How to Make Sand Casts

Sand casts are a way to make permanent keepsakes.

Making sand casts is an enjoyable activity for children on vacation. They can make casts of handprints and footprints, or even seashells. It is also possible to make sand casts at home by first making a sandpit, or using a container that is large enough to hold the object you want to make a cast of, and filling it with ordinary damp sand. Plaster of paris is readily available to buy in craft stores, or if you prefer to make an outdoor ornament, sand casts can also be made with concrete.

Things You'll Need

• Sand
• Plaster of paris
• Mixing bowl
• Water
• Spoon
• Object to mold

Instructions

1. Choose a location with hard-packed, moist sand.

2. Press the object you want to make a cast of firmly into the sand to a depth of about 1 inch.

3. Mix the plaster of paris, following the manufacturer's instructions, to a thick, smooth consistency.

4. Pour the wet plaster of paris into the indentation in the sand. Allow the plaster of paris a half hour to set before removing it gently from the sand cast. Allow it to rest for an hour in the open air to completely harden.

Tips & Warnings

• If you plan on making sandcastles while on vacation at the beach, remember to take a bottle of water so you have water to mix with the plaster of paris. You will also need a bowl or container to hold the mixed plaster and a spoon for stirring.

• When making handprints or footprints that you intend to use as hanging ornaments, make loops by tying a knot at both ends of the short length of the string and pushing the knots into the plaster of paris while it is still wet.

References

• FamilyFun: Footprints in the Sand