A good catch!

They're irresistible – shells, stones, and driftwood always seem to end up in the suitcase, as souvenirs of a wonderful vacation! Use them as the raw materials for these summery decorations for your home.

All instructions can be found in burda World of Fashion 07/2008

Photos: Uzwei Design/Uli Glasemann. Production: Claudia Rießland.

Summer games

Have fun finding the playing pieces on the beach, then make the board yourself! Just paint two pieces of plywood gray, then add the typical backgammon points in two shades of blue. Connect the two halves with a hinge, add a hook and eye to close the board – and the game can begin ...

You'll find the rules here

Shell collection

How can you give a plain flower pot a Mediterranean flair? With decorative shells and hot glue!

Wind catchers

These imaginative pennants can be quickly sewn from scraps of fabrics – and even more quickly knotted onto sticks. Place them in a tin pot, weighted with stones, and place them where they can catch the wind ...

Flying fish

Unfinished wooden boards can be turned into appealing decorations for the wall. Saw them into fish shapes and paint them with varnishes in shades of aqua.

Swimming school

Cut them from hologram foil, gift-wrapping paper, and aluminum foil – this school of sparkling fish feels right at home on a table, painted in ocean blue (Ikea). Tip: Finish the table with a coat of clear varnish to protect the surface from scratches and spills.

Stylish souvenir

The song of the sea ... Shells, glass beads, and mother-of-pearl disks (Rayher) are threaded onto cords and satin ribbons. They make a delightful sound when the breeze blows – and they look good too!

The art of mosaic

Take a large, plain terra-cotta bowl, paint it white, and glue shells and stones in place in a pleasing pattern. The results? A decorative object that will put you in a summer mood... all year 'round!

Magic box

You would never guess that this little table began life as a fruit crate! We turned it over, painted it with blue acrylic paint, and decorated it with lots of lovely white shells to create a unique designer piece with Mediterranean appeal.