Over the years, we have always collected treasures from the beach whether it be unique shells, beach pebbles, sea glass, sharks teeth, or drift wood but more recently, I started finding myself drawn to oyster shells. Each one is so unique and almost like it’s own piece of art with the various colors and shapes.

Like most things, these oyster shell collections were stored away and forgotten about. That is until I came across the recycled strawberry bucket on a shelf of our laundry room FULL of them.

Last year I was asked to collaborate with King of Christmas Trees and was delighted at the opportunity. Christmas is a favorite in this household, my husband included. He was all in for adding another tree to our dining room.

I needed to come up with a theme.

Insert me finding the collection of shells and my brain started to run with an idea. I’d seen oyster shell ornaments, Christmas trees made from shells and other various ideas but never had I seen a Christmas tree adorned with a beaded and shell garland.

I took to the challenge, collected items I needed and got to work.

While I waited on my shipment of wooden beads, I prepped the shells for paint.

1. Thoroughly cleaned all shells with a solution of dawn, bleach and water
2. Allowed them to dry completely
3. Laid out my favorite shells on a protected surface
4. Painted edges of the shells with this perfect gold paint
5. Allowed to dry
6. Drilled tiny holes in each end of every shell to allow for fishing line

The beads arrived and I began to layout the pattern of beads:shells that I felt looked best. Using a heavy duty fishing line that I borrowed from our boys’ fishing gear, I began stringing beads and shells. The two holes I drilled in each shell allowed for one continuous strand. My initial strand was 5 yards in length. I ended up adding 3 additional yards to the strand which was perfect for our 6.5 foot tree.

You could easily make a short strand and add it as decor on a coffee table with books, and other items.

My favorite accent color in the home has always been copper and coral tones. When I saw some of the oyster shells had this coloring in them, I immediately knew which color theme I was going with. I dug out the matte copper ornaments that are usually on our main living room tree and only purchased one package of glass ornaments that had a hint of copper coloring to them and these mini mercury glass ornaments. All other ornaments were some I’d collected over the years and had on our main tree year over year.

For me, this tree represents our time living in Wilmington, NC and is a reminder of memories we have made at many beaches both as a couple and with our boys.

My hope is that each space in our home is a reflection of what brings us joy and fills our thoughts with moments of nostalgia.

I hope you find inspiration from this fun DIY. Don’t be afraid to create something outside of what is trending in popularity.

Make your home a HAVEN filled with meaningful spaces.