White craft sand is best to use because the color will show up more vibrantly, but regular tan sand will work as well. If you got your sand from outside, use a sifter to get rid of any pebbles or other chunks of dirt before dyeing the sand.
Purchase acrylic paint from your local craft or big box store.
If you’re not sure how much water your bowl of sand will need, start off with a small amount—you can always add more.
Be patient while stirring, as it takes a little bit of time for the paint to be distributed evenly.
Create the other colors of sand using the same method. Feel free to add more water to the sand to help with the mixing.
Use a separate tray for each color of sand. If you don’t have enough trays for each bag of sand, spread a piece of parchment paper out on the counter and pour the sand directly onto this. As the sand dries, it will turn a slightly lighter color.
If you’re worried about getting paint on your baking sheet, line it with parchment paper first. Bake each color of sand separately to avoid mixing them together accidentally.
Now your sand is ready to be used to fill vases or bottles or create other decorations!
If you can’t see through your container, label the container with the color of sand so you know which one is which.
