We’re in full vacation mode this month. If you’re like most people, you take tons of pictures; buy postcards and a few souvenirs. When you return home you download the photos to your computer (but never print out a copy), shove the postcards in a drawer and stick the souvenirs on a shelf until they get so dusty, they go in box. Such a shame, it’s the memories that keep us going until next summer.

I’ll show you three easy DIY ideas to display vacation souvenirs.

If the beach is your destination, plan in advance to collect sea shells and sea glass. They’re free and can keep the kids busy for hours. Print out the best photos of the shore, water or a sunset over the lake.

I found a frame in “seafoam” at Goodwill for $.99. If you don’t find the right color, spray paint any frame to match your décor or theme. Arrange seashells around the frame and attach with a hot glue gun. My photo had someone’s head in the corner, so I glued shells on the glass to cover it up!

I love the beach in a bottle. Fill an empty bottle with shells and sea glass. I printed a label of the location and date, curled it around a pencil and tucked it inside. A cork keeps everything together.

Finally, preserve that one special shell on a mini frame. This gold frame was too bright, so instead of getting out spray paint, I painted it with a Sharpie marker! The background is scrapbook paper that looks like waves and hot glue holds the shell in place. Make one or a whole collection!