You can turn crumbling castles into mighty fortresses - it's easy with the proper tools. Developed by a professional sand sculptor, these award-winning tools (and tips) can be used by both left- and right-handed sand architects.
Children love making gifts for their parents and other adults who
are important to them. But what can they make that will delight the
person they are giving the gift to?
Here's how you can quickly and easily get lots of simple, high quality
gift ideas that you children can make. Guaranteed to be fun the
children making the gift, and a delight for the person receiving it.
Use wet sand if you want the sand to stay where you put it.
Before starting, think about location. Don't start too close
to the water's edge unless you want your castle to be wiped out by
waves or tides.
Push or shovel all the dry sand out of the way. You want to
start building on a large flat area of damp sound.
If you are using a bucket to shape blocks for you castle or
sculpture, be sure to tap and jiggle a few times before you pack
down the sand. It will help to release trapped air that can
ruin the mold. Pack the sand down and completely fill the
bucket before you turn it over to unmold it.
To build a tall tower, use the 'pancake' method. Use wet
sand to make the first level of the tower. It should look like
a pancake about one inch thick. Make sure the is large
enough. Continue making and stacking pancakes until your tower
is the height you want.
Carefully shape and draw on the sides of your sculpture using
sticks, pointed rocks or even the edge of a trowel.
Make walls by using wet handfuls of sand. Using both hands, scoop up as much wet sand as you can hold, gently press your hands together to squeeze out excess water and place the resulting sand clump where it's needed to create your wall.
Continue stacking clumps until your wall is complete. High walls need to be thick at the base and should narrow as they rise higher.
Arches start out as a wall, but then you tunnel through them to
create an arch. After your wall is built, gently tunnel your way through at the base. Then enlarge and shape the opening into the form of an arch by shaving off thin layers of excess sand. Plastic knives, butter knives, or putty knives all make ideal shaping tools.
If you are mixing dry sand and water, try using 8 parts sand to 1
part water. You need just enough water to 'glue' the sand
together, but not too much.
Shovels and trowels for sculpting. If you want to build a big
castle, it's best to use real shovels with wooden handles not just
the plastic beach toys.
Send us a note if you have any questions. Let us know your ideas for
sand projects, and we'll share them with other visitors.
Note for Parents:
Every parent must use their own judgment in choosing which activities are
safe for their own children. While Creative Kids at Home makes every
effort to provide activity ideas that are safe and fun for children it is
your responsibility to choose the activities that are safe in your own
home.
Children love making gifts for their parents and other adults who
are important to them. But what can they make that will delight the
person they are giving the gift to?
Here's how you can quickly and easily get lots of simple, high quality
gift ideas that you children can make. Guaranteed to be fun the
children making the gift, and a delight for the person receiving it.
Do
you know the secrets to building amazing sand castles? Find out all
the tips and tricks for 
