Beach vacations aren’t just about sun, sand, and surf. They are also about hunting and collecting tiny treasures. I am sharing how to use these tiny treasures to make Christmas ornaments from your beach vacation.

Four clear Christmas ornaments filled with seashells and tied with twine are arranged on a dark surface. Perfect for remembering your beach vacation, the text reads "Beach Ornaments," "Gulf Shores - 2025," and the website address.

These ornaments are a great way to turn your beachy finds into gifts your kids will cherish. They are sweet little mementos for the kids and adults.

Beach Souvenirs

Many years ago, we started purchasing Christmas ornaments as souvenirs while on vacation. We have several now from all different areas.

A clear Christmas ornament with "Gulf Shores, Alabama" written on it, filled with seashells and sand—perfect for DIY beach vacation memories—rests on a cream-colored fringed fabric. Green leaves are visible in the foreground.

One year we were on a family trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama, and purchased this little beach ornament filled with beach sand and small seashells. Every year that we hang it on the Christmas tree, those beach memories come flooding back!

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Our Own Seashell Ornaments

A few years ago, our youngest granddaughter experienced her first beach vacation. We all enjoyed our time at the beach, and lots of tiny little sea shells were collected by all three girls.

A close-up view of various seashells, shell fragments, and small pebbles scattered across sandy beach—reminiscent of a beach vacation. The shells are in different shapes, sizes, and colors, including brown, white, and gray.

Somehow, all of the sea shells ended up at my house.😂 I seriously thought about throwing them away, but in the back of my mind I thought we might make something with them.

A few weeks later, I remembered the sea shell Christmas ornament that I bought several years earlier. I was so excited, because each girl could have their own beach ornament memento.

Making a Christmas Ornament from Your Beach Vacation

If you want original items from the actual vacation, collect sand, seashells, small pieces of sea glass, and even small pieces of sand dollars while you are at the beach.

Since the idea for this project came after our trip, I had to have a friend get me some sand when she went to the beach a few weeks later.

Items Needed

Supplies for a craft project on a dark table, including string, seashells reminiscent of a beach vacation, a plastic funnel, clear Christmas ornaments, a plastic bag with sand, and metallic decorative trees in the background.

Instructions

A hand holds a white funnel over a clear ornament being filled with colorful beads. On the counter is a zip-top bag with white powder and a spoon, next to a small calendar—an easy way to make Christmas ornaments.

A round, iridescent Christmas ornament filled with pastel-colored sand sits on a dark table near metallic, tree-shaped decorations—a DIY reminder of a relaxing beach vacation.

Instructions

Soak the seashells in bleach water for a couple hours. I let them soak overnight. Rinse them well and let them dry.
Using a funnel, fill the ornaments about halfway with sand.
Add small shells to the ornaments.
Put the tops back on and tie bows onto the top of the ornaments using jute. If you want, you can hot glue the lid on for more security.
Personalize them with the year, child’s name, name of the beach, etc.

Items to Purchase

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You may have most of these items already. If not, here are links for them. You can also purchase the clear ornaments at Hobby Lobby if you are out and about,

Bleach
Large Clear Plastic or Glass Ball Ornaments
Jute
Funnel
Paint Pen

Other Ideas

These are very easy to make. They would make fun activities for the kids.
Instead of ornaments, make memory jars or bottles.
Make shell collage pictures on canvases.
Use larger shells to make shell magnets.
Make the ornaments part of the regular decor instead of just at Christmas time.

Whether you are making these beach ornaments with the kids or on your own to give as a memento, they are so easy and can bring back sweet memories.

So, the next time you head to the beach and end up with tons of little seashells, you can make Christmas ornaments from your beach vacation. Lasting memories!

Printable Directions

If you prefer printed directions, you can print these from here.