Beach Vacation Memory Sand Jars are a fun keepsake craft for kids to make while on a summer trip or at home.
Learn how to make a beach in a jar with sand and shells to preserve your family vacation memories. This is a great idea for your summer bucket list and makes beautiful home decor!
Beach Vacation Memory Sand Jars
Vacation is a time to relax, so I love doing crafts with my kids and making memories! Memory Sand Jars are a wonderful beach craft and beach vacation keepsake for kids to make.
We just returned home from our wonderful beach vacation to Bluefields Bay Villas in Jamaica. Not only did I take a ton of photos, but we enjoyed crafting while away. I can’t tell you in words just how wonderful this family vacation was!
As I get back into the grove of my normal schedule, I will write a bit more about our trip and show you some fun ways to preserve memories of your family travels through easy crafts.
I get a lot of comments on my photos, so I wrote some tips for taking memorable vacation photos that you will want to frame.
Summer Bucket List Easy Craft For Kids
One way for our kids to remember our recent trip was to bring a little bit of the beach home with us with memory sand jars!
The Do’s and Dont’s of Making a Beach in a Jar
When making a beach in a jar kids craft, be mindful of preserving nature and the beach rules. Some countries and beaches don’t allow you to take sand or shells. Even if your beach does allow this, only take a very small amount.
How Do You Make Memory Sand Jars?
I planned ahead for this memory sand jars craft and packed small jars, small tubes of e-6000 glue and tags to let my kids collect items from Jamaica and make tiny beaches in a jar.
You could do this kids craft to preserve any type of trip, not just a beach. I found my mini jars at Ikea, but search around Amazon and I bet you can find similar versions.
Scroll down to get detailed directions for how to make memory sand jars.
Photos from our Jamaica Beach Vacation
Below our villa was a beautiful beach with gorgeous rocks and sea shells. So there was plenty of exploring to collect beach memories. Our resort nanny, Sasha, also took the kids around to where there were more shells.
My kids loved doing this so much that I will make it a tradition from now on when we travel.
I think their beach in jar collection will look so pretty in our living room! Each time we look at their crafts, we will remember the beautiful blue waters…
our delicious dinners overlooking the sea….
kayaking in the ocean…
and the gorgeous sunsets from our patio.
Thanks for following my trip through Instagram. If you missed any of my Jamaica travel photos, you can look for them with the hashtag #LivingLocurtoJA.
We also made Shell Wall Art!
We want to give a BIG thanks to Bluefields Bay Villas for such a wonderful time!
- See our first look at our Jamaica villa here.
- Have coffee with me as I craft with shells at Bluefields Bay Villas!
- Why I think Bluefields Bay Villas is our best family vacation yet.
Beach Vacation Memory Sand Jars Kids Craft
Supplies
- Small Jars
- Sand
- Shells sea glass or rocks
- Small Tubes of e-6000 glue
- Gift Tags
- Pen
Instructions
- Have kids explore to find their beach treasures.
- Pour a tiny bit of sand into each jar and add the sea shells, etc.
- Glue a shell or small rock to the lid.
- Add a name tag along with a note of where you were visiting.
- Wrap jars in a shirt before packing to keep it safe during your drive or flight.
Notes
Originally published July 22, 2013 – Updated May 2021
Scarlet says
I love this fun idea. Sand can be so different form beach to beach and so can shells. What a fun way to save memories!
Amy Locurto says
I think I found those jars at Ikea. Here are some adorable ones I just saw on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2mTHg6Z
Terri Lander says
The jars are perfect and so cute. Where can I purchase them? I have looked at several places on-line with no luck. Thanks!
Lucy says
Such a cute idea. May I ask where you got your jars? Thank you!
Laurel Stephens says
I love your cute vacation memories craft and shared it on Friday Finds today. Thank you, and enjoy your weekend!
Tina Myers says
I absolutely love these ideas. My kids are 6 and 7 so this is perfect for us.
Jenna Hatfield says
This is great! Thank you!
Edea Krammer says
WOW! Love it that idea! Two thumbs up! That’s surely goes on top on our souvenir list! A seashells or pebbles necklace looks like a great idea as well or an anklet… I’m pretty sure the kids can be creative when we get there….
http://www.pleasantbayvillage.com
Nessa says
What a beautiful and fun craft!
nest of posies says
such a fun idea for a beach craft! and your pictures are gorgeous. that pic of the sunset & reflection in the pool is amazing!