How to Make a Sand Painting.
Sand isn't just for building castles by the
beach or shoveling around the sandbox—you
can use it to make beautiful, colorful artwork
too!
You will need Clean sand (be sure to pick
out any shells or rocks) Small, empty containers
with lids (yogurt containers are perfect)
Powdered tempera paints in your favorite colors
Construction paper A pencil Craft glue A plastic
knife or craft stick Plastic spoons and a
plastic tray.
Step 1.
Mix up several batches of colored sand.
To do this, pour about a handful of sand into
each of your containers.
Then add a different color of tempera paint
powder to each container.
Put the cover on tight and shake, shake, shake.
Add the paint powder a little at a time to
get the exact shade you want.
The more powder you add, the brighter the
color.
Step 2.
Use the pencil to draw a picture on a piece
of construction paper.
The bigger the shapes, the easier it will
be to fill them in with the sand—at least
until you get the hang of it.
Step 3.
Use the plastic knife or craft stick to spread
a layer of glue over sections of your drawing.
Spread the glue thinly, so that you can still
see the lines.
Step 4.
Start to color your drawing by taking a spoonful
of colored sand and sprinkling it where you
want it, staying within the lines.
Only do one color at a time, and when you're
finished adding that color, lift the paper
up and gently shake the excess sand onto the
plastic tray.
Then pour it back into the original container
so you can use it again.
Step 5.
Continue adding sand until you've filled in
all the parts of your picture that you want
colored—then step back and admire your sandy-work!
Did you know Tibetan Monks spend days and
weeks making an intricate sandpainting—called
a mandala—as a symbolic act of creating
the world.
