How to make jewelry with shells?

After being cooped up at home for a while, summer is finally here! We're soaking up the sun, perfecting our tan (preferably with SPF 50 sun cream!), and for some lucky people, we're off to the seaside for a few days!

But even if this isn't your case, don't worry! Perles and co has decided to do everything in its power to ensure that you too can enjoy the sea spray and fine sand. We've put together a selection of shell pendants and mother-of-pearl charms to give you that vacation feeling, just as if you were on the beach. Add them to homemade jewelry, enjoy a taste of idleness and listen to the gentle murmur of the waves.

16 trendy DIY ideas for seashells

• An eyewear chain to keep your sunglasses around your neck in style. Extremely practical for those who are always on the lookout for their glasses. With this chain, you'll never have to worry about losing them again!
• A choker necklace alternating cowries and colorful seed beads.
• A shell bracelet with gold-threaded cowries.
• 100% natural pendant earrings with shell and rattan fan.

• A surfer-style men's necklace for a casual summer look.
• A 3-in-1 piece of jewelry that doubles as phone jewelry, an original necklace and a multi-row bracelet.
• Shell earrings with Miyuki Delicas beads and bicones.
• A long necklace in mother-of-pearl and Brazilian acai seeds. It will add a bohemian touch to any outfit.

• A Seed beads bracelet that imitates a coral reef.
• A coral and gold pendant, like a dream catcher suspended from a sautoir necklace. As coral is an endangered species, we suggest replacing it with tinted sea bamboo.
• A lucky charm necklace with a St. Lucia eye pendant and mother-of-pearl Heishi discs made from real seashells.
• Mother-of-pearl shell pattern earrings. The half-moon or semicircle is a shape that's seen a lot in jewelry lately. Cut from iridescent mother-of-pearl, these pendants take us on a voyage of discovery. Here, it's simplicity that highlights the beauty of the material.

• A surfer-style shell necklace with Heishi beads and Cauri shell. This tutorial combines two of summer's star trends: Heishi shells and beads. Heishi beads go perfectly with shells like cowrie shells. In particular, heishi beads in bright colors (fuchsia, turquoise...).
• A cauri shell bracelet with heishi rondelles and cowrie shells. A heishi bracelet with dyed cowrie spacers in even brighter colors. These colorful jewels will be a hit with youngsters, but also with older people for their nostalgic side, because as we all know, fashion is an eternal restart!
• A hyper-trendy message bracelet. The advantage? It transforms into a necklace as soon as you get tired of wearing it on your wrist.
• And don't forget your little feet! Consider making this pretty macramé anklet.

How to clean shells for jewelry?

How about using the shells you picked up on your last walk on the beach? Here's how to prepare your shells for use in DIY costume jewelry.

To begin with, never pick up a shell that isn't already dead, in order to protect nature, and check the laws in force where you are, as it may be forbidden to pick up certain types of shell, just like pebbles and sand.
Leave shells to dry in the sun outdoors for several days, or even weeks, to allow the smell of the sea to dissipate and the algae and concretions to dry and become brittle.

Clean shells with an old toothbrush and washing-up liquid or baking soda. If very dirty, soak them in spirit vinegar for 30 minutes, then rinse. Be careful not to break the shells or leave them too long in the vinegar, which attacks the shell's calcium content.
Leave to dry. You can shine your shells with vegetable oil applied with a cloth.
To drill them, you can use a dremel drill with a very small bit, and enlarge the hole with a larger and larger bit.