Find a pretty seashell…. make a shell necklace! Or make 10 seashell necklaces for all your pretty friends. This seashell necklace craft is remarkably easy and is lovely seashell jewelry that kids will love to wear. Making a necklace with a shell make a sweet keepsake from a treasured vacation or special event.

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Easy Shell Necklace Kids Can Make

If you’re planning a day at the beach anytime soon don’t forget to bring home a pocket full of shells for crafting and making pretty beach style jewelry. There’s nothing that says summer more than wearing a pretty seashell necklace around your neck.

NOTE: If you are visiting a beach that doesn’t allow you to pick up shells and take them home, check out the massive selection of seashells available for crafting.

Finding the Right Shell for Your Own Seashell Necklace

If you find shells with holes in them all the better – no need to make the hole, you can get straight to threading. The best part of making a seashell necklace is that each one is unique.

Related: More fun beach crafts for kids of all ages

How to Make a Shell Necklace

Supplies Needed to Make a Necklace from a Seashell

• Seashell
• Wax cord, plastic cord, string, wool yarn or chain for necklace
• Pointed end screw or nail and hammer or a drill
• (Optional) beads
• (Optional) necklace clasp or closure
• Scissors

Directions to Make a Shell Necklace

Watch Our Short DIY Seashell Necklace Tutorial Video

Step 1 – Select the Perfect Shell

Select the seashell you want to use as the center of your shell necklace and inspect it for small holes or areas where it is thinner.

Step 2 – How to Drill a Hole in the Seashell

To make a hole in the seashell all you need to do is tap a nail or a screw very gently into the shell with a hammer to make a pilot hole.

Once you’ve broken through you need to make the hole bigger, big enough to  to feed the wax cord, wool or chain you want to wear the seashell on.

So very gently again take a screw or nail between your fingers and wiggle it around in the hole to gently file away and enlarge the opening.

You can also use a drill to make this process faster.

Step 3 – Put Your Necklace Together

Thread the necklace cord or chain through the hole and add beads and embellishments as desired.

Tip: You might like to layer a few shells on together, add some little beads, pom poms or any other decoration that tickles your fancy. Your necklace, your style!

Step 4 – Finish the Necklace Craft

Tie the ends of your necklace cord together for the desired necklace length. You may want to add a necklace clasp or necklace closure piece to your necklace cord.

Related: Learn how to make this DIY jewelry!

Finished Shell Necklace Craft

I absolutely love the finished seashell necklace that looks like a seashell locket! We have also used this as a simple slumber party craft that everyone can take home to wear the next day.

More Beach Fun from Kids Activities Blog

• How to make your own moon sand.
• Let’s make a sand mold craft even if we are home and not at the beach!
• Or check out how to make this super soft cloud dough recipe.
• This beach bones play kit is sooo cute!
• Check out this fun list of beach activities for the entire family.
• Download and print these free beach coloring pages.
• Grab this amazingly convenient beach wagon.
• Make a personalized beach towel with this easy tie dye method.
• Try this beach themed free printable word search!
• Love the beach? Learn about creatures that live at the beach like this sand dollar!
• Here are 22 fun beach activities for kids!
• Check out these ocean activities that bring the beach home!

More Jewelry Fun From Kids Activities Blog

• Make your own plastic bottle bracelets.
• Learn how to make best friend bracelets!
• I really love this camp-inspired necklace craft!

How did your beach shell necklace turn out?