Learn how to make sea shell earrings for under $3! These DIY beach earrings are super easy to make and bring back happy memories every time you wear them. Perfect for beginners who want cute boho jewelry.
There’s something truly magical about wearing sea shell jewelry, especially if you’ve collected those shells yourself. Every time you put on your DIY sea shell earrings, they instantly transport you back to that perfect beach day when you found them. And let’s be honest, those beach memories are usually some of our happiest ones, right?
I still get that same flutter of excitement every time I turn simple beach treasures into jewelry pieces. These DIY sea shell earrings have that perfect boho beach vibe everyone’s obsessing over right now, and honestly, they’re way easier to make than you’d think.
Here’s the best part: You can make these cute earrings for under $3, but similar ones sell for $15-25 in boutique shops. Plus every shell is totally unique, so you’ll never find anyone else wearing the exact same pair!
This has become one of my favorite beginner projects to share because the results are always so beautiful. If you’re just starting out with DIY earrings, this tutorial is perfect for you. Once you nail these basics, you’ll be ready to try more advanced stuff like my herringbone wire wrapped pendants.
Materials Needed for Seashell Earrings
Let’s gather everything you need to create these beautiful coastal-inspired earrings. Based on current jewelry making trends and expert recommendations, here’s what works best:
Primary Materials
- Small Sea Shells (2 pieces, 15-20mm diameter, natural curved shape. The 15-20mm size ensures comfortable wear without being too heavy, while natural curves create elegant movement when worn)
- Choose shells with good structural integrity and no visible cracks
- Flat scallop shells or small conch shells work perfectly
- Avoid shells that are too thick (over 3mm) as they’re difficult to drill
- 18-Gauge Silver-Filled Craft Wire (12 inches total, dead-soft temper) I always use Artistic Wire or Beadalon brands because cheap wire turns your ears green (learned that the hard way!)
- Faux Pearl Beads (2 pieces, 6mm diameter, drilled)
- White, cream, or champagne colors look amazing with natural shells.
- I prefer Czech glass pearls because they have better shine than plastic ones.
- The 6mm size is the sweet spot, bigger looks weird, smaller gets lost
Secondary Materials & Tools
- Jewelry Plier Set
- Round-nose pliers for making loops
- Flat-nose pliers for gripping stuff
- Don’t go super cheap here, good pliers make everything easier.
- Small Drill Bit & Hand Drill (or Awl)
- 1.5mm drill bit works perfectly for 18-gauge wire
- Metal awl as alternative for thin shells
- Strong Glue
- E6000 is my go-to, it’s like super glue but stays flexible (Regular craft glue won’t hold up, trust me on this)
- Wooden Block and Marker (Any small piece of wood works fine)
Money Saving Trick: Buy shells in bulk packs. I get bags of 50-100 shells for about the same price as 10 individual ones. Plus you’ll have extras for practice and future projects.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare Your Shells
Mark the drilling spot on the inner (curved) side of each shell, about 3-4mm from the top edge. This positioning ensures the earrings hang naturally and look balanced when worn. Place your shell on the wooden block and carefully drill or awl your hole, working slowly to prevent cracking.
Pro tip: If using an awl, rotate it gently while applying steady pressure. The key is patience – rushing leads to broken shells!
Step 2: Perfect the Holes
Turn each shell over and carefully smooth the hole opening with your awl or small file. You want a clean, round hole that your wire can pass through easily. Test-fit your wire – it should slide through smoothly without being loose.
Step 3: Add the Pearl Accent
Apply a small drop of adhesive to the center front of each shell and gently press your pearl bead into place. The pearl should sit flush against the shell surface. Allow 24 hours for full cure time – this step makes all the difference in durability!
Step 4: Create Wire Components
Cut your 18-gauge wire into four 3-inch pieces. Using your round-nose pliers, create small jump rings (about 4mm diameter) and ear wires. If you’re new to wire work, check out our complete wire wrapping tutorial for detailed techniques.
Alternative: Store-bought sterling silver ear wires and jump rings work perfectly too – just ensure they’re hypoallergenic if you have sensitive ears.
Step 5: Assembly
Thread your jump ring through the shell hole and close securely. Attach your ear wire to the jump ring. Give everything a gentle tug test to ensure all connections are secure.
When Things Go Wrong (It Happens!)
Shell cracked while drilling? Don’t worry, it happens to me too sometimes! Always keep extras and try drilling from the outside next time if the shell is really thin.
Pearl keeps falling off? Make sure you’re using industrial strength glue like E6000, not regular craft glue. Also clean both surfaces with rubbing alcohol first.
Ear wires feel scratchy? The wire might have rough spots. Sand them lightly with fine sandpaper or just buy professional ear wires instead.
Styling Your New Sea Shell Earrings
These versatile beauties pair perfectly with:
- Flowy bohemian dresses and maxi skirts
- Casual beach outfits and sundresses
- Layered with other beachy jewelry pieces for a coordinated look
- Summer wedding guest attire
Level Up Your DIY Sea Shell Earring Skills
Once you’ve mastered these beauties, you’ll be ready for some exciting next projects:
More Wire Work: Try my simple wire charms to practice your wire shaping, then move up to the gorgeous herringbone wire technique.
Different Earring Styles: Make beaded hoop earrings with similar pearls, or try trendy tassel earrings for a totally different boho vibe.
Natural Materials: Love working with organic stuff? My paper bead guide is perfect for eco-friendly crafting, and the stone wrapping tutorial shows you how to turn beach rocks into amazing pendants.
These little beauties prove that the most gorgeous jewelry comes from simple, natural things. At under $3 per pair, I can make tons of different versions with various shells, different colored pearls, even sea glass!
The skills you learn here are the foundation for so many other projects. Whether you move on to complex wire wrapping or try different materials like clay earrings, you’re building skills that’ll last forever.
Want to keep exploring? My complete earring making guide has multiple techniques to try, and my wire wrapping tutorials will open up a whole world of creative possibilities.
Happy crafting, and remember, every piece you make is uniquely yours!
Happy crafting!
