The Alouette Beach Resort is the premier destination for travelers visiting Old Orchard Beach! Located along the idyllic seacoast of southern Maine, springtime is the perfect time to stroll the beach in search of seashells and seaglass.
As you explore the shoreline for treasures from the Atlantic, you are likely to come across clamshells, sandollars, snails and seaglass.
Why do people search the sands for such gems? Some collect seashells as a way to preserve memories. For example, when I find something of significance, I’ll date the inside or backside of the shell with a permanent marker. I’ll then store my new found treasure in a keepsake box so I can forever look back and cherish that memory.
Now if you want to cherish the memory but not the smell you can take the following steps to clean and deodorize your keepsakes:
- Mix about 1 TBSP of bleach per gallon of water in a bucket.
- Let the seashells soak in the bleach/water mixture for a few hours.
- Use a toothbrush to scrub any dirt off of your seashells, give them a good rinse and let them dry.
You can also get crafty by adding some finishing touches such as:
- Giving your shells a shiny coat by rubbing them with mineral oil or baby oil and let dry.
- You could spray them with polyurethane or coat with them with clear nail polish for an extra glossy shine.
- Or spray adhesive to the seashell and apply a crystalized coating of glitter.
The above are super simplified ideas of preserving your treasures to display in your home, use as center pieces or whatever it is you choose to do.
For more elaborate sea treasure craft projects visit “11 Sea-Glass Crafts Guaranteed to Remind You of Summer” and “32 Seashell Crafts That Evoke the Beauty of Summer” by Martha Stewart.
You now have a cherished memory…a treasure with a story from the shore to adore!
