Seashells
for Shellcrafts
It would be a bit hard to make Shellcraft Guides shellcraft projects without seashells. Most of the seashells I use are found while beachcombing on the beaches of Eastern Florida - mostly along the shore of Pompano Beach.
Of course, I don't just use seashells. I also find bones, coral, sea fans and small pieces of drift wood. There are also seashell pieces, and shells that can have been partially worked by sand and sea into very cool shapes. And yes when all else fails, I will buy seashells.
So take a look and see if they can help you with your projects.
Ark Clam Seashells
Ark seashells belong to small to large sized edible saltwater clams. These seashells are commonly found in sand in the shallow waters from the S.E. United States to Brazil. They are found easily along the Gulf coast of Florida. They are generally white or cream in color with a bit of brown/yellowish brown found in some of them. They can be found up to 3” long.
They belong to the marine bivalve mollusk family Arcidae.
The small ones are useful for vases, jars, candle holders, and the large ones can be helpful for shellcrafts on compact discs and plaques.
Cardita Clam Seahells
Cardita seashells look similar to ark shells because they are a type of clam. These bivalves grow to about 1 ½” long. The shell is sturdy and has robust radiating ribs. They come in a variety of colors, the most common being whitish to brownish. I’ve also found some that are darker – gray to almost black. The seashells edge is scalloped and ridged.
They belong to the marine bivalve mollusk family Carditidae.
Like the arks, the smaller ones are useful for vases, jars, candle holders, and the larger ones are good for compact discs, plaques, and other flat surfaces.
Coquina Clam Seashells
Very pretty wedge-shaped seashells of the Coquina Clam (Donax variabilis) that can be found in abundance on pristine beaches from Virginia down to the Gulf of Mexico. The clams these seashells belong to live in the sand, using the tides to move up and down the beach. They are filter feeders, using siphons to both ingest water and remove food particles, and to move waste back into the water.
They can grow up to 1 inch long and come in a variety of colors from whitish to dark purple. Many have bands of different shades running parallel to their edges, and stripes running from the hinge area to the edge of their seashells. They are edible and important food source for fish, birds, and other animals. We can eat them also, usually in clam soups and chowders.
They are a colorful addition for shell crafts. Their brightly colored and variegated seashells can enhance any seashell project. They are especially useful on the smaller projects such as magnets and miniature candle holders.
They belong to the marine bivalve mollusk family Donacidae. Also known as butterfly seashells, wedge seashells, bean seashells, and pompano clams.
Money Cowrie Seashells
These shells were once cut and used as coins hence the name money cowrie. Cowries live under rocks and feed on algae at night. The exterior of the shell is smooth and highly polished with a porcelain-like shine. They are rather egg-shaped with a long, narrow opening somewhat like a slit. The ones I have found along the Florida coast are generally yellowish in color. They are found all over the world, and can be tiny to quite large (6”) depending on which of the over 250 known species they are.
They belong to the marine gastropod mollusks (snails) family Cypraeidae.
Cowries are useful and look great on sculptures. The smaller ones can be used on plaques and compact discs.
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Calico Scallop Seashells
This is one of my favorites for using on shellcrafts. There are lots of variation in patterns and color density. The calico scallop is a medium-sized edible saltwater clam. There are beds of them off the east coast of Florida between Stuart and St. Augustine. They grow up to 3” wide although most common in the 1 to 2” size. They range, in off shore colonies from Delaware south to Brazil.
They belong to the marine bivalve mollusk family Pectinidae.
If they fit, I’ll use them. They look great on all shellcrafts.
Slipper Limpet Seashells
Commonly found washed up on beaches, and with an interesting shape that makes it look like a slipper, this seashell is perfect for shell crafts. The colors vary in shades of white, orange, and tans. Many have darker stripes that run longwise on the topside of the shells. They can grow up to 2 inches long.
In the wild they can be found in bays and estuaries. They form themselves into the groups of a dozen or so animals with the larger female slippers on the bottom and the smaller males at the top.
Crepidula fornicata belongs to the family Calyptraeidae.
Turkey Wing Seashells
Also known as the Zebra Ark, this long seashell's common name is given due to it's resembling the wing of the wild turkey. This pretty bivalve can be found on beaches from the Caribbean to North Carolina out to the shores of Bermuda. It is also found in the Mediterranean.
The seashells can have dark "Zebra" stripes over a light cream base running the length of the shells, although the most common are seashells with light brown stripes. This mollusk attaches to rocks and other solid objects in shallow water using threadlike filaments known as its byssus.
The shell may grow up to a length of 4 inches although the ones I find run from ½" to 2". The seashell is fairly thick and is able to take some abuse without shattering.
They belong to the marine bivalve mollusk family Arcidae.
As the name suggests, they look like wings. I usually use them in pairs for my shellcrafts. They are especially good for "Angel" wings.
Beachcombing Links:
Cleaning Seashells .
Preserving Seashells.
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