Crafts with Shells and Beach Finds
Walks on Usedom don't just offer plenty of space for peace and relaxation. They also provide an opportunity to collect beach finds and use the shells in crafts.
There are no limits to creativity
Seashells, driftwood, stones, and many other items can be found on the beach or floating in the ocean right before our eyes. This beach find is perfect for crafts and decorating. Crafting with seashells, sand, or driftwood isn’t just popular with kids. The crafts you make yourself are a popular decoration and make excellent gifts and vacation souvenirs.
Combine walks with a search for flotsam and jetsam
Usedom’s beaches have more to offer than just white sand and the clear blue waters of the Baltic Sea. There are many things—big and small—to discover. Seashells and stones can be found everywhere, and it’s not just children who enjoy collecting the most beautiful finds. The search can serve as motivation to be more active during your vacation. Some vacationers walk many kilometers in search of beach treasures and take great delight in the driftwood they’ve collected.
What can you find on the Baltic Sea beach?
For collectors, the Baltic Sea is a real treasure trove of all kinds of finds. These include, in particular:
- Shells: In the Baltic Sea, these include cockles, mussels, soft-shell clams, and others.
- Snail shells
- Driftwood
- Glass fragments: They have been rounded and polished by the sea and look like tiny gemstones.
- Amber: These yellowish stones made of fossilized resin are especially easy to find on stormy days.
- Stones in a wide variety of shapes and colors, as well as flint.
- Thunderbolts: They’re also called belemnites. These aren’t stones, but rather the fossilized shells of prehistoric squids. They’re yellowish-brown and cylindrical to tapered in shape.
- "Hühnergötter": This is the name given to stones with a hole in them.
- Sand
However, caution is advised when collecting. There are some items that you should avoid taking home or even touching. This includes phosphorus. There is still an abundance of it in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea dating back to World War II. The tricky thing about lumps of phosphorus is that, at first glance, they resemble amber. But phosphorus can quickly get hot in your pocket and even start to burn.
Craft Ideas for Making Things with Beach Finds
You can use these found objects to bring many creative ideas to life. For example, a driftwood decoration made from a string of sticks or Hühnergöttern (stones with holes in them) is particularly popular. All you have to do is thread the collected items onto a string one after another. You can also create a unique mobile using sticks, stones, shells, and other beach finds. If you attach the elements with nylon thread, this wind chime creates a floating effect.
A classic and quick-to-make decoration is a bottle or other glass container filled with beach finds. When filled with sand, these containers become a decorative highlight that can be rearranged at any time. Beach sand also works very well as an accent in a painted picture. To do this, simply glue the sand onto the painting. Those who prefer carving can carve small figures and animals out of driftwood. Classic driftwood decorations include lampshades, candle holders, table decorations, and wall decorations.
Craft Ideas Using Shells and Stones
A candleholder or picture frame decorated with seashells, snail shells, or stones takes on a nautical look in no time. Other decorative items can also be embellished by adding beach finds—for example, a small box can be transformed into a treasure chest in the blink of an eye.
Seashell necklaces, as well as figurines and animals, are especially popular with children. When crafting with beach finds, seashells can be given a lively look by painting them or attaching craft eyes. Homemade jewelry takes on a more elegant touch when real amber is used. It can be used as a pendant in its natural form or finely polished. Occasionally, workshops on amber polishing are also offered on Usedom. Information can be found on the creative pages of the events calendar.
What else do you need to make crafts with seashells and other materials?
In addition to the items found on the beach, you’ll need a few other things to make crafts with shells and other beach finds. Many of these ideas can be brought to life with the following craft supplies:
- Glue
- Scissors
- Hand drill
- Ribbons and wires
- Paper
Depending on the craft project, you may also need picture frames, acrylic paints, paintbrushes, markers, drawing paper, empty bottles, and other items. There are really no limits to your creativity when crafting with beach finds.
You can craft with beach finds right here on Usedom during your vacation. But even afterward, crafting with seashells is a great way to relive your vacation memories. You can find plenty of craft ideas online. But you can also get creative and do crafts with others right here on Usedom during your vacation. Many resort administrations offer craft afternoons for children. For example, the Karlshagen Children’s and Youth Center, which is regularly open for children and teens from noon until evening. Checking the event calendars of the resort administrations and local providers can help ensure you don’t miss any craft events.
Crafting with seashells and beach finds—a fun hobby for young and old alike
For children, seashells, sparkling shards of glass, and other beach finds are treasures for their treasure chest. What’s more, crafting with seashells and other beach finds opens the door to many creative projects, ranging from driftwood decorations to practical items like small boxes or candle holders. The advantage of DIY decorations made from beach finds is that they’re not only unique but also sometimes weatherproof, so they can withstand wind and cold. How about a beautiful driftwood decoration for your backyard? It’s definitely worth bringing a small bag with you whenever you go for a walk on Usedom. You can safely store all your finds in it and take them home with you.
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