Variations

• Sand terrarium variations are only limited to a child's creativity and capability. You can create terrariums in open or closed clear plastic or glass containers, wide mouth glasses, goblets or vases, or cut down plastic soda bottles. Create terrariums with a theme; brown and tan sand can be used for a desert theme or shells can be added for a beach theme.
  
  

Supplies Needed

• You will need sand in various colors, long sticks, spoons, bowls, wooden skewers or a pencil, a small plant and a transparent container. Colored sand is available in most craft stores and comes in a wide assortment of colors. For an inexpensive project, recycle a suitable container found in the house or at a yard sale.
  
  

Coloring the Sand

• Although colored sand is readily available in craft stores, it can be quite expensive. Children can customize the sand colors at a fraction of the cost. To make colored sand using food coloring, divide a bag of play sand into resealable plastic bags. Add a few drops of a different color food coloring to each bag, mix well and then spread the sand on newspapers or paper towels to dry. Tempera paint powder can also be used to color play sand. For each color, mix together 1/2 cup of sand and 1 tsp. of paint powder then stir in 1 tsp. of water. Add more water, if needed to achieve an even color. Spread the sand out to dry thoroughly.
  
  

Creating the Terrarium

• To create the terrarium, spoon layers of dry, colored sand into the container. Use a pencil, stick or wooden skewer to push the sand down to make designs in the layers. If you're using a small plant, place the plant container in first then spoon the colored sand around it. Add ornaments to the project such as shells, pebbles, marbles or small toys.