Summery ideas using a shore favourite
5 ways with shells
Images and words: Sara Conway
Tip: If you’re not heading to the beach, you can pick up bags of shells from high street craft shops.
1 Cute crab: it’s easy to make this snappy friend
You’ll need: a shell, red paint, googly eyes, play clay
- First your child paints the shell red.
- Now they mould legs and claws with the play clay.
- Finally, they stick on the googly eyes and assemble their crab.
2 In his shell: create a turtle with a real home on his back
You’ll need: a shell, blue paint, green paper, glue, googly eyes, a black pen
- First your kids paint the shell blue.
- Now they draw the turtle’s body, head and arms and cut them out.
- Then they give him a smiling face.
- And stick the shell on his back!
3 Beach necklace: for small adventurers
You’ll need: a shell, a blue gem, glitter, glue and string
- First, your kids pop glue in the shell and sprinkle in some glitter.
- Then they stick the gem inside.
- Finally, they glue the string to the back of the shell.
- Once dry, you can tie the necklace around their neck.
Tip: We always save gift bags if we’re given presents in them. We didn’t have string today so took the handles off a wine bag – it was this lovely shimmery blue! Shame the wine had long gone…
4 Sail to sea: a shell provides the base for a little boat.
You’ll need: a shell, play clay (or sticky tack), coloured paper, glue, a short stick (collect one from outside)
- Ask your child to make the sail first. They put the stick on coloured paper and draw a triangle that’s about the same length. Then they snip it out.
- Now they glue the triangle to the stick.
- Finally, they pop play clay in the shell and stand the sail in it.
5 Shell fossil: a simple, but effective make!
Your kids press the shells into play clay to make their own little fossils.
