All the Ocean Crafts You Need for Self-Isolation
BY ALLY HUGHES
Missing The Sea? Welcome to your very own ‘Marine Entertainment from your Home’! Each day for the next 10 days, we’ll be releasing a blog article full of juicy, ocean related content for you to explore from the safety of your living room couch...
You all know why I’m writing this article. I don’t even want to mention you-know-what as this article should serve as a catalogue of pure ocean-y escapism to help you get through these days stuck inside away from the salty air, sandy footprints, and soothing sounds of our beautiful oceans. Being creative is a great way to occupy your minds and hands, and crocheting cuddly versions of my favourite marine animals has definitely helped relieve some of my anxiety.
Crochet/Knit the Ocean - There are hundreds of patterns online for crocheting/knitting/cross-stitching ocean creatures. Here are a couple of my favourites:
Toft mini aquatic bundle - GBP £36.00
Toft Jumbo Jade the Mata Ray - GBP £19.00
Blackwells mini-knitted ocean book - GBP £6.95
Mermaid tail blanket knitting instructions - GBP £3.96
On the Beach cross stitch kit - GBP £23.19
Marie’s cross stitch By The Sea collection - variable price
Decorative Shell Jars - I know you all have a secret stash of shells and stones collected from the beach. Why not turn them into art by placing in a jar with some sand, lights, photos, incense and bring a little ocean back into your living space - some ideas here on Pinterest.
Sand Castle Sculptures - If you are lucky enough to be near a beach and can safely get there to collect sand, then grab a bucket, mix it with some baking soda and create a sand castle sculpture that will harden due to the baking soda! Again Pinterest has lots of ideas for this one.
Flip Books - Try your hand at drawing and make your very own flip book based on your research, your favourite diving adventure, or just chilling on the beach. It’s a really creative way to pass several hours (and possibly days) of your life and could also be a great handmade gift to give to a loved one. This is just an example of a simple snorkeling flip book and a YouTube video on how to make your own.
Adult Colouring Books - If you have not already given this a go then now is the perfect opportunity! It’s a way to exercise your inner creative being without needing to be “good” at crafts. And the ocean is a popular theme for these books. Here are a couple that I particularly like:
Lost Ocean - GBP £12.99
Ocean Animals - £3.99
Ocean Colouring Book - £5.64
Paint by Numbers - And once you have mastered colouring in between the lines using pencils, give adult paint by numbers a go! Definitely requires a bit more patience and precision but I guarantee you will get lost in these for hours!
Victoriasmoon DIY Turtle - GBP £15.99
Canvas By Numbers Seascapes Collection - US $20.99 each
Jigsaw - And of course, the good old fashioned jigsaw puzzle. As scientists, we are trained to connect the dots and solve the puzzles of the world, so a jigsaw should be easy, right?!
Ravensburger Coral Reef Majesty - GBP £26.99
Jigsaw Puzzles Seas and Oceans - variable
Jigsaw Puzzles Marine Animals - variable