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Kalyn Brooke

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DIY Seashell Necklace

March 2 // 41 Comments // 3 Minute Read

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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Not sure what to do with all those shells you collected from vacation? Pick one of your favorites and turn it into a DIY seashell necklace!

One of my favorite things about living near a beach, besides the amazing sun, soft sand, and gorgeous water {do you want to come visit me yet?} is collecting all sorts of seashells for DIY projects I’ve pinned on Pinterest or have floating around in my crafty little head.

Up North, I would have to wait for a vacation to collect my precious gems, or buy a pre-packaged bag at the local craft store. Now, I don’t have to spend a thing because our beaches are full of pretty shells just waiting for a new home. And you know how much beach inspired decor I have planned for our place!

I actually had a specific wall framing project in mind when I started my seashell collection, but then Dremel sent me a new crafty tool to play with, and I knew I had to repurpose one of my favorite shells into a beautiful necklace.

I’ve seen tons of seashell jewelry selling in Etsy shops, and though each of the artisans do beautiful work, I just can’t bring myself to pay those prices when I can easily do it myself at home for less. All I needed to figure out was how to drill a hole at the top of the shell without it cracking, and the Dremel became my go-to gadget!

Supplies Needed:

  • Seashell{s}
  • Charm {optional}
  • 18″ Chain
  • 10 mm jump rings
  • Needle-nose pliers
  • Dremel rotary tool

The Project:

Step 1: Pick a beautiful shell that you will love wearing around your neck, preferably without any chips or cracks.

DIY Shell Neclace | Creative Savings

Step 2: Using the grinder bit, hold shell down firmly with one hand and Dremel rotary tool in the other. Press down to slowly grind a hole into the shell.

DIY Shell Neclace | Creative Savings

The Dremel may try to “jump” because the bit is spinning so fast, so be careful and have a few back-up shells just in case! I had Joseph do this part…I think he was just as excited to try out the new tool as I was — it’s powerful and spins — need I say more?

DIY Shell Neclace | Creative Savings

Step 3: Grab a small jump ring and stretch it open, then loop the metal ring through the hole in the shell. At this point, you can feel free to add more shells or a charm if you’d like.

I had a starfish charm that I had saved from a previous necklace {the chain broke and I knew I would want to reuse the charm}. I think the two go just perfectly together!

DIY Shell Neclace | Creative Savings

Step 4: Squeeze the loop closed with needle nose pliers.

DIY Shell Neclace | Creative Savings

Step 5: Loop a chain through the jump ring {I used an 18″ one}, then try on your new necklace!

DIY Shell Neclace | Creative Savings

DIY Shell Neclace | Creative Savings

Total Cost: $5.18

chain necklace $3.99 | jump rings $1.19 | other supplies I already had

If you don’t have a Dremel rotary tool already, there is an upfront cost for that, but the more I look into this handy tool, the more excited I am to try out some new projects. It can do anything from etching, engraving, sanding, and polishing, and will be great to experiment with for our new home.

Plus, these necklaces would make such a fun and frugal gift idea for the Holidays, and only take 10 minutes a piece to make. You could even create seashell bracelets or earrings and gift an entire set!

Do you collect shells?

What projects have you made with them?

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

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Comments

  1. Jazmin says

    September 4 at 11:34 am

    This is super pretty, Kalyn! I love how dainty and natural it looks.

    That Dremel looks impressive too. Hubby may be getting a few not-so-subtle hints for Christmas.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      September 4 at 6:01 pm

      Thanks, Jazmin! It was super fun to plan with. 🙂

      Reply
      • Emma says

        June 26 at 9:18 pm

        This is great for my friends and I to do!
        best sleepover ever thanks to you!!

