Sea Glass Christmas Crafts: 13 Coastal Ideas That Look Like Pricey Beach House Decor

Sea Glass Christmas Crafts are the easiest way to give your holidays that calm, airy beach house feeling, even if you live hundreds of miles from the ocean. Picture soft aqua and frosted white glass catching the winter light on your tree, your mantel and your table. It feels fresh, peaceful and a little bit magical. The best part is that most of these projects need only a bag of craft store sea glass, some glue and an evening at the kitchen table. Please buy tumbled craft glass or use pieces you already own, and never take glass from protected beaches. Below are 13 coastal ideas that look like they came from a pricey seaside boutique, but cost only a few dollars to make. Pour a warm drink and let the ocean come to you this Christmas..

Sea Glass Christmas Tree in a Frame

This framed sea glass tree is the star of every coastal mantel, and it is so simple that you will want to make two. You arrange the glass in a tree shape, from the big pale pieces at the bottom to the tiny ones at the top, and glue them onto a painted board. Sea Glass Christmas Crafts like this one look like gallery art, yet they take one quiet afternoon. Searches for sea glass inside Christmas crafts have doubled this week on Google Trends, so you are right on trend..

You will need: A white wooden picture frame without glass, a wood or thick cardboard backing painted pale beige, about 40 pieces of craft sea glass in aqua, green and white, a small starfish, clear craft glue or E6000.

How to make it: 1. Paint the backing and let it dry. 2. Lay the glass out in a triangle tree shape before gluing, largest pieces at the bottom. 3. Glue each piece down, add the starfish on top and let it dry flat overnight before you put it in the frame.

Sea Glass Filled Clear Ornaments

Sea Glass Christmas Crafts start small with these clear ornaments, which turn into tiny beach scenes when you fill them with sea glass and a spoon of sand. They catch the tree lights beautifully and they never break if a cat bats them off the branch. If you love this idea, our list of fillable Christmas ornaments has even more things to tuck inside. Make a set in matching aqua tones for a calm, pulled together tree. Which colors would you choose for yours?

You will need: Clear plastic fillable ornaments, small craft sea glass pieces, a little clean craft sand, jute twine.

How to make it: 1. Pull off the ornament cap and add a spoon of sand with a paper funnel. 2. Drop in 6 to 10 small glass pieces. 3. Replace the cap and swap the hook for a loop of jute twine.

Driftwood and Sea Glass Star

A driftwood star looks like something you would find in an expensive coastal shop, but you can make it with five sticks and some twine. Little bits of sea glass along the arms add a soft shimmer, like waves catching the sun. Hang it on a wall, a door or above your mantel garland. Craft stores sell clean driftwood pieces if you do not have a beach nearby. Where would this star look best in your home?

You will need: Five straight driftwood sticks of the same length, jute twine, 10 to 15 small sea glass pieces, strong craft glue.

How to make it: 1. Lay the sticks in a star shape and tie each corner tightly with twine. 2. Glue sea glass along the arms and let it dry flat. 3. Add a twine loop at the top for hanging.

Sea Glass Christmas Crafts for the Front Door: A Glass Wreath

Sea Glass Christmas Crafts do not get more eye catching than this shimmering wreath. Hundreds of overlapping glass pieces turn a plain foam ring into a soft, sparkling circle that looks lovely on a pale painted door. It takes a little patience, so put on a holiday movie and work in sections. Neighbors will stop and ask where you bought it. Would you hang yours on the door or over a mirror inside?

You will need: A flat foam or wood wreath ring painted white, about 2 pounds of craft sea glass in mixed soft colors, strong craft glue, a linen ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Paint the ring white so gaps do not show. 2. Glue the largest glass pieces first, then fill gaps with smaller ones, overlapping like scales. 3. Let it dry flat for a full day, then tie on a linen bow and hang it.

Sea Glass Suncatcher Garland for a Window

This garland is pure joy on a bright winter morning. Each piece of sea glass is wrapped in thin wire and hung on clear fishing line, so the glass seems to float in the window. When the sun shines through, it throws soft aqua and green spots across the room. It also makes a sweet handmade gift for a friend who misses summer. Which window in your home gets the best morning sun?

You will need: Craft sea glass pieces with smooth edges, thin silver craft wire, clear fishing line, a small tension rod or a cup hook.

How to make it: 1. Wrap each glass piece with wire like a little cage and twist a loop at the top. 2. Tie the pieces about 3 inches apart on lengths of fishing line. 3. Hang the strands from a tension rod inside the window frame.

Sea Glass Christmas Crafts for the Coffee Table: Mosaic Coasters

Sea Glass Christmas Crafts can be useful too, and these mosaic coasters prove it. Small glass pieces set in white grout make simple tree and snowflake patterns that look hand painted. Make a set of four for your own coffee table and another set to give away. Seal the grout well so drinks wipe right off. Do you know someone who would love a set under the tree?

You will need: Four square cork or ceramic tile bases, small flat sea glass pieces, tile adhesive, white sanded grout, grout sealer, felt pads.

How to make it: 1. Glue the glass to each tile in a tree or snowflake shape and let it set overnight. 2. Spread grout over the top, then wipe the glass clean with a damp sponge. 3. Seal the grout, let it cure and add felt pads underneath.

