Make 3D Shell Pattern Art on a torn paper beach with this printable craft template.
This is a fun Summer craft for kids, teens and adults with many ways to add your own creative spin.
What’s more soothing than doodle art? Beach-themed doodle art!
This project combines pattern art shells with a torn paper collage to create a relaxing beach scene with foamy waves and sand dotted with the ocean’s treasures.
The template gives you the option of six different shells to decorate your beach. The shells can be patterned like our example artworks, or simply colour them for a less time-consuming craft.
The shells in the artwork below were decorated by my teen daughter.
If you need help coming up with patterning ideas, we have a free pattern swatch sheet here.
This shell craft is very easy, involving basic patterning, cutting, folding and gluing. Age recommendation is 8 and up. Older kids will be able to create more complex patterns. Younger kids can still do this project with some adult help.
Card stock is recommended to print the shells on, but paper will also work.
For group crafting:
The template includes a specific group crafting set, where the page of six shells can be cut in half so each artist only has three shells. This is to reduce paper wastage.
The at-home set also includes one larger-sized shell (as featured in the artwork on the right) so kids can mix the sizes up if they want.
How to make 3D Shell Pattern Art
You will need
- Card stock in white for the shells
- Paper or card stock in yellow, white, and two shades of blue for the background
- Markers for doodling. You can use permanent or regular kids washable markers
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- The template, available from our printables store and our TPT store
How To
Colour and pattern three shells from the template.
Cut the shells out.
Cut the support strips out and glue them into squares. You’ll need 2-3 per seashell.
Make the beach background with torn paper. Tear the white, light blue and darker blue sheets of paper vertically with a gentle curve so it resembles a wave. Layer these with the white as the base, then light blue, then darker blue on top of that.
Glue the torn paper onto the yellow background layered to look like a wave. You can line it up against the bottom edge of the page, or place it at an angle, then trim to fit.
Use a black marker to outline the edges of the torn paper, then pattern with bubbles, dots and curvy lines for a wave effect. I’ve drawn large, visible bubbles in the white foam section, small bubbles and dots in the light blue section, and curvy lines in the darker blue section.
Glue the support strips onto the backs of the shells, then arrange and glue the raised shells onto the “beach”.
Now all that’s left to do is hang your artwork in a prominent place to brighten up the room!
Also available:
Open-ended shell templates featuring the same shell designs used in this beach scene in four different sizes so you can incorporate them into your own creative projects. You can also print them out to add to ocean or beach-themed art displays.
More Summer art ideas for kids
- Create beautiful 3D turtle art
- This 3D Doodlebug looks so cool when finished
- Kids will love making a sunset boat mosaic using our template
