It's easy to see why kids sometimes think sand dollars are old pirate coins or mermaids' loot, but of course they're actually the shells of bottom-dwelling sea animals that have washed ashore. Luckily, you don't have to wait for the tide to recede to get a few of these ocean treasures for yourself.

To make your own paper sand dollars, first cut a pair of circles, about 3 inches in diameter, from white or cream-colored card stock.
Sandwich the 2 circles together with a round cotton pad or circle of packing foam between them.
Glue the circles together, using clothespins to hold them in place until the glue has dried.
Finally, glue on a star-shaped design of dry barley, as shown.