Hurricane Vase Filled With Sea Glass and Lights

Of all the Sea Glass Christmas Crafts here, this might be the fastest, and it gives the biggest glow. Fill a tall clear vase halfway with sea glass, tuck in a strand of battery fairy lights and add a few pine sprigs around the base. It looks like a high end table centerpiece, but it is ready in five minutes. Battery lights keep it safe all season with no open flame. Will you put yours on the dining table or the entry console?

You will need: A tall clear hurricane vase, 2 to 3 pounds of craft sea glass, a strand of battery fairy lights with a timer, pine sprigs, small shells.

How to make it: 1. Pour in a few inches of sea glass. 2. Coil the fairy lights in loosely, keeping the battery box at the top edge, then add more glass. 3. Arrange pine sprigs and shells around the base.

Coastal Driftwood Stocking Holders

Heavy store bought stocking holders can cost a small fortune, but chunky driftwood blocks do the same job with far more charm. Glue a few pieces of sea glass and a tiny shell on the front and screw a sturdy hook into the bottom. They sit firmly on the mantel and look like they came from a coastal design catalog. Ask an adult to help with the drill. How many stockings hang in your home?

You will need: Thick driftwood blocks or chunky reclaimed wood pieces about 4 inches long, sea glass, small shells, strong craft glue, screw in cup hooks, felt pads.

How to make it: 1. Sand the bottom of each block flat and add felt pads. 2. With adult help, drill a small pilot hole and screw in a cup hook near the front edge. 3. Glue sea glass and a shell to the front face and let dry.

Framed Sea Glass Snowman Art

Three round pieces of frosted white sea glass become the cutest little snowman in a shadow box. A twig for arms and a scrap of red fabric for a scarf finish him off. This is a lovely way to show off your best rounded glass pieces, and children love to help pick them out. It makes a sweet winter decoration that can stay up until spring. What would you name your snowman?

You will need: A small shadow box frame, blue linen or burlap fabric, three round white sea glass pieces in three sizes, two tiny twigs, a scrap of red fabric, craft glue.

How to make it: 1. Glue the fabric to the backing board. 2. Glue the glass pieces in a stack, smallest at the top, then add the twig arms. 3. Tie and glue the red scrap as a scarf and close the frame.

Sea Glass Christmas Crafts for the Tree: Shell and Glass Topper

Sea Glass Christmas Crafts look extra special at the very top of the tree. This starburst topper mixes white shells and aqua glass on a simple wire frame, and it glows when the tree lights hit it from below. It is light enough for a real or artificial tree. A white flocked tree with soft blue ornaments makes it shine the brightest. Have you ever made your own tree topper?

You will need: A wire star frame or a cardboard star, small white shells, sea glass pieces, strong craft glue, a cardboard cone to slip over the treetop.

How to make it: 1. Glue shells around the edge of the star, points facing out. 2. Fill the center with glass pieces in a starburst pattern. 3. Glue the cone to the back so it slides onto the treetop.

Sea Glass Napkin Rings for a Coastal Christmas Table

Your holiday table will feel like a seaside inn with these easy napkin rings. Natural jute rope wraps into a ring, and one piece of aqua glass with a tiny starfish sits on top like a jewel. Guests can even take them home as little keepsakes. They work for Christmas dinner and for summer parties too, so you get double use. Who is coming to your table this year?

You will need: Natural jute rope, cardboard tube rings cut 1.5 inches wide, small sea glass pieces, tiny craft starfish, craft glue.

How to make it: 1. Wrap jute tightly around each cardboard ring, gluing the ends inside. 2. Glue one piece of sea glass to the front. 3. Add a tiny starfish beside it and let dry.

Sea Glass Christmas Crafts in a Jar: Beach Snow Globe

Sea Glass Christmas Crafts can be as simple as filling a big jar with faux snow, shells and glass. Add a tiny bottle brush tree and suddenly you have a dry snow globe that tells a little beach Christmas story. It looks lovely on a shelf, a bathroom counter or a kitchen windowsill. Change the filling with the seasons and it works all year. What would you tuck inside yours?

You will need: A large clear apothecary jar with a lid, white faux snow, small shells, sea glass pieces, a mini bottle brush tree, a small starfish.

How to make it: 1. Pour in a few inches of faux snow. 2. Stand the bottle brush tree in the snow and arrange shells and glass around it. 3. Close the lid and glue a starfish on top.

Sea Glass Christmas Crafts to Give: Angel Ornaments

Sea Glass Christmas Crafts make the sweetest gifts, and these tiny angels are the most loved ornament in many coastal homes. A triangle of frosted glass forms the body, two small shells become the wings and a wooden bead makes the head. A bit of gold wire twisted into a halo finishes each one. Make a whole set in an afternoon and tie one onto every gift you give. Who on your list would treasure one?

You will need: Triangle shaped white sea glass pieces, small white shells, round wooden beads, thin gold craft wire, clear craft glue, fishing line for hanging.

How to make it: 1. Glue two shells to the back of the glass as wings. 2. Glue a wooden bead at the top for the head. 3. Twist gold wire into a small halo, glue it behind the head and add a fishing line loop.