Did you know you can dye sand? I know it blew my mind too. I’ve been paying for colored sand all these years to flock deer, paint mushrooms and make terrariums and all along I could have been making it myself. On top of that you can throw in a bunch of glue and make said colored sand into a bowl. BAM – I know mind blown right. Let’s do this thing.
SUPPLIES
- Play sand
- Ziploc bags
- Tie dye
- Plastic wrap
- Craft glue
- Bowl
Step 1
Divide your sand into plastic bags. Add mixed dye and squish. I used tie-dye but I have a sneaking suspicion that other dyes and food coloring might work.
Step 2
Cover the bowl you are going to use as a mold in plastic wrap. This will prevent your glue from sticking to the bowl.
Step 3
Mix the sand and your glue. I bet you could also use something like fabric stiffener, maybe even starch, but I used craft glue. Cover your bowl with sand and glue. I was going for a planet Earth look here.
Step 4
Allow your glue to dry completely. This could take 24 hours. When everything is set remove your new sand bowl from the mold.
Step 5
Using scissors trim the rim of the bowl. Now fill that sucker up and enjoy. I thought my bowl was a perfect vessel for holding a few kids craft supplies. What will you put in yours?
What do you do with all of that left over colored sand? They look great in planters and terrariums if I do say so.
Hi Jen. This looks really fun. Wondering if tie dye is the same as Rit dye? I haven’t bought dye, but in the 60’s mom bought rit (I guess it’s just a brand) and we tie dyed a few t shirts.
I live near the Everglades and there is sand everywhere! I might just try that sand. Also, do you have a tutorial for sand candles? Or the candles they made in the 60’s in milk cartons with chunks of colored wax suspended in plain wax? Enquiring minds must know