Listen can you here it?

The sound of the waves crashing on the shore or the Wind whistling across the desert dunes. Like the sands of time many have searched for ways to capture this movement.

Sand is so magical especially the ripples that are left from the wind and water. Finally, a way to achieve this textured look for our resin art pieces. Truly is Sand in the Hand.

The sands themselves are cured with heat. With Quicksand’s we can create sand designs that are locked into shape, yet cuttable, castable and easy to achieve.

Let’s start our scene.

Step 1: Quick List of Tools and Supplies

Your Project (This is a paper weight)

QuickSands (ArtfulElementsshop Etsy)

light-medium-dark(color light with chalks or micas anyway you like)

Silicone mold (cube)

Card stock

Teflon or heat resistant sheet

Hot plate (craft designated)

Metal cookie cutters (square for this one)

Nail file

Scissors

Tweezers

Silicone brush optional

Design elements(shells,starfish,lichen, etc.)

Clear casting resin( Liquid Diamonds)

Glow powder (TechnoGlow) great for create glowing plankton.

Other optional items like lifter, sifter, grate and comb are optional.

Use protective gear for eyes, nose, mouth and hands. Just to be safe and in a ventilated area.

Not responsible for How, what, When and Where you create!

Step 2: Creating Movement

This is the step we’re you are the water and wind.

With the Teflon sheet in front of you start sprinkling Down some of the quicksand’s. Remember you have 3 colors to work with depending on what you purchased. ( We now have 1 color all you do is color with chalks or paints etc. when you’re finished. ). I start with the dark, then medium and finely light.

Now take your card stock and cut a wavy pattern like in the photo. This pattern is up to you. It can be changed before heat curing.

Starting from one side, lay the papers edge gently into the sand. Start moving and re-positioning as you go pressing into the sand. Like little taps. This will form the ripples. Like I stated before there is no wrong, you can lightly jiggle the Teflon sheet to level out and start over.

Once you have created the desired effect you will then gently lift the sheet and transfer to the hot plate that is

Preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit .

You will have done a test of the temperature before starting the project.

Step 3: Heat Curing and Cutting

This is the magic of it all. Who would have ever thought you could cookie cutter sand.

Enamel-it and Quicksands are a mixture of resin dust and other materials. That when heated the material fuses and melts together creating a mechanical bond. Dust - heat - done.
Because the product is a forms of plastic they bond to many rigid substrates. There are no VOC and UV protected. Suitable for indoor or outdoor.
Works on metal, natural products like paper and fabric plus concrete, rocks, wood ,resin and some plastics that can withstand temperatures of 350°F - 400°F

You can cut different shapes and stack them before embedding in resin.

Next on my list is to see if I can create a sand castle with it.

Step 4: Sanding Rough Edges

The cured pieces are durable but they can break, so use caution when sanding to avoid this.

A simple nail-file can be used to get rid of any rough edges. After sanding dust lightly with a soft brush to remove any excess particles.

Ready for adding embellishments.

Please if you have allergies of any kind were a dust mask , gloves and goggles. Want you to have fun!

Step 5: Casting in Resin

Now that you have a clean biscuit of rippled sand, it can be fragile so use caution, just like dried flowers or shells. Start creating your scenery for the mold.

Tested the sand to make sure it would fit in the mold first. Laid things out that I liked.

Used clear enamel-it to attach my items to the sand before casting. Heated and cured them.

You can use glue.

I placed the decorated sand into my mold. Ready to mix the resin. This was a 2-part resin that cures in about 24 hours depending on room temperature. It is clear and very thin which makes it easy to pour and release bubbles.

Mix the resin from instructions on the container. Mix well.

It was poured at one corner and very slowly to help reduce bubbles.

The Resin in this piece is not what I normally use. It was a test sample and of course not meant to be cast in volume so it got hot and lots of bubbles, but it worked for this piece.

I try and use Liquid Diamonds or Woodland Scenic's Resin if I can. Just my choice.

After it cured I cleaned the edges and topped it off. You can cast in reverse by submerging your decoration in at the top but I needed to take pictures so I placed it in the bottom and filled the mold.

So there you have it. A plastic sand that, you can model and then lock in the pattern. It is so pretty up close.

I created lots of different designs, like Footprints in the Sand, Sea turtle headed for the ocean, Message in the sand. You name it ,just something fun and unique Dust - Heat - Done.

Thank you! The Juliart