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The sea holds a fascination for people from all walks of life and spanning many generations. There is a wide variety of activities you can enjoy doing around the sea from fishing, surfing, snorkeling and swimming. Collecting and preserving sea shells is a fun activity to remind you of the sea and can be used for a wide variety or crafts and home decorating as well.
Very little equipment is needed for collecting shells, all you will need is a container or bag to keep your treasures and special finds in until you can clean and preserve the shells.
Before starting your collection, it is a good idea to visit wharf side curio stores and sea life museums to get an idea of what types of shells you prefer. You can also check out a book from your local library to help you identify the various shells you may find. You may even want to try to collect samples form each of the five classes of mollusks.
BEACH SAFETY HAZARDS
Collecting sea shells can be a safe activity if you follow a few basic rules.
1. Wear Proper Clothing.
Always were sandals or good shoes if you will be exploring on exposed rocks or reefs. Jellyfish can wash up on shore or be in shallow water and Even when they are deceased, stepping on a jellyfish with bare skin can be a painful ending to your day of fun.
2. Watch the Tides.
Be aware of the changing tides and dangerous weather patterns. Don't search for sea shells alone if you are in a remote area or isolated beach.
3. Wear Sun Protection.
Use a good SPF Sunscreen and wear a hat to protect yourself from the elements that can produce pre-mature aging and cancerous skin spots.
CLEANING SEA SHELLS
A sea shell is simply the hard outer covering of sea animals. Sometimes the shell has been a discarded older home and will be empty but once in a while you may have to remove the remains of the sea creature from the shell before use. You can remove the remains using a small paring knife or toothpick to prevent decay and odors from forming. You can also place your shells in a container of ants to let the insects clean out the shells for you!
Use a cotton cloth and a mild solution of hydrochloric acid to clean and preserve your shells. Rinse them well and buff them with a soft cloth. Shells can be very fragile so you will need to be careful when working with them.
CRAFTING WITH SEA SHELLS
Once your shells are clean and dry, you can find many creative crafting ideas to display and enjoy them. You can decorate a picture frame by hot gluing sea shells around the edge of your frame. You could also make a hanging mobile or door chime.
Jewelry can be made out of your shells by filing off rough area's of your shells with a fine emery board or sand paper. Then use a small electric drill for making small holes in your shells for beading onto a necklace or bracelet. They also make fun cameo's, rings and even buttons.
Shells can decorate an aquarium, make fun napkin rings or large shells make beautiful paper weights. You can use spanish moss and sea shells to create fabulous wreaths to hang on a wall or surround a pillar candle.
The ideas for displaying your shells are endless and could even be as simple as collecting unusual driftwood to make a shelf display or arranging your shells on a silver platter to reflect their beauty.
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