Here’s a wonderful Sand Clay Recipe to Create, Bake and Keep! Perfect for creating a wonderful Sandy Beach Footprint – or many other fun ornaments.
Ingredients –
- 1 1/2 Cups Sand
- 1 1/2 Cups Cornflour
- 2 Cups Bi Carb Soda
- 1 1/2 Cups Water
Method –
Mix all the ingredients in an old medium saucepan (I recommend using an old one because the sand will scratch the pot a little). Heat over a med-high heat whilst continually stirring until the mixture thickens and resembles a thick dough – similar to Mashed Potato.
Empty the dough onto a sheet of baking paper and allow to cool under a damp tea towel. Once the dough is cool enough to touch you can kneed it until smooth then replace the tea towel. *always store the dough under a damp tea towel when not in use to prevent it from drying out prematurely.
Time to Create!
Simply model your clay into whatever you choose.
Place them on a drying rack, then immediately bake in a low heat oven (100 degrees Celsius) for two hours, allow the creations time to cool IN the oven before removing (this will prevent the hot clay from cracking when exposed to cooler temps).
We had so much FUN making sandy footprints and also sandy fossils with our clay…what will you create with your children?
Louise x
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could you explain what “bi carb soda” is?
Hi Tracey, It could be called baking soda where you live? Should be in your cleaning or baking isle at your grocery store. Louise x
made theses today with my 2 year old grandson they have turned out awesome going to make more for family gifts thank you for sharing
Can I leave these outside?
I wouldn’t recommend it being left outside unless you coat it in a sealant from your local hardware store?
Is corn flour the same as cornmeal?
No. Cornflour is more like cornstarch. A very fine, white powder. Often used to help thicken cooking.
How durable are these? Could you use them as ornaments? Would love to make a beach themed Christmas tree.
Hi Nancy, what a great idea! These would be perfect and are quite durable. We used a similar recipe (minus the sand) to make these Christmas Decorations last year. I would just recommend you spray with a clear varnish sealer when they’re complete :). Louise x http://pagingfunmums.com/2013/12/06/stamped-clay-ornaments/
I love this idea! Thank you so much for sharing! I will do this with my son. But what is a tea towel?? Lol sorry I’m clueless
Hi Lauren, It’s just a damp dish cloth :). Louise x
Oh! Ok! Lol Thank you! 🙂
Can you tell me how much this recipe yield. Trying to figure out how much I would need for VBS100 kids. Making this craft. Thanks
I hope it is ok that i used your picture in my blog, i translated the reciept to danish and i do link to your article.
Don’t mean to sound dumb … But is cornflower the same as corn starch ? Cornflower is something I’ve never used . Thanks for you time, and I’m so excited to make these once I get this misunderstanding cleared up .
Not necessarily. Cornstarch is made from maize, whereas cornflour could be made from either maize or wheat. I would use wheaten cornflour in this recipe, unless the author says otherwise.
Oh my , so sorry . I now see you have already answered this question. Haha silly me forget my above question !
Do you think we could build a mini sandcastle with this… maybe 6 inches high? All the pictures show flatter creations. We can’t wait to try it!
Hi Carrie, I’m sure a small sized one would work but it might take a long time to dry? We recently made some sandcastles using a different method – you can see them by clicking this link – http://pagingfunmums.com/2014/10/13/sandcastle-craft-make-childhood-keepsake/
Louise x
hi, when you say ‘one cup’ how many grams is that?
How many grams depends on what substance. One cup equals approx 225ml, if that helps to translate it into metric. Sand will weigh more than cornmeal in that measurement, as its volume, not weight. I hope this helps!
Would you be able to paint them and are they quite durable? Made salt dough and it was terrible just kept snapping.
Hi Nikki, these are very durable once dry and could definitely be painted :). Louise
Thank you, we’ve found the perfect Xmas present my grandson will make for his parents!
How long do these last as a keepsake? I have sand from my little ones first ever trip to the beach – would it last a very long time? Great idea x
It should last a lifetime if you give it a good coat with a sealer afterwards. I wouldn’t recomend keeping it outside though :). Louise x
We also have this great sand keepsake – http://pagingfunmums.com/2013/04/30/sand-footprint-craft-full-diy-instructions-louise/
What is the difference between cornstarch, cornflour, and cornmeal.
OH boy. I just spent forever trying to make mini sandcastle ornaments using sand from my family’s Favorite beach which we visit together yearly. Warning: Do not try to make anything that is not flat! They started out looking good. After an hour of baking, they’ve already cracked and imploded. I guess it might be good for kids to play with.
So sorry to hear that Dawn. You might be able to adapt this craft to suit – http://pagingfunmums.com/2014/10/13/sandcastle-craft-make-childhood-keepsake/
Such a beautiful keepsake idea! Lou x
Can the dough be made up one evening and used the next day? And how much dough does one recipe make?
Such a lovely recipe!!! Thank you for sharing. Do you have to use a dedicated oven for this craft or can I use my regular oven in which I bake edibles?
Thank you Nimita. We used a regular oven 🙂
WONDERFUL!!!! I love crafts on the cheap! I live in the Middle East and sand is… currently in my shoes! 🙂
Hi girls, I tried making the diy baby’s keepsake but they cracked? How long do I need to kneed them for? Thx a lot
Do you have to use dry sand for this or does wet sand work? Also, will it dry and set up with out an oven?
Hi Kyla, Wet sand would be fine as the sand will get wet in the mixture anyway. You will need to bake it for it to set.
Louise x
Love all the questions to the Aussie vernacular.
Please help! I LOVE the look of these but something’s not working for me. When I mix the ingredients there’s not enough liquid to even mix the items — had to double the water amount just to make it like thick soup — only heated for a couple of minutes before it started lumping. Kneaded fine but it won’t set enough to shape. The only thing I can think of is that I’m using decorator sand — perhaps it is more fine than what you are using? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Hi! Would I be able to bake this with shells in it? I’d like to decorate them. 🙂
my children love this
Trying to make this a day ahead for my class. If wrapped in a wet towel, placed in plastic bag and kept in refrigerator, do you think this will still be workable for my preschooler 24 hours later?
Yes, that should be perfectly fine! Have fun with it!