Beach in a Bottle Souvenirs

I always hunt for shells when I go to the beach.  I can't help it.  There is something about finding the best shells that is so rewarding.  It's like a treasure hunt.  Since moving to Florida, I have had the luxury of exploring many different beaches.  I am amazed by how different the sand and the shells at each beach are, despite the fact that they are all located in Florida.  Over the course of my adventures, I collected an entire box of shells, which unfortunately sat under my bathroom sink for years.  Do you love hunting for shells?  Have your shells ended up in a similar location?   Are you going on a tropical vacation this summer and looking for a cheap souvenir?  I have an idea to showcase your shells and make shell hunting purposeful: put the beach in a bottle.

To make a similar memento, all you will need is a bottle, and sand and shells from the beach, and a label with the beach name written on it.  I purchased my bottle from Hobby Lobby for only $1.49, and filled it a little over halfway with sand.  Then, I tossed my shells on top of the sand and corked the bottle.  I don't own a label maker, so I made a quick label using Microsoft Word and secured to the front of the bottle with double-sided tape.

If you are planning a tropical vacation this summer, this is a great vacation souvenir.  All you need to do is save a few of your favorite shells and some sand from a beach you visit.  The sand and shells will require virtually no space in your carry-on bag.  Furthermore, the total cost for the souvenir is under $2.00.  This price is far below anything that you will be able to find in local beach shops.  If you are going to a beach that is a geological rarity, you simply must make a bottle.  Just think about showcasing black sands of Hawaii, the pink sands of Nassau, or the white sands of the Philippines.

Whether you are trying to give your old shells a purpose or you are gearing up for a vacation, this is a fantastic quick and easy craft.  I find myself looking at these bottles often and remembering the fun days spent at the beach.  They are essentially fond memories of vacations and warm beach days.