Make an easy DIY clamshell wreath for summer

Make this easy DIY clamshell wreath in five minutes and enjoy it all summer! If you live by the coast or just dream of living by the beach this wreath is the perfect wreath for summer. I use a door basket in winter, spring and fall, but in the summer it’s hard to keep the plants watered. I even tried succulents last summer but even those didn’t survive.

A summer beach or coastal wreath

This simple wreath made of 12-14 clamshells is just the thing to add a little coastal decor to a door or a wall for summer.

Where can you find clam shells for crafts?

We found several at Sagaponach Beach in the Hamptons, and then last week we were in The Rockaways and the beach was filled with them. The Atlantic Coast is the best place to find large clamshells. We even find them at low tide on our little beach in Connecticut. If you don’t live along the Atlantic Coast, you can buy them on Etsy. There are several sellers that sell them quite reasonably.

What to do with clamshells?

Well, there are a lot of things you can make using clamshells. Recently I made gold leaf salt cellars. I do like projects that are pretty simple, like the salt cellars. When I saw a friend on Long Island post a simple wreath using large white clamshells, I has to ask her how she made it.

How to make an easy DIY Clam Shell Wreath

I tried to use a wreath form that I had on hand, but I quickly realized it was not going to work. That’s when I asked my friend and if you want an easy DIY clam shell wreath project, then you’ll need a wood floral craft ring.

The Supplies you’ll need:

• wood floral craft ring – 11.5 inches in diameter
• glue gun and hot glue sticks
• jute twine or sisal to hang the wreath
• 10-12 large clamshells

The wood floral craft ring is a flat wreath form with eight holes around it. I only used one to loop a piece of sisal twine through it to be able to hang it. So make sure as you are gluing the clamshells, that you leave at least one hole free.

Position the shells on the wreath form before starting to glue

Position the shells around the wreath form in one direction before you begin to attach them with the hot glue. Hot glue dries very fast so make sure as you begin to glue them that they are where you want them. They may break if you try to remove them to reposition them. (If you are buying clamshells you may not have extra).

Paint the wood wreath form or leave natural

The wreath form is a natural plywood color so you may want to spray paint it the color of your door so that it blends in. I was out of white spray paint, so I left mine natural and I’m happy with it.

You can see how we decorated this same space throughout the seasons in the posts below:

Springtime in Connecticut

6 simple ways to transform your porch from summer to fall

8 Spectacular Summer Wreath Ideas

Easy Summer Wreath DIY // My 100 Year Old Home

White Daisy Wreath DIY // Happy Happy Nester

Lilac-Filled Basket Wreath // Modern Glam

Gorgeous and Unique Summer Wreaths // Twelve On Main

Easy Summer Fabric Flag Wreath // Tatertots & Jello

Summer Wreath DIY // Craftberry Bush

Simple Coastal Wreath // Most Lovely Things

Tangled Rope Wreath // My Sweet Savannah

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We used an Industrial Guard Sconce from Barn Light Electric with Dusk to Dawn Photocell. I never have to remember to turn it on and off! We used them in New Canaan too!