        Reply
  2. Meg K says

    September 22 at 12:18 pm

    I love seashell jewelry! I’d love to get a dremmel someday too!! You’re right, it’s really handy!! Very pretty necklace & thx for sharing

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      September 22 at 3:39 pm

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  3. Laura Muir says

    September 22 at 12:31 pm

    This is so adorable! We are getting ready to go to Cali for a few weeks and I just might have to make one of these with my daughter. We always find the most awesome shells at the beach! Thanks for sharing. This is my first visit to your blog and I love it! Super creative!

    ~Laura
    Fresh & Happy

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      September 22 at 3:41 pm

      Thank you, Laura! I quickly popped over to your blog and absolutely love your photos. That is one part of blogging that I am still working on — though it is much improved over my first year’s worth of posts! Enjoy your trip to Cali! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Heidi says

    September 22 at 12:38 pm

    Such a pretty and simple idea. My three little girls would love it! (And I could finally get rid of some of the shells around my house)

    Reply
  5. Dee says

    September 24 at 1:21 pm

    This is beautiful!!!! Would be great as a way to remember a beach vacation.

    Have a great week!

    Dee from http://www.thecsiproject.com

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      September 25 at 10:33 am

      Thanks so much for stopping by, Dee! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Julie Gordon says

    December 2 at 9:34 pm

    I just got back from Florida with a bucket of shells…this is a picture of one of my favorites…Husband has the Dremel so I’m anxious to give this a try!! Thanks for a great idea!!

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      December 5 at 9:59 am

      You’re welcome, Julie! I’d love to see a picture of your creation when you finish it. You can post it to https://www.facebook.com/CreativeSavings if you’d like!

      Reply
  7. Andrew Stevens says

    April 5 at 8:44 pm

    Where did you get the chain necklace every where I look they are $15-30

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      April 7 at 4:05 pm

      I bought mine with a coupon in the jewelry section of Michaels!

      Reply
  8. Rolonda R. Mayer says

    May 29 at 12:32 am

    Love the seashell necklace. I’m at the beach collecting right now. I get my necklaces by recycling old ones I already have, stringing or restringing old beads and findings or sometimes I find things at garage sales, estate sales, thrift stores or from friends who know I’m crafty.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      June 1 at 11:39 am

      I love that idea to find necklace chains from garage sales and thrift stores. Brilliant!

      Reply
  9. marlene says

    June 23 at 10:04 pm

    Lovely idea!!! But PLEASE BE AWARE THAT when drilling shells to do so under water and wear a mask and do it outside as shell dust is very toxic

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      June 25 at 9:27 am

      Wow, I had no idea — thanks for sharing that!

      Reply
  10. Ron says

    March 19 at 10:15 am

    Drilling from the inside to the outside with a 3/32 inch drill bit works well for me. Use a hard surface under with a padding of newspaper (6 or 8 layers),makes nice cushion and easy cleanup.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      March 21 at 1:50 pm

      That sounds like a great idea to help keep the shell from breaking.

      Reply
  11. beth says

    May 2 at 5:40 pm

    I really love this idea! While I don’t have a Dremel, I’m sure that I can borrow one. I have a couple of questions for you. I have a ton of shells that I brought back from a vacation on Marco Island two years ago. I cleaned them in a soapy water solution with a touch of bleach. Is there a more proper way to clean them? My other question is, do you put any sort of “sealer” on the shells to give them a little ‘shine’? Thanks for your help. I can’t wait to get started!!

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      May 2 at 11:49 pm

      I haven’t put a sealer on any of the shells that I have done but I’m sure there are some good products out there! As far as the cleaning is concerned, as long as you’ve gotten rid of the sea-smell you should be good to go! {I usually use a bit more bleach just to be sure}

      Reply
      • beth says

        May 3 at 8:37 pm

        Thanks so much Kalyn!!

        Reply
  12. Marlene says

    July 30 at 9:41 am

    Seashells should always be drilled under water preferably outside with a mask on. The dust is toxic.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      August 3 at 2:25 pm

      Thanks for the information, Marlene!

      Reply
  13. Gwen Dutton says

    December 31 at 4:54 pm

    Which Dremel do you recommend?

