Make you own sand and glue bowl!
I LOVE Pinterest, and my guess is that you do too! If you are a fan, then chances are that you have probably seen this pin slide down your screen at least once:
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| Pinterest Perfection |
The subtext promises that this elegant bowl is easily replicated, by simply by mixing sand and glue. Then according to pinterest you simply drip it over a bowl and let it dry.
However, as some have found this is much easier said than done! For fun see this "Pinterest Fail" Video.
However, as some have found this is much easier said than done! For fun see this "Pinterest Fail" Video.
Still, I knew even after watching that video, that the original Pin had to exists somewhere. I figured that with a little tweaking and testing I might be able to get a similar result.
In my experimenting I found that by using two different types of glue, I could get a pretty decent version of the sand bowl. For fun I used colored sand, but you could use regular beach sand too.
Here is how I made mine:
Supplies
Traditional Elmers Glue
Quick Dry Tacky Glue
Plastic Cling Wrap
Colored Craft Sand
A Big Mixing Bowl
Medium size Cereal Bowl
Metal Spoon
Painter's Tape
Step One:
To protect your bowl, turn it upside down and cove it completely in plastic wrap. This will keep the glue and sand off of it, and will also create an interesting texture in the interior of your bowl. I used about two layers of plastic on the outside of the bowl.
I found that it helped to secure the plastic wrap to itself using blue painter's tape. Now your "mold" is prepped and ready!
Step 2
Now comes the secret part!
The instructions on the original pin will tell you to use Elmers glue. I tried that and did not have a good result. The glue dried too slowly and the sand did not sick together.
But, then I discovered that if I used one part Elmers to one part "Quick Dry Craft Glue" with the sand it worked well.
I didn't need to measure exactly. Rather I simply added a little at a time, alliterating between the two glues and stirring. This way, in the end I had about equal parts of both glues in the sand mixture.
Continue adding glue (and if needed, more sand until you reach a consistency that feels like think dough).
It should look and feel like a thick (grainy) play dough. I found that if the mixture is too thin and watery, then it won't hold together when dripped over the bowl. Rather, gravity will pull it apart into pieces. So, you want this to be pretty thick, and just past the point of being crumbly.
Step 3
It's time to start applying the sand mixture to the bottom of your bowl!
I found that it was the easiest to simply scrape the sand/ glue onto the very highest point on the bowl, and then use the back of a metal spoon to gently "coax it downward and toward the sides.
I used gentle pressure in a spiraling motion, form the center outwards to coax the moisture into place.
After about 5-10 minutes gravity will take it's course and pull the sand downwards.
Step 4
Continue adding layers.
If you want to have more control you can wait for each layer to dry before adding the next one. But, I didn't have the patience for that! So I just kept adding more and more!
You can even use your hands to encourage the sand to go in specific directions. Just gently press it in the direction you want it to go. I found this helpful for coving any gaps in the layer below.
For fun, I chose to add my colored sand in "rainbow order" layers. But you can chose any method you like. Or for a more modern and natural look, skip the color and just use plain sand.
Step 5
Allow several days for your bowl to sit and dry completely. The thickest layers take the longest.
Step 6
Once all parts of your bowl feel very hard to the touch, you can remove it from the mold.
Simply flip your bowl over, give it a little wiggle and it will easily come loose.
Next, just remove the plastic wrap to reveal your lovely creation!
This bowl made me think of a coral reef, and lovely things under the sea. So I chose to display it as summertime decoration. I added starfish, but you can use anything you want to fill it, or even just leave it empty!
I've also found that in the off-season this bowl is great for holding remote controls in the family room!
That's all for today, thanks for stopping by!
Linking up to:
http://madincrafts.com/mad-skills-link-party-411/
http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/2018/02/colorful-spring-diy-projects-at.html
http://www.sewcando.com/2018/02/lets-get-festive-craftastic-monday-link.html
https://diyshowoff.com/2018/02/25/diy-party-time-264/
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/nifty-thrifty-sunday-323/
http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2018/02/wow-me-wednesday-340.html
http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/2018/02/your-whims-wednesday-344-and-features.html
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2018/02/wow-us-wednesdays-377.html
https://thediydreamer.com/from-dream-to-reality/do-some-crafts-301/
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| Stairs, before |
On your way up the staircase, you will see a few bulletin boards as well as vintage inspired maps and scientific diagrams. To keep the space warm and welcoming, I use natural materials and subtle colors.
The "posters" are actually intended to be wrapping paper, but they work great as decor on the walls! I love their classic look and soft colors. I found ours at a museum gift shop, and Amazon carries a lot of them too (here are just a couple of examples):
As soon as you round the corner at the top of the stairs and enter the space, you'll see where we do the bulk of our work.
We spend the majority of our time at the sturdy vintage table. It was a lucky flea-market find that's held up to 3 kids really well!
