Make your own homemade colored sand with this super easy DIY tutorial! Great for kid’s art projects!
Not too long ago, we needed some colored sand for an art project. So, we decided to try making our own! Turns out it is super easy to make! I am providing the DIY tutorial in case you would like to make your own colored sand as well!
Supplies:
- bowls (one for each color you want to make)
- decorative sand (I found some in the Dollar Tree craft section.)
- water
- food coloring
- aluminum foil
- storage containers (or plastic baggies)
Directions:
1) Pour sand into the bowls.
2) Add enough water to just barely cover the sand.
3) Add food coloring. The more you add, the darker the color.
4) Stir and let the mixture sit for an hour or two.
5) Carefully strain out the excess water and scoop the remaining pasty mixture onto aluminum foil. Use a separate piece of aluminum for each color and then place them on a baking sheet.
6) Bake at 200 degrees until the sand is dry.
7) Once the sand is dry, allow it to cool and then store it in plastic baggies or containers until you are ready to make a masterpiece with your new homemade colored sand!
Making colored sand is super easy and using it for art projects is lots of fun! Once your sand is ready, grab some glue and “paint” the glue onto your paper. Then begin sprinkling the sand over the glue. Allow to dry and enjoy your artwork!
Want to make colored rice? I have a tutorial for that too!
This post was originally published on October 13, 2011.
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Heather Leigh Honeyman
I made some of this last night, and my food coloring is gel and very very concentrated, so I didn’t let it sit very long I only added enough water to mix the color in. I also added Pumpkin pie spice to the orange and vanilla extract to the black. Turned out amazing 🙂
Mama Jenn
So glad the recipe worked for you! I LOVE the idea of adding pumpkin spice and vanilla!!!
Gina Bena
that is just brilliant and my kids will enjoy the process as much as the art.
Mama Jenn
Thanks Gina! Hope you guys have a blast!!!
Mama Jenn
You are very welcome!!!
Mama Jenn
Sorry, I’m not sure if it would hold the color or not. I would imagine it would probably fade. If you do decide to try it, please let me know how it goes.
van
hi. What if i used this homemade colored sand and put in a vial with water, is the color will fade? Thanks
JuRita
good job Jenn! I was amazed when I saw the baby food containers. My first thought was you just bought some and threw it out… amazed you saved them that long! My girls would have found ours and used them for some girly purpose or painting without me asking. Miss everyone! We send our love 😉
Mama Jenn
I knew I wasn’t the only one!!! LOL!!!
Mama Jenn
I LOVE the leaf idea! I may have to try that!!!
Deebi27
Fabulous idea… for a pre-k class activity, they would have a blast mixing colors prior to baking. I can see fall leaves using leaf cookies cutters for patterns!
Debbie Stanton
I have a few of those same containers left and my son is almost 5!!! lol
Stacie
I really like this idea!! Sand at the dollar store??? Who knew! So now I’ll have to make a little trip on over to the dollar store soon–LOL! I haven’t been since Aug. and it was “back-to-school” time and I tell, you it was so crowded in there, I could barely think! LOL Anyway, back to the post. . .this is great! I will have to try it out.
I have to admit, I recognized those baby food containers from the start! I use them to store beads for my daughters’ hair!! LOL Thanks for posts like these because it really helps Mamas like me who struggle with being creative!!
Kayla Arrowood
We colored rice a few months back and it was so easy and fun!!! Thanks for this craft idea!
Shelly
Awesome! Thanks for sharing this tutorial!! I’m definitely going to have to try this!