How to Display Sand and Rocks in a Vase

Use smooth-edged rocks for a sleek display.

Create a display of colored sand and rocks in a medium-size vase to star in your home as your dining room table centerpiece. Use sand in colors that coordinate with the color of your room’s décor and choose rocks of different sizes for a display with plenty of texture. You can also fill small vases with the sand and rocks to use as table centerpieces at a beach or nature-themed celebration or hand them out to guests as party favors.

Things You'll Need

• Medium-size clear vase (or small vases)
• Different color sand (three to four colors, 2 cups of each)
• Rocks of different sizes
• Pebbles (or gravel or sand)
• Old newspaper
• Paintbrush
• Craft glue

Instructions

1. Wash the vase with warm water and a little bit of dish soap and the dry it thoroughly with lint-free towels or paper towels. Place the vase on a clean, flat surface.

2. Pour in 2 cups of sand in the first color. Tap the vase very gently to settle the sand evenly on the bottom. If you would like a more random display, do not settle the sand.

3. Arrange the rocks on top of the sand to make the next layer. Fill in any gaps in between the rocks with tiny pebbles so the layers you add above do not sink down in between the rocks. You can fill in the gaps with gravel or plain sand, but do not let these items show on the outer edges of the glass.

4. Pour in 2 cups of your next color of sand. Tap the vase to settle the sand if you'd like. Add the next layer of rocks and then another layer of sand. Repeat until you have filled about 3/4 of the vase. End with a layer of sand.

5. Place some old newspaper on your work surface and lay five or six medium-size rocks on the newspaper. Use a paintbrush to spread a layer of craft glue onto each of the rocks.

6. Sprinkle some of the leftover colored sand onto the rocks. Use a single color or cover the rocks with a little bit of sand in all of the colors in the vase. Let the glue dry thoroughly.

7. Place the sand-covered rocks on top of the sand in the vase to complete the home decoration.