.
We also set up a cute “hand washing station to protect those paws clea ” with baby wipes and water, as mentioned in our weekly newsletter . It keeps those paws clean before snack breaks.
How To Handle Craft Disasters Like A Boss
Stuff will go wild. Eventually, glitter flies, someone cries over a broken sandcastle, and glue ends up in someone’s hair.
We don’t panic after an hour —we pivot.
When things go sideways:
Keep extra supplies handy. Lost a shell? Boom—backups!
For sticky messes, just leave it to dry and come back later. No drama.
Mostly, we just laugh it off together.
Sometimes, the “oopsies” with clay end up as the cutest projects on our fridge. Stay flexible, take a breath, and hey—we’ve got each other’s backs.
