DIY Nautical Craft with Fish Net and Seashells
DIY beach house decor project today! It is the weekend y’all! Isn’t life wonderful, it is the weekend, it is officially summer, the sun is shining and I have a new little coastal decoration to show you. Life is good indeed.
I had a big, brown vase that I wasn’t really using because it just didn’t fit in with my decor. So I decided to repurpose her and give her a proper makeover. And as a result……
Today, she is wearing fishnets and seashells…..

She is rocking a bit of DIY beach decor.
I painted that big vase white and made a bit of macrame fish net to give here a little extra. I also did a little seashells craft to make decorations for a little extra pizzazz.
I love working with seaside craft materials. I have done another lovely DIY shell project when I made a seashell wall decoration with feathers. I also use seashells all the time when I am decorating my home in my favorite coastal farmhouse decor style.

So this fishnet and seashell home decor idea was right up my alley! Let’s see how to do a bit of seaside crafting yourself.
How to Make fish nets
1 Making fishnets is easy because it only involves the most simple of knots.
2 Start with a circle around the top.
3 Tie a double strand of twine to that at regular intervals.
4 Split the strands and tie them to their neighbors.
5 Keep your knots at even distances and at the same height.
6 Continue to the bottom. End all your strands with a knot to a base ring of twine.

Funny how such a small change to an otherwise rather plain vase can make such a huge difference. I had envisioned it in my head, but until I finished it I wasn’t sure if I could pull it off. And now I am in love with my nautical fish net decor.
I had to adjust a bit for the tapered bottom of my vase. But in the end that just meant pulling everything extra tight.
More Beach Crafts fun: Make seashell decorations
And then the really fun part began: embellishing her with beads and seashells.
To use seashells for crafting sometimes you need them to have a hole. To make holes in seashells you can use a regular cordless drill and a really tiny drill bit.
Seashells can be very hard so drilling takes a while. Rest your seashell on a soft surface like a towel and drill carefully. It can help to drop tiny bits of water on the drill bit to keep it cool.
I made a whole lot of holes in a whole lot of shells.
None broke to my own surprise.
To make my seashell decorations I simply threaded some twine to the hole in the shelf, and added beads in a matching color.

I love those dangly bits, they add just that bit of extra oomph. If she wasn’t a vase, I am sure my fishnet and seashells wearing beauty would be shimmying and belly dancing and making those dangles swirl.
If you like my beach house crafting ideas and you like coastal decorating too, you will love this post with over 40 ideas for creating beach house decor (on a budget).

I moved one of my coastal candle holders to this vignette. I think she belongs here (and having the mirror behind the candlelight is an added benefit).
The driftwood garland I made for my nautical summer mantel has found a spot again too. I added a string of shell lights from the dollar store, and now she lights up this dark corner very nicely.
Related Reading: How to Create a Cozy Beach Cottage Style Decor (on a budget)
Related Reading: 53 DIY Bohemian Decorating Ideas (you will love)

Another little corner of my home is all ready for summer. I think project summerification is nearing its end.
Or not…..
And that’s it, it is the weekend. Let’s play.
For us that means some working in the garden, some more puttering around the house, maybe bake banana bread or something like that, watching a bit more football (=soccer). Going to a farmers market, having a pizza lunch, and making sure we do at least a couple of hours of nothing.
What will your weekend be like?


Marianne Songbird is the founder of Songbird, where she hopes to inspire everyone to create a home they love, one DIY project at a time. She shares anything from craft ideas to home decor inspiration and from DIY projects to decorating hacks. Originally from the Netherlands Marianne and her husband Lex are currently renovating a 250-year-old farmhouse in Germany.
Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique says
Wow Marianne, your vase is rocking her fishnet and dangly bits. I’m loving your summer home and coastal accents too.
Marianne@Songbird says
She is sure rocking it. I love how this project turned out exactly as I saw it in my head. Doesn’t happen often…..
Ans says
Schitterend Marianne, dit ga ik ook doen. Groetjes van Ans
Marianne@Songbird says
Dank je wel! Heb jij ook zo’n vaas 🙂
Veel plezier met het maken van visnetten.