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Learning to make sand beads is simple and fun and it is a great way to keep the kids occupied on rainy days. They are unique gifts for holidays like Mother's Day or Grandmother's Day. Once the beads are dried the decorating possibilities are endless.

What You'll Need:
2 Measuring cups (plastic works best)
1 gallon of sand (found in most craft stores in plastic tubs)

1 gallon of white glue
A plastic tub
2-inch nail
Pieces of colored yarn
Seed beads, markers, paints (all for decoration)
2 plastic trays

Gather together all of your supplies. Note: Do NOT use the sand from the kid's sandbox its not made for these kinds of projects. Use instead an all-purpose sand.

In the plastic tub mix, 1 cup of sand with 1/4 cup of white glue. Make sure you mix it well. Roll out the size beads you want from this sand mixture.

With the nail poke a hole in the center of each bead for stringing. If your sand is too wet to hold the hole then add more sand to the mixture until it is firm enough to hold the shape of the bead and to keep the hole from collapsing.

Let the beads dry on the trays until they are hard. Anywhere between 30 minutes and 1 hour is good depending on the weather and humidity.

Cut a piece of yarn long enough to hold the amount of beads you want to string onto it and still be able to tie it off. Tape one end to the table and then wrap a piece of tape around the other end to make it easier to slide the beads on. Then tie it off to make a necklace (or bracelet).

Design your beads. You can do this before or after you string your beads. You can use markers, paints, seed beads (those tiny beads that come in assorted colors). If you decide to use seed beads I recommend putting a tray under your work area to prevent the seed beads from scattering all over the floor if dropped on the table or work area.

Tip:
Seed beads also make great gifts for Kwanzaa, they are known as "zawadi".

Learn more about this author, Jacqueline Perito.
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