Easy DIY Sand Art Candles

Colored Sand: Buy or DIY?

You can find decorative sand at your local craft store; the kids' crafts section will have bright, saturated colors, while the floral section will have more neutral hues. You can also dye your own sand using food coloring.

Pour Layers of Sand Into Vase

Pour your first layer of sand into the vase. Don't worry about making the layers even or uniform — in fact, uneven layers will look more interesting in the end. Continue layering sand in various colors. Use a spoon or your fingers to create ridges and valleys in the sand.

Add Votive Candle

Once you've added several layers of sand, place your votive candle in the center of the vase. You want the rim of the candle to sit about half an inch below the rim of the vase.

Pour Sand Around Candle

Using a funnel, continue pouring sand around the candle. Stop when the top layer of sand sits about half an inch below the rim of the candle.

Add Patterns in Sand

You can leave your layers as they are, or use a wooden skewer to create patterns in the sand. Insert the skewer vertically into the sand as close to the side of the vase as possible, then pull it out. Repeat around the entire vase for a chevron-like pattern.

Display Them

These candles look best when grouped together. Make several in various sizes and colors and play around with different arrangements until you find one you like.