How to Dye Sand

Dyeing sand is the process of turning the color of sand into the color you want and keeping the color for a long time. Although the process is a bit time-consuming, it is quite simple and children can participate in it. Whether you want to color sand to create art or decorate your home, you can follow the instructions below:

Table of Contents

Mix Color in Sand

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Prepare sand. You can buy sand at a craft store, a building material store, or get it from the beach near your house.

If you collect sand at the beach, beware of dangerous materials or waste in the sand. Although there will be a sifting step next, if you see paper or large pebbles in the sand, remove them first.
Be very careful when taking sand from the beach. Wear rubber gloves as debris or hazardous materials may remain in the sand.
Next, put the sand in a plastic bag and tie it up. Then, invert the bag to see if the sand flows out. This step will help reduce the amount of sand in the car or in the house.

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Sand sieve. Store-bought sand is usually fine, while beach sand often has crushed rocks that need to be removed from the sand.

Place the sand sifter over the top of the bin on the floor. The sieve can be an old kitchen sieve or a small mesh screen like the one attached to the window that is glued over the top of the bin with duct tape. If you use a metal kitchen sieve, you should not continue to use it to prepare food. ^{[1] X Research Source}
Pour sand over the mesh of the sieve or screen. Then, shake gently to filter the sand into the barrel. You can stop to discard ice, shells, or filtered debris. Continue this process until the sand is gone.

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Divide the sand into several pieces. You can pour sand into a plastic container with a lid or a plastic bag.

Using a plastic bag is best because you don’t need to clean it much and it helps to avoid getting dirty around when doing the sand mixing step.
You can also use paper plates or bowls. Also, it’s a good idea to clean your kitchen utensils after you’ve finished sanding, especially if you’re using sand from the beach. This step helps to keep sand or dangerous debris from remaining in the sand.

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Pour water into the sand. This step helps the sand absorb the dye evenly.

You only need to make the sand moist and sticky, not make the sand completely wet or submerged in water. If you accidentally add a lot of water, there is no need to worry, it will just take you more time to wait for the sand to dry.

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Pour the dye into the sand. You can use any dye, but fabric dye will give the sand a nicer color.

You can also use food coloring to dye the sand.
You will need to add the dye several times until you get the color you want. When the sand dries, the color will fade a bit, so you don’t need to worry if you accidentally mix the color too dark.
You can also add dry Tempa pigment to create light colored sand. ^{[2] X Research Source} Tempa pigments are available at art or craft stores.
Be careful when applying dye, to avoid letting it soak into your skin, clothing, and furniture.

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Mix the dye and sand thoroughly. Depending on the container used to hold the sand, the mixing process may vary.

If storing sand in a container with a lid, you will need a plastic spoon (disposable type). Use a spatula to scrape off the sides of the box to make sure all the sand is stained. Then, close the box and let the sand soak in the dye for about an hour.
If you store sand in a plastic bag, just tie the top of the bag tightly and squeeze it evenly to let the sand absorb the dye. Then, set the sand bag aside and wait for the sand to soak in the dye for an hour.

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Dry the sand. First, pour out any remaining water in the sand, then pour the damp sand onto a plate or any other flat surface.

Let the sand dry in the sun for a few hours. You can spread a paper towel over the plate before you pour the sand out to allow the paper to absorb any excess dye.
You can also put sand in the oven to help it dry faster and absorb the color better. Just put the sand in a baking tray and put it in the oven at about 90°C for 15 minutes. ^{[3] X Research Source} You should remove the sand from the oven while the sand is still damp and then let the sand continue to dry naturally; If the sand is too dry, the color will fade and no longer bright.

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Pack the sand that has been dried. Once the sand is dry, place it in a dry resealable plastic bag or box.

To be safe, you should not leave sand in the kitchen. This will help you avoid confusing the sand with spices or cooking powder.
After using the sand, you should close the lid carefully. This way, the sand will not fade and will not spill out.

Using Sand in Artwork

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Sand painting. You can add colored sand to the painting to add sparkle and appeal to the picture.

First, you use a pencil to draw on white paper (for example, draw a flower). Then, spread the painting on a flat surface to prepare for the sanding process. Use a cotton swab to apply Elmer glue to the area you want to cover with sand. Then carefully pour sand over the glue. Let the sand evenly cover the glue and then stand the picture upright on a plate so that the excess sand falls onto the plate. ^{[4] X Research Sources}
To create a beautiful effect, draw a picture that needs to use a lot of colors and a lot of contrasting colors (for example, a rainbow). This will help you use a lot of colored sand and create a striking, vibrant picture.

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Decorate the vase with sand. You can use sand to decorate the outside of the vase or pour sand into the vase.

To add more color to the vase, follow the same steps as making sand paintings. The first is to put the vase on newspaper. Pour 1/4 cup of glue stick into a plastic cup and dilute it with 1 teaspoon of water. Use a brush to apply glue to the outside of the vase. Then, sprinkle a few spoons of colored sand on the glue, rotate the vase so that the sand can evenly cover the vase. Finally, wait for the vase to dry for a few hours and then put the flowers in. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
Making a flower vase with layers of colored sand in the vase is also a good way to decorate the house. You just need to pour a layer of sand of any color into a vase or transparent jar. It doesn’t matter if the sand is flat or not; on the contrary, the wavy and uneven sand layer will add speciality and look more natural. ^{[6] X Research Source} Then add another layer of colored sand. To create a good contrast, you should avoid using two colors that look very similar, for example purple and red. Continue pouring until the sand fills the mouth of the jar. For a beach-style vase, you can add some pebbles and seashells to the layers of sand.

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Make a candle holder. This is a variation from the layered sand flower vase to add uniqueness to the monotonous white candle.

Pour each color of sand into the glass to create several layers, similar to when making a vase. But instead of filling the jar with sand, fill it with only about half a glass. Then, insert a candle in the center of the glass and lightly scratch the sand to surround and hold the candle. When lighting the candle, you will see the light reflecting the color of the sand creating a cozy and inviting feeling. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Advice

If the dyed sand dries out and doesn’t have the color you want, add more water with the dye and repeat the dyeing process.
To mold colored sand into shape, mold while the sand is still damp. Thus, when it dries, the sand will have the shape you want.
Getting sand from the beach saves you money on buying sand at the store, but it takes more time because you have to do the sifting step.
To let the sand dry quickly, spread it out on a plate or tray and leave it in the sun.

Things you need

2 crates
Sand
Sieve tools
Mesh screen
Tape
Water
Dye
Container with lid
Bag
Spoon
Paper plate
Tissue

Steps

Mix Color in Sand

Using Sand in Artwork

Advice

Things you need

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