Sand casting is such a great idea, and has become a popular beach activity for kids. Tons of blogs have been showing great examples of hands, feet, shells, you name it. But what really caught my eye was a YouTube video by Gary Einloth. I liked his idea of using tools to prod deeply into the sand, and thought some interesting miniature landscapes could be created using this method.
Materials
- coloured sand
- plaster of paris
- molds eg. plastic containers, paper cups
- tools to poke the plaster e.g. chopsticks, pencils
- scissors
- spray bottle with water
- old, stiff paintbrush
Instructions
1. Containers that work well for casting on a small scale are shallow, plastic tubs like for cream cheese, margarine, dips, etc. Paper cups also work well. For the sand, I used a combination of beach sand and coloured sand, available in craft stores.
2. Begin filling your container with sand. It needs to be wet, so make sure to add water. A spray bottle is helpful for this. The top layer of sand is what will be showing on the plaster, so you may want to use a range of different colours and patterns. Gently pack down the sand.
3. Many tools can be used to create holes and spaces in the sand, such as chopsticks and pencils. The holes you poke should hold their shape well if the sand is wet enough. Remind children the plaster will be flowing into the negative spaces they have just created.
4. Prepare the Plaster of Paris according to the instructions on the box. Pour on top of the sand until it is completely covered. Set aside and allow to dry.
4. To remove the cast, gently turn the plastic container upside down to release it. Paper cups can simply be cut off. This can get messy, so cover your work space well, or try and do this outdoors. Use an old, fairly stiff paint brush to gently remove some of the sand. Allow to dry further, before getting it all off. This will allow more sand to adhere to the plaster. You can keep the extra sand for future projects.
If you find not enough sand remains or you prefer the colours to be more intense, you can always spray the plaster with an adhesive, and sprinkle more sand on top.
ArtClubBlog 
Wow! This is so cool!
I just showed my kids the pictures and they are jazzed to do this project!
Thank you! I hope your kids really enjoy making this. The nice thing is you’re not quite sure how it’s going to look, so it ends up being a nice surprise.
Awesome!
lovely! thanks for linking to our shell sand casting! we’ll have to try it again this year. happy almost summer!
Your welcome, and thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you for an excellent tutorial! I will use it with my grandchildren when they are older. Byt he way, I LOVE your blog header design! Best one I’ve ever seen!
I have a big smile planted on my face.Thank you Joyce! I hope, when the time comes, that you have lots of fun making this with your grand-children.
looks like fun! pinning!
Oooooh, thanks Kirstin! So nice of you 🙂
I love those.
Thanks for dropping by!
Very fun idea, thanks for dropping by and sharing!
Thanks for linking at Wow Us Wednesday!
These are so cool! I found your blog through Ginger Snap Crafts and would love to invite you to share this, and any other posts, at my Creative Thursday link party (open thru Monday each week) at http://www.michellestastycreations.blogspot.com. Have a great weekend.
Michelle
Thanks Michelle! Looking forward to your party.
I’ve never tried adding coloured sand. It gives a beautiful finish.
Thanks Maureen. It was an interesting experiment that worked out nicely.
What a fun craft idea!, Love the way they turned out!
They were fun to make. Thanks April!
What a fun craft to do with the kids!
Thank you for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality! Can’t wait to see what you link up this evening!
Love this! I can’t wait to try this for my garden. Thanks so much for stopping by Creative Thursday last week. I couldn’t do these parties without you. Can’t wait to see what you link up this week. Have a great week.
Michelle
Thanks you Michelle!
So neat!! They are so beautiful!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!
Thanks Carrie!
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