Directions

• Use several different colors to create a rainbow of colored sand. Purchase a bag of play sand, powdered tempera paint, plastic cups, plates, fork, spoons and a funnel. Decide beforehand what colors you prefer to use.
  
  In each cup, fill half full with sand. Add 1 teaspoon of powdered paint to each cup. Keep in mind that the more paint used, the darker the color, so start lightly and add more as necessary.
  
  Mix the paint and sand together. Add 1 teaspoon of water and mix it well. The water has to activate the paint but you don't want the sand too wet. Add small amounts of water just until the color is even.
  
  Pour the sand in an even layer onto a disposable plate and allow it to dry completely, about 24 hours. Break any lumps that might.
  
  

Mixing Other Colors

• Besides the basic colors, mix yellow and red paint to create orange; blue and yellow for green and blue and red to make purple. Create your own colors by mixing multiple colors together.
  
  

Designs

• Fill a water bottle or soda bottle with layers of colors by pouring the sand through a funnel. Shake the bottle slightly to level the sand. Keep adding layers of sand to create a desirable effect.
  
  Slide a long wooden skewer inside the bottle in several places. As the skewer moves through the sand, it will sift the colors into one another, creating a unique visual design. Use this technique in several places and experiment to find the visual effect that is the most desirable.