Activity for kids

I know summer will not be here for a few months. But, here I sit daydreaming of a warm summer day, the bronze sun shinning down, the gentle sea breeze blowing my hair, the smell of the salt water in the air. I am strolling along, combing the sandy beach for hidden treasures lying on the glistening sand. So many treasures, Sea shells, rocks, smooth shiny sea glass, sand dollar pieces, tuffs of rope, pieces of fisherman's netting, a dried beach rose whatever suits my fancy. The beach is full of little trinkets and treasures. Once I am pleased with the treasures I have gathered, I will make a sand casting using my special beach finds to decorate my mask that I will sand cast.

What is sand casting? I am so glad you asked.

Sand casting is an awesome craft to do with your children or even just for you and your other half. Its a great keepsake to take home with you, when you take a beach vacation or even a special family day at the beach this summer. Sand casting its a process of using plaster of paris to make a casting in the beach sand. My children love making these, I think they enjoyed the search for items on the beach as much as the project itself.We made the first one as a group just to see how the finished project would look. Then they each made their own during one of our visits to a beach in Maine which is extra special to them, so these have great memories for them, its a place that has a great nature trail that is special to them. Our home is shabby chic meets beach cottage so we have all of ours on our dining room wall. I love the rustic simplicity of these.

My husband and I each created one at Willard beach which is a beach we were married on, on a sunny day while lounging in the summer sun. My daughter, granddaughter and I made one on a special Sunday, that we took a picnic to the beach, just the three of us. We also made one with our nephew who was visiting from Arizona, a great keepsake for him to take back home with him.

Items needed for project:

1. The beach, or beach sand

2. 4 cups of Plaster of Paris, purchase at craft store,

recipe: 4 cups plaster to 2 cups water, per sand casting... I usually per-measure the Plaster of Paris into individual tupperware containers, or zip lock baggies, for easy mixing

3. large zip lock plastic bags

4. measuring cup:

5. Small plastic beach shovel of spoon

6. ocean water

7. Treasures you find on the beach, sea glass, sea shells, lobster trap netting small pieces work great for hair, rocks, dried beach roses, seagull feather, this is only limited by your creative imagination.

Directions : Once at the beach

1. Scavenge beach for interesting treasures to use in your sand cast.

2. Dig a bowl shape in the sand, about 6-8" diameter, and 2 or 3" deep, sand should be slightly damp, but not wet.

3. Place treasures into the bowl shape, according to what you are hoping the finished project to look like, we made beach faces, using the beach items as eyes, nose, mouth, hair, cheeks, and so on. Press your trinkets into the sand leaving items visible so that once you add the plaster it will adhere to the items.

4. Using the measuring cup measure 2 cups of water into an empty zip lock baggie, slowly begin pouring the 4 cups plaster into the water, working the plaster into the water, I do not use a spoon to blend, I just shake, and squish the bag to blend. Once all the plaster has been added, you will need to work quickly. Slowly pour the plaster into the bowl shaped hole, do it carefully so as not to unearth the trinkets. If their are two of you one can pour into the others cupped hands to prevent this. You will be able to clean up in the water after. It comes off easily.

5. Leave sand casting to set

6. Once top appears to be starting to firm up, press some sort of wire or twine into the plaster. Once hardened you will have a hanger to hang your creation.

7. After about 20 - 30 minutes you should have a hardened casting, remove from form carefully, digging around the outer edge, dip mask into ocean one time to clean any loose sand. This still could be a bit fragile so handle with care!!!

You now have a great memory to take with you and display. We have all of ours displayed in our dinning room, and everyone always comments on them.

How fun was that?