Sand Casting - A Fun Kids Craft
Sand-casting can be done in the house or on the beach.
A perfect sandbox, beach or at-home craft. This fun kid's craft will have your kids begging to make more!
Sand casting is a great introduction to sculpture or 3-D art. There are so many things you can do with it. This makes a great summer camp or beach craft to do with 4-H or scout groups. Summer crafts for kids are easy to do. Nature crafts are always in demand any time of year. Here at kid's crafts we try to have a variety of crafts for kids that are easy to do.
To get started you need some basic supplies:
- shallow containers - shoebox, egg carton lids, old bowls or baking pans
- stick for stirring - get a paint stirrer from the local paint store or use an wooden spoon or a stick from outside
- coffee can or similar type of disposable container - you can cut gallon milk jugs in half and use them to stir in
- plaster of Paris
- water
- pebbles, shells, stones, marbles, twigs and anything else that you want to put in your sand cast. Old jewelry from necklaces work great! Different colored gravel for fish tanks is colorful; and bright. Use your imagination.
- paper clip or wire
- sand
Here's what you do:
1. Fill your mold with sand - this is you shallow container - shoebox or other container. If you're on the beach you can just hollow out a space right on the beach.
2. Make patterns in the sand with your hand or stick. Then put your other items - stones, twigs, marbles, beach glass - into the sand. You can make a pattern or just put them in randomly.
3. Mix the plaster of Pairs in the coffee can. Follow the directions on the package. Stir it well until it is thick like cream with your paint stirrer or stick. Plaster of Paris hardens FAST s0 work quickly. And you must use containers and sticks that you can throw away. NEVER pour plaster of Paris down the sink.
4. Pour one to two inches of plaster of Paris into the mold. Smooth out the back. Insert the paper clip or bent wire at the what you want to be the top. This is for hanging it on the wall later.
5. Let the plaster harden for about a half-hour. Be sure and watch it if you are on the beach. You don't want someone stepping on your creation!
6. After the plaster of Paris has hardened gently lift it out or the box and brush off the extra sand on the top.
Now hang up your treasure for everyone to enjoy.
Beach glass - is broken glass that has laid on the beach and been smoothed by the water. NEVER pick up sharp glass on the beach - get an adult to remove it and put it in the trash.