I am fortunate to have a large space that I can dedicate just to homeschooling. I know that not everyone does. When I first started homeschooling all I had was a desk in our entryway! So if you don't have a whole room, please know that I understand what that's like too (and be sure to check out the folding furniture I will discuss below).
Part of what sold me on the house we're in now was the potential of the upstairs space. This big room now doubles as both a place of learning, and a family room.
As you can see in the photo above, about half of the room functions as a comfy area to relax. We enjoy sitting on the couch to do our reading.
And, the kids like to watch movies here (a TV is intentionally hidden in the armoire pictured below).
I've tried to make the space welcoming, yet versatile too. I particularly like the chairs and table in this little conversation area because they fold, and are easily collapsed and moved out of the way. This is very helpful when (for example) you get a really good game of "ring around the rosie" going!
Having folding furniture is great if you are short on space too! I get everything from Amazon these days! Her are the exact chairs and tables I have:
I also really like this wall mounted murphy desk, because it can also be folded up to make room for extra floor space.
And, speaking of things that can be hidden away... I disguise many unsightly things in the big white cabinet.
When the doors are open, it's actually a computer desk! I love that I can close the doors and hide things like the printer and the laminator (both things I love to have, but that I don't love to look at).
I found this particular one on Overstock.com.
When the doors are open, it's actually a computer desk! I love that I can close the doors and hide things like the printer and the laminator (both things I love to have, but that I don't love to look at).
I found this particular one on Overstock.com.
I love curriculum, books and educational materials. As a result I have stock piled WAY too much of it. Between my days in college earning my teaching credential, my years as a reading intervention teacher and now as a I enter my 4th year as a homeschooler, I have managed to acquire quite a collection!
Someday I fully intend to sort through my stash, and hopefully get rid of lot of it. But, for now it all stays with us, suspended in state of "organized" chaos.
Books and curriculum that are not in regular use are stored in the closet. Meanwhile, the resources that are in regular rotation stay in a simple cube shelf next to my desk.
I love having over-the-door shoe rack inside the closet door (pictured above). It is a great way to store small things like art supplies, pencils (and so on). I love that it is made of natural material (and not cheap plastic). But, my only regret is that I didn't get one with clear pockets, like this:
The cube shelf is something that you can find at just about any big box store, or online. You can also get canvas bins made to fit in the cubes which are nice to have. Mine is similar to this...
I like that the back isn't solid because I can have access to the electrical outlet behind it.
And, speaking of storage, I still have two "littles" in the mix, who don't have very long attention spans! So, I keep a stash of puzzles and busy bags on hand for them to use while I work with my oldest. They are all easily accessible, while simultaneously stored out of sight in a wooden (Ikea) shelf.
The puzzle rack on the top right has been a life saver. I like that it's easy for my kids to clean up the puzzles themselves, and that it's made of natural wood. This is the one I have:
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No children's' space would be complete with a little bit of whimsy. I've added this throughout the room with simple additions like lighting, wool felt garlands, and more.
I LOVE lighting. It can really make or break a space. One way that I brightened up a dark corner of this room, was by draping string lights over a shelf bracket mounted on the wall. The trick to this is, to use lights with a white cord (not a standard green one).
For an easy on/off situation with my collection of lights, I have everything plugged into switches.
But, any power strip (with a master switch) will do. You'll be more likely to use all the lighting if it's easy to turn it all on at once!
The element of subtle whimsy continues as you move through the room...
I am very inspired by Waldorf education, and incorporate elements of this theory into my homeschooling (like with the "math gnomes" pictured on the bulletin board below).
I was an Art major in college, so I still have a lot of my old supplies. Plus we enjoy crafting and creating. So, here are some photos of how I keep all the gear, supplies (and, let's face it... "the mess") corralled.
Luckily the back section of the room even has a linoleum floor for easy clean up!
You may notice (in the picture above) my solution to having a place for works of art to dry. When I looked for drying racks, all that I could find were giant racks made for entire classes' worth of work. So, instead I use a wooden shoe rack, and it works great!
Also, Ikea's easel is just as good as the more expensive versions!
And, in closing I'll leave you with a few more "Before and Afters" just for fun.
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I hope that you feel inspired after scrolling through this post! Please feel free to leave me any comments or questions you have. Also, if you do a post on your homeschool space please leave a link. I love peering into the spaces that others have created!
That's all! Thanks for stopping by!
Linking up to these fun parties and round ups:
http://www.flourmewithlove.com/2016/08/mix-it-up-monday.html
Hello! My name is Hayley Brentmar. Thank you for visiting my blog! I am an: artist, designer, mother, literature nerd, daughter, sister, homemaker, wife, traveler, and teacher turned homeschooler. I am a sucker for packaging, and I suck at playing sports. Aesthetics are crucial.
Please visit my professional webpage:
https://hayleybrentmar.com
Let's be friends on GoodReads! Find my profile with this URL:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1452367-hayley-brentmar
Also, please visit my first website at this URL:
https://sites.google.com/site/hayleydeeenestbio/
Professional and Educational experience:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayleybrentmar123/
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