Seashells are the ocean's refuse, the remains of more than 75,000 kinds of invertebrates that once lived in the ocean. Did you know that shell collecting dates back to the sixteenth and seventeenth century? Some collectors would comb the beaches to find rare specimens, others less picky just collected everything in sight and filled vases and bowls to decorate their homes with.
Those who had a flair for the crafts loved to collect to let their creative juices take over. In general, there are no restrictions against collecting empty shells from California beaches, but other areas have different rules. It's always best to do an online search to see if your area has any restrictions before you get hit with a heavy fine.
Even better why not just buy what others have already collected and leave your beach just as you found it. There are so many places that sell a variety of really cool looking seashells. This assortment is by Supplies Mall on Etsy.
I thought it would be fun to see what people have made with seashells.
These shells were filled with Soy candle wax and are being sold by Sandy Land Studio . These seashell candles would great for a summer pool party!
Here are some more cool seashell craft ideas ...