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      January 13 at 4:24 pm

      Hi Gwen,

      You don’t need a high-end one for sure. This one would easily do the trick: https://amzn.to/2Rh3UFt

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Kalyn—a recovering perfectionist who nerds out about organizing systems, personal productivity, and helping you prioritize what matters over the pressure to do it all. I have a feeling we’re about to become the best of friends! Learn more >>

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What’s one thing you budget for that other peopl
What’s one thing you budget for that other people might not? I always find those interesting. 😃⁣ ⁣ You might have a mortgage. I budget for campgrounds. You might want a separate clothing budget, while I’m fine combining it under “Beauty and Style.” Recently, we also added a new line item for our motorcycle—something I NEVER thought would appear in our budget. ⁣ ⁣ See, we’re all different! ⁣ ⁣ Recently, I rearranged my budget categories and created this “cheat sheet.” Sometimes I forget where things go, like picking up new wall art for the living room. Does this item belong in the categories of Household Items or Home Maintenance? 🤔⁣ ⁣ Now I know! And I save time processing receipts each Friday. 🧾⁣ ⁣ What budgeting categories do you use? Share one of your random budget line items with me in the comments below! 😃

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣
⁣
I

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣ ⁣ I’m never afraid to stop reading a book if it doesn’t live up to the hype. Why invest more time in a book I’m not all that excited about when I could be exploring new authors and storylines where I can’t wait to turn the page? 🤷⁣ ⁣ But in 2020, I let more books go than I normally do. I suppose my patience dwindled when I thought the world was ending. Not that I thought the world was actually ending…but you know what I mean. 😉⁣ ⁣ As an Enneagram 1, I hate giving up on a book. I’m prone to the all-or-nothing mentality, even in my reading habits. My eyes could glaze over boring prose and I’d still repeat to myself: “You MUST finish this book!” 😫⁣ ⁣ Why? ⁣ ⁣ No one is adding a plastic star to your Book-It pin, (Remember those?) This isn’t assigned reading from your high school English class. This is YOUR reading life. ⁣ ⁣ And YOU should choose what books deserve your attention. 📚⁣ ⁣ There are too many good ones out there anyway. Like one of my favorite reads from 2020. 😍⁣ ⁣ This week’s newest blog post rounds up everything I read last year (43 books total!) including 5-star psychological thrillers, a delightful royal series, a couple self-help books, and of course, historical fiction.⁣ ⁣ Click the link in my bio to read it! ☝⁣ ⁣ What were your favorite books in 2020? Our literary styles might be a match made in heaven! ✨

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My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣ ⁣ These small but mighty sidekicks will be my saving grace this year. 📚⁣ ⁣ 1️⃣ Bullet Journal (Blue) - for everyday planning and goal setting⁣ 2️⃣ Regular Journal (Yellow) - to track gratitude (5 things a day!) and to process ALL the feelings⁣ 3️⃣ Growth Journal (Sand) - a space for me to brain dump everything I learn from books, podcasts, sermons, etc ⁣ ⁣ That last one is new to me as of this year and I can't wait to flip back through all my notes come December! 📆⁣ ⁣ What planners/journals are you using for 2021?

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Pro minimalism tip: Use double-duty appliances. 🤯⁣ ⁣ With limited kitchen space, I have to be super careful about what appliances we invite into the RV. We already had an Instant Pot, Ninja Blender, and a Food Processor. But I really wanted an air-fryer! ⁣ ⁣ With no place to put it, I discovered that Instant Pot made a dual instant pot/air-fryer product. So I gave my instant pot away, and my mom bought me this one for an early Christmas present. I’ve only played with it a couple of times but I’m already in love! 💕⁣ ⁣ Kale chips...sweet potato fries...broccoli. I’m basically an air-frying queen now. And I can easily switch back to the instant pot whenever I want. Yay for two appliances in one! 🥳⁣ ⁣ Q: What is your favorite appliance to use? Is it double duty? 🤔


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