The PTA decided on a tropical theme for the annual fundraising carnival. The high school’s prop people can create a beach scene and the principal’s brother promises palms from his garden shop, but sand is pricy. At nearly $1.00 a pound, it represents a large chunk of the fundraising budget. Recoup the cost of the sand with a sand casting craft booth. The molds make an excellent memento the kids will cherish, and a mere hundred sold covers the total sand costs.
Instructions
Preparation
1. Determine how many children can craft at one time. You need a shallow container and paintbrush for each kid accommodated and two plastic jugs for every four.
2. Cut your plastic jugs to contain plaster and water. Draw a line from just in front of the handle around the center of the jug. Use the utility knife to remove the front part of the gallon jug. Measure plaster into half the cut container to speed mixing later; tape mixing instructions to the jug. Repeat to achieve the required container count.
3. Fill the shallow containers with clean sand, Make at least two casting containers for every craft station to have an easy back up incase of spill accidents.
4. Collect seashells and other beach shapes into a central location; allow crafters to choose from them before going to their art stations. Ensure the shells and shapes are small enough not to contact the sides of your sand containers.
5. Put a paintbrush at every station and place generous decorative items like beads and glitter pens accessible to every crafter.
Ready Set Go
6. Dampen the sand in the container so it will mold to the shapes of the beach items and shells the kids selected.
7. Push a shape into the sand so it makes a deep impression. Repeat with various shells and shapes to create the desired design. Encourage the kids to be creative. Remember to remove the shapes and shells from the sand.
8. Mix the plaster and pour it into the sand molds; do this slowly to avoid air bubbles forming in the cast.
9. Allow the plaster to dry for one hour. Dig the cast up and brush the sand from it with a paintbrush. Let the kids decorate their sand castings with glitter glue and beads.
