DIY Network

Sand Clay Cast mini-sculptures in sand. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-412

Cast your own mini masterpieces.

You don't need to live by the ocean to sculpt with sand whenever you like: All it takes is a few supplies and this easy how-to from Michele Beschen. Regular play or hobby sand cooks up great into an effective casting material that handles like clay and dries hard as a rock.

Scroll down for Michele Beschen's easy how-to, and B. Original with some sand sculptures of your own. It's the next best thing to your own sand castles!

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Sand Clay

Materials:

4 cups sand
2 cups cornstarch
1-1/2 Tbs. cream of tartar
3 cups water
large pot
molds for casting dough

• Heat 3 cups of water in a large pot.

• While the water is heating, mix the sand, cornstarch and cream of tartar thoroughly in a large bowl. Michele Beschen used colored sand from the hobby store for this project.

• Slowly mix the dry ingredients with the water, stirring constantly. Continue to stir the mixture over medium heat until the water is almost gone.

• When the dough starts to form and is too stiff to stir any more, remove it from the pot. Set the dough aside to cool (figure A).

• The dough will stay workable for a few days as long as you keep in an airtight container or plastic bag.

• There are all sorts of options when it comes to molding your dough – B. Original and try a variety of small containers, shells or anything with an interesting shape. Michele Beschen likes putting rocks or other objects in small containers before adding dough to embed them in the final product (figure B). Or, put the dough in a pie pan or other flat container and use it to make handprint sculptures (figure C).

• When your creation is complete, let it air dry for a couple of days. It should be hard as a rock!