Beach Art Projects
A day at the beach can provide fun for the whole family both in and out of the water. Shells and sand can be used in plenty of arts and crafts projects when kids are equipped with simple and inexpensive tools like buckets or molds and shovels with which to fill them. If your children are artistically inclined and the typical sandcastle is getting boring, check out these more unusual art projects that incorporate elements from the beach.
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Seashell Jewelry
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Give your child a bucket or small container to fill with brightly colored shell pieces found along the beach. Once you get back home, thoroughly wash them out to remove all the sand. Have your child use markers to show where she would like the holes, and have a parent drill them. String ribbon or yarn through the holes and let your daughter model her one-of-a-kind pieces.
Seashell Candles
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Cut off the top of a half-pint milk carton, leaving only a rectangular box. Grease the inside of the carton. Arrange seashells and crushed ice in alternating layers, ending with a layer of shells. Stick a birthday candle through the middle and ensure the wick isn't covered. Melt paraffin wax over a double boiler. Have a parent pour the wax into the box until it is 1/8 inch from the wick, then allow the candle to cool overnight. Tear away the carton and admire your candle.
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Day at the Beach Paperweight
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Save sand and shells from a day at the beach to make a cool paperweight. Have an adult help the kids mix plaster of Paris with the amount of water specified on the package. Pour a 1/2-inch layer into the bottom of an empty margarine tub. Press sand into the plaster, then push brightly colored shells into the plaster as well. Dump out the sand that doesn't stick. Allow the plaster to harden overnight, then carefully remove the tub.
Footprints in the Sand
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Make footprints in the hard-packed sand right near the water's edge. Press down hard to make sure they are 1 to 2 inches deep, or trace shallow footprints with your finger to make them deeper. Mix plaster of Paris and pour it into the footprints, then push string or wire into the plaster as it hardens to create wall hangers. Dig out the footprints after 30 minutes, then brush away extra sand and set them sole-side up for another hour to dry completely.
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- Photo Credit sandy beach image by Adkok from Fotolia.com
