The delicate shape of collected shells and a bag of sand can be more than a reminder of your summer getaway. Cleverly used, they can have many beautiful and practical purposes around the home.

A wide-mouthed, spiral nautilus shell can double as a pearlescent vase for bedroom bouquets.

Want to put your beach finds to practical use? Turn a pair of pretty shells into a soap dish.

The scallop shell's iconic shape turns pillows into inspired accessories. The linen covers can be store-bought or hand-sewn.

A collection of candle-filled shells brings natural charm to the table. Lustrous metallic paint gives them a glamorous look.

Light up a table with this sand-and-shell centerpiece. Use candle adhesive to secure slender tapers to the bottom of a clear glass vase. Carefully pour in a few inches of sand, then arrange shells on top. Besides refracting the candlelight for added ambience, the vase will protect the flames from breeze.

A string of beach treasures casts a dreamy glow on a patio or porch. To get the look, decorate a string of small white lights with clean, dry shells. Tape a 2-foot section of lights to your work surface with bulbs lying flat. Apply a thin layer of epoxy along the hinge edge of a shell, and press into place at the base of a light. Repeat for each bulb. Let dry about five minutes before continuing with the next section.

A half shell was good enough for Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus." Can humble condiments require more? Four clam or scallop shells make a summery set of salt-and-pepper dishes. First, run four shells per set through a dishwasher, secured in the silverware caddy. For the base, turn two shells topside up, and hot-glue them together at the hinge. Glue together the other two shells; then lay them face up and crosswise over the base, and glue.

Make waves with an arrangement set in a seashell. The trick is to fit a piece of floral foam inside the shell. Then you can tuck in stems, and they'll stay put. Here, variegated hosta leaves and frilly ferns cup a green-and-white cluster of Queen Anne's lace.You can use a seashell you already have -- the one shown here is a whelk- - or buy one at a crafts store.

Substitute the usual plastic shade of a night-light with a shapely beach treasure. Look for shells with a flat surface that you can glue. Sea biscuits, scallops, and sand dollars all work well. Rinse the shell clean or soak in a bucket of water containing a capful of bleach until the shell just turns white. After letting the shell dry completely, apply epoxy glue to a night-light clip, and then press onto flat part of the shell. When dry, attach to socket.

Mercury mirror glass, available at fine glass stores, is well suited to weathered shells. Combine the two to make a beautifully aged mirror.

In the summer, crisp white sheets look even more inviting edged with prints made from a few flawlessly shaped scallop shells. Beachcombing for the perfect candidates is half the fun of this project.

Embellish clay pots with shells for a beautiful container gardeners will love.

Use a clambake's worth of mussel shells to make this dressed-up summer wreath.

Use this charming oyster shell dish to store jewelry, keys, or any other small item.

Safeguard against hazardous slips and falls on the porch steps with several stripes of homemade sand paint. It's simple to prepare and just as easy to apply.

The shells that the ocean cast at your feet this summer -- the ones you so fastidiously collected -- make lovely remembrances of the season with candles formed inside them. Deep shells like scallops, clams, and quahogs work best and burn longest.

Even if the only water in sight is in a pitcher, you can still bring the feeling of the beach to your table. Iron these vintage shell designs onto your light-colored linens.

Even when you are relaxing at home, you can still be surrounded by nature. This beachy bookend can be made from a large shell such as a conch, tun, or whelk.

You can use oversize shells to bring a touch of the seashore -- and a romantic atmosphere -- to an evening at home. We used "lion's paw" shells (Lyropecten nodosus), available inexpensively from online auctions and souvenir shops. Fill a shallow tray with sand, arrange pairs of your prettiest specimens, and place a votive candle at the center of each pair (leaving room for the flames to flicker safely). Set the tray on a low table, and enjoy a quiet drink on the patio.

The simple curves and peaceful white hue of clamshells create a rustic wreath for inside or outdoors.