Category: How To Guides

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Quick and Easy Ways to Introduce Sand Sculpting for Kids

You know that when you put a child and a sandy beach together, sand play is inevitable!  That’s how the idea for sandboxes in the playground came about after all.  For children, the many possibilities of sand sculpting is a natural way to release their immense creativity.  Parents can form bonding experiences with their kids.  And in the end, everyone has loads of fun!
If you want to introduce sand sculpting as family activity this summer, turn the process into a game.  Here are some ideas on how to do it: 
Brainstorm with your kids
Involve them from step 1 by explaining that every great task begins with a plan.  Bring them to the drawing board and ask them for ideas on what to sand sculpt!  Let them unleash their creativity no matter how farfetched or impossible to do as an acitvity.  The important thing is that they are excited to share ideas with you.  On the other hand, they can surprise you with a simple, yet beautiful idea to sketch. 
If you have a big family gathering, you can divide those participating into sand teams, with a team leader to facilitate the activities.  You can even watch Archisand’s Youtube videos for ideas or check out the design gallery! 
Focus the energy
Now that you have them pumped up, it’s time to channel that energy into a specific objective.  So start narrowing down the choices into ideas that you actually can do.  Then put the sandcastle design on paper.  Beginners should focus on simple ones which require easy techniques to accomplish, while those with more experience in sandcastle construction can do something comparative with their skills.  
Have a sand party
With your design done, it’s time to get down to the beach and do your sand sculptures!  Remember,
  • Unless you’re using a sandbox, sand is normally attached to a body of water.  That means you need to check the high and low tides so you can build your sand sculptures above the water mark and it won’t be swept away.
  • Try to use fine grain sand, as it holds water better and allows you to sculpt more detail into the packed sand. 
  • Prepare yourselves with a sand sculpting kit.  There’s nothing wrong with using toy pails and shovels with the kids.  On the other hand, if you want your kids know what it feels like to be real sand sculpture artists, as well as producing much better results, use a kit with professional sand sculpting tools like palette knives, shovels, buckets, hand-held spray bottle and masons trawls.   
  • Spray down your sand sculptures with a hand held spray bottle full of fresh water so it lasts longer.  
  • This is a sand party so it’s fun, fun, fun!  Have cameras clicking and videos rolling to capture those treasured moments.
Subscribe to our blog and get more tips on how to do sand sculpting.  If you need professional sand sculpting services, we’d love to make your important events truly special!  Contact us!  
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Archisand Helps Chandler Family with cool Sandcastle

Archisand provided the direction – The Chandler Family the effort and talent to create this way cool sand sculpture to help celebrate the family. What a great time we all had… below is a quote from Amanda…
We needed a strong closer for the third, last night of our family reunion.  You produced a fabulous sandcastle project that all ages enjoyed, whether building or watching.  Despite significant surf and tide issues, you found a wonderful solution that worked very well.  Everyone talked about what fun it was.

You were resourceful and creative, fun to work with.  We all appreciated your expertise and humor while working together.  Everyone is looking forward to seeing the video you took.  You helped create an event that will be hard to top.

Thank you so much

Amanda 
To see photos from the day click here or on the photo below
Click the link below to see the way cool video
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Archisand’s Greg LeBon quoted in Popular Mechanics

Popular Mechanics writers contacted Archisands Greg LeBon to inquire about building sand castles and sand sculptures.
Use the link below to get some tips about building sand castles as presented by Popular Mechanics.

To read the Popular Mechanics article click HERE!
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The Secret of Sand Castle Construction

Alright, you’ve seen the sand castles. You’ve been inspired and dazzled. And now you’re ready to erect your own architectural masterpiece. So what goes into sand castle construction? Know-how. Here are some professional tips to help take your sand castle design and construction to a whole new level.

  • Design your sand castle, preferably using a sketch to communicate your architectural vision to your carefully-selected construction team.
  • Select the highest grade of sand possible for your sand sculpture. Professional sand sculptors typically opt for the finest grain sand available. This type holds water best, and allows for greater sculpting detail.
  • Be aware of tides. The last thing you need is a rush of seawater slamming into your masterpiece. Build your sand sculpture above high tide to keep it intact for your throngs of eager viewers.
  • Equip yourself and your team with the best possible tools. The core tools preferred by the vast majority of professional sand sculptors are shovels, water buckets, Masons trawls, and palette knives.
  • Shovel sand and soak with water. The two methods to compact sand are using your feet or using a landscape hand held compactor.
  • Always carve your sculpture from the top down. This basic rule is rarely broken without disastrous results. Also, be a little daring. You’re an artist. Experiment with different tools to achieve a different look.
  • Keep your sculpture well-moistened by spritzing it with fresh water from a hand held sprayer.
  • Either because of human or natural causes, your sand sculpture inevitably will crumble. So before it does, snap a few photos of your masterpiece for the records. They’re guaranteed to outlast the castle, and they’ll be great to share with family and friends.

If these architectural endeavors seem like way too much work, don’t despair. Call a professional sand sculpture builder at Archisand. We’ll be delighted to help. Our extraordinary sandcastle design team is a group of true professionals, every member a professional with a wealth of experience to draw from. This professional expertise is what makes our professional sand sculptures tower above the rest.

You’ll be amazed at the wonders a professional sand sculpture builder will create.

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Is a Sand Sculpture Permanent?

Not really. But a sand sculpture can be made to last a fairly long time, depending on the locale and other conditions.

The secret to sand castle longevity is adding a special mixture to the sand to boost its holding power. This secret mix is composed of 99% water and a trace amount environmentally-friendly, non-toxic glue that’s totally invisible to even the most highly trained eye. So it’s 100% safe and effective.

Of course, other factors contribute to the durability of a sand sculpture. If a castle is outdoors, sooner or later weather will take its toll. Sunlight, wind, precipitation, etc. unfortunately are not sand castle-friendly. So you can expect your masterpiece to hold up for only the day, even when reinforced by the above-described mixture.

It’s an entirely different story with a sand sculpture located indoors. Thanks to the weather-controlled environments of such locales, a sand castle can last for years. Among the ideal places for an indoor sand sculpture are shopping malls. Not only are they delightfully climate-controlled, these destinations draw a steady stream of spectators eager to watch the progress of a sand castle under construction.

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“Build a Sand Castle” Archisand’s Greg LeBon Featured Article in Parade Magazine

Contacted by Parade Magazine’s journalists for this summer’s “hottest” featured article, Greg LeBon shares his quick tips on building a better sandcastle this summer.

A. Pick a spot with the finest sand—it will hold together the best.
B. Make sure your sand is wet, and spritz it regularly if the day is hot or windy.
C. Use pails with the bottoms cut out to construct extra-tall towers.
D. Carve out a design with trowels and brushes.

Read more online at Parade Magazine HERE…